If I have a bad lumbar spine, can I walk backwards?

A patient in the outpatient clinic asked, "Can I walk backwards if I have lumbar disc herniation?"

I have done some research on this issue. As I mentioned before, I am also a patient with lumbar disc herniation. I have a patent specifically for this problem, and I also have my own "reverse walking trick"...

Share your personal experience.

First of all, "walking backwards" can indeed relieve the discomfort of soreness, swelling and pain in the waist. I have personally practiced and experienced this. It can be simply understood as relieving muscle strain caused by "bending forward" by "walking backwards".

However, there is currently no literature research to support that "backward walking can treat lumbar disc herniation", so it is more likely to relieve factors such as muscles or fascia outside the spinal canal, and the impact on the spinal canal may not be very significant.

The most important thing is to be careful when walking backwards and avoid falling. There have been cases in clinical practice where falls resulted in fractures or even brain trauma.

Three tips for walking backwards correctly:

1. Location: It is recommended to choose the school playground. If it is in a residential area, it is best to choose a flat and straight road, walk along the wall, and have a reference object next to it, while avoiding people and vehicles.

2. Wear loose pants and sneakers. When walking backwards, you should "lift your feet high, step hard, and swing your arms widely". Walk slowly, one step at a time. You can refer to the movements of police officers changing shifts in Hong Kong movies.

3. Do not turn your head (especially for people with cervical spondylosis, turning your head will cause dizziness), and use your peripheral vision to look at reference objects on the side of the road.

A personal little trick: Two people walk together, holding hands, one walking forward and the other walking backward. Think about it, does it make sense?