It’s not just for walking/running forward! Walking backwards on a treadmill, especially on an incline, really activates your glutes and hamstrings. (Prove it to yourself by holding a couple fingers on your butt or back of your thigh to feel the muscles contract) Those muscles will be working to control the forward momentum of your leg and then lift it back up to starting position again. Start very slow because it’s a lot harder than it looks (I do it at 2.5MPH/6-8% incline) and hold on at first until you feel comfortable. BTW, despite the slow speed, you’ll still be working– notice your elevated HR. Try going backwards for a few minutes at a time each workout, at the start of your cooldown if you like.
