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| | The Fit and Healthy Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Want to Sharpen Your Thinking? | Views: 733 | | Jun 26, 2009 2:21 pm | | Want to Sharpen Your Thinking? | # | 
Faye Durham | | Hi All,
There are many things we can do to improve our health that is easy, fun, and free.
Several years ago, Gary Young shared a tip about walking backward for better spinal health.
I found this article worthy of sharing:
Facing a mental challenge? A difficult problem you need to solve? Here's a surprising suggestion that comes from some intriguing Dutch research.
Walking backward might just help sharpen your thinking. In the May 2009 issue of Psychological Science, Severine Koch, PhD and colleagues suggest that whenever you come across a troubling problem or situation, taking some steps back (literally) might actually help you deal with things more effectively.
The team, out of the social and cultural psychology department at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, was interested in the effects that approach type movements (walking toward something or pulling something toward you) and avoidance movements (backing away) have on how the mind works.
The researchers suspected that the body and mind are on higher alert when in avoidance mode.
The study itself involved 38 students who took word tests where they read a color name, red for example, that was sometimes shown in matching red ink, other times shown in another color, like blue. The subjects had to name, as quickly as they could, the color of the ink while walking forward, backward or taking steps to the side.
When the task was easy - the color name and ink color matched - the reaction times were just as good if the subjects were walking forward, backward or sideways. The direction of movement didn't seem to make a difference.
But, when the test was tougher, the color name and ink color used to write the word didn't match, the reaction times for students were best when they were walking backward. Walking forward or sideways had a similar, though not as positive, impact.
Based on the reaction times, Koch and colleagues write that, "backward locomotion appears to be a very powerful trigger to mobilize cognitive resource."
In fact, the Dutch research taps into a new workout phenomenon, walking backward that those who use it say is giving their exercise routines a whole new look.
Backwards runs across Europe are getting large numbers of entrants, and the New York Road Runners Backwards Mile is increasingly popular.
People in Japan routinely practice walking, even running, backward - you might have heard the term retro-exercise. This form of walking burns more calories, increases your balance, as well as your sense of hearing and peripheral vision.
It also helps your hips, legs and trunk as well as giving your abdominals a nice workout too. In fact, 100 steps backward, is equal to 1,000 steps in the conventional way.
What's more, this type of exercise is as low impact as walking forward, great if you're out of shape or recovering from an injury.
When walking backward, it's important not to bend your knee, and to try to keep your feet straight or in a stretched position. This helps keep the impact of the activity low, as well as limiting the range of motion of the knee and hip joints and providing the optimal help for hamstring muscles.
To get the cardiovascular and thinking benefits of this type of workout, you don't have to walk backwards long distances and should start on a track (or a familiar side street) to avoid cars, potholes or other hazards that could cause problems.
To begin, keep your walk to a quarter mile for your first week of workouts. You might also try backward walking with a partner who holds your hands and is the "eyes" while you walk.
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Your thoughts?
Faye
Allergy & Asthma Free
http://www.squidoo.com/allergenPrivate Reply to Faye Durham | | Jun 26, 2009 6:41 pm | | re: Want to Sharpen Your Thinking? | # | 
Mirdza Hayden | |
Wow! That is so interesting!! Who would have thought that walking backwards can not only give us a good workout, but also sharpen our mind. Very interesting... Thanks for sharing, Faye =)
Mirdza
"Working from home helping people around the world"
http://www.CoachMirdza.com
http://HealthStar.VibrantScents.com Private Reply to Mirdza Hayden | | Jul 01, 2009 2:13 pm | | re: re: Want to Sharpen Your Thinking? | # | 
Susan Graves | | Faye
I am always doing things backwards, but I have not tried walking backwards.
I might have to try backwards walking.
Susan
Work From Home Team Leader
http://www.5zones.com
Take a Sniff
http://www.fivezones.comPrivate Reply to Susan Graves | | Jul 01, 2009 2:51 pm | | re: re: re: Want to Sharpen Your Thinking? | # |
Faye Durham | | Susan,
That's your creativity at work! Would love to hear how it works for you. :)
I've been seriously considering about how I can work this into my day. So far, I've been consistent in walking backwards to weigh myself. Looking for more ideas...
Faye
Allergy Free
http://www.squidoo.com/allergen
Private Reply to Faye Durham | | Jul 02, 2009 12:16 am | | re: re: re: re: Want to Sharpen Your Thinking? | # |
Mirdza Hayden | | The kids and I walked backwards today partway to the store - it was fun!!
Mirdza
"Working from home helping people around the world"
http://www.CoachMirdza.com
http://HealthStar.VibrantScents.com Private Reply to Mirdza Hayden | | |
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