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If you’ve ever felt that oh-so-devastating twinge under your kneecap during your training, you’re not alone. In fact, patellofemoral pain syndrome—commonly referred to as runner’s knee—is one of the most common knee conditions reported among recreational runners, according to a 2023 study in Physical Therapy in Sport.
Sure, resting, icing your knee, and doing various strengthening exercises will help you heal. But what if we told you that you could fix your knee by hopping on the treadmill—backward?
A viral video making the rounds on TikTok claims that slowly walking backward on the treadmill on an incline for 10 to 15 minutes will relieve your pain and fix the underlying problem causing it While you can’t trust everything you see on social media these days, this workout is legit, according to Alison Marie Helms, Ph.D., an NASM-certified personal trainer, UESCA-certified running coach, and creator of the Women’s Running Academy.
We asked Helms to break down why this treadmill workout does the trick, plus how to do it safely.
How Exactly Does Walking Backward on an Incline Benefit Your Knees?
“Walking backward offers quad-strengthening that studies have suggested may be beneficial to those experiencing knee pain,” Helms says.
For instance, a small 2019 study in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders had one group of participants walk forward for 10 minutes three days a week for six weeks. The other group walked backward for the same amount of time. The group that followed the backward-walking program had a greater reduction in knee pain intensity and more quad strength than the group that followed the forward-walking program.
This is because the toe-to-heel movement of your feet during backward walking (as opposed to the heel-to-toe movement of forward walking) engages your quads, “which support your knees and absorb some of the impact,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Many people who struggle with knee pain also struggle to load the foot well—rolling of one side of the foot or the other, for instance,” Helms says. “Walking backward, landing first on the big toe and rolling back onto the whole foot, can help retrain more natural foot mechanics.”
Here’s How to Do It
While walking backward on a treadmill may sound simple enough, Helms has a few specifics you should follow. Feel free to tweak these metrics based on what feels best to you.
Set your treadmill to 2 mph or less with an incline of around 5 percent.
You can start with as little as 3 to 5 minutes on the treadmill and work up to 10 to 15 minutes over time.
Helms suggests doing this workout 2 to 3 times a week as a warm-up before your run or strength-training session.
Safety Tips to Keep in Mind
Walking backward isn’t a natural movement, so it can be a bit tricky at first. Helms suggests holding onto the rails of the treadmill until you’ve settled into a natural rhythm. Take it slow, and stay toward the top of the treadmill (closest to where the controls are) so you don’t risk falling off.
If You Don’t Have a Treadmill
If you don’t have a treadmill, no worries—you can still do this workout. Helms suggests finding a hill that’s around a 5 percent grade in a safe place (no traffic, obstacles, or tripping hazards). Walk backward up the hill 4 to 5 times for 30 seconds each.
If you don’t have access to a hill, a backward sled pull will also do the trick. Wrap a strap around your waist, attach it to the sled, and walk backward, dragging that load 4-5 times for 30 seconds each.
Who Should Try It?
If you’re a conscientious runner looking to prevent knee pain, it might be worth adding some backward incline walking to your strength training routine. If you’re in the throes of knee issues, this method can work for people who have knee pain, like runner’s knee, or osteoarthritis, according to Central Ohio Spine & Joint.
The symptoms of runner’s knee are:
A dull ache on or around the kneecap
Stiffness or tenderness in the knee joint
Pain when squatting, walking downhill, or walking after prolonged periods of sitting
The symptoms of osteoarthritis are:
Pain when moving the knee joint
Stiffness in the knee joint upon waking
Swelling around the knee joint
Looseness or instability in the knee joint
If this sounds like your knee issue, and the pain is mild enough that you can still run, then this remedy might be a great first step in rehabbing this problem. Note that because the stimulus from walking backward is very low, you may need to level up your strengthening routine to bulletproof your knees for the distances you want to tackle.
“You’ll need to load that pattern with a bigger stimulus to get lasting change,” Helms says. “More traditional strength training using squats and lunges is probably more effective at strengthening the quads. The key is to actually allow the knee to travel over the toes and build up capacity there over time.”
Of course, not all knee pain is runner’s knee or osteoarthritis, which is why it’s always a good idea to get a professional opinion before attempting to fix the problem yourself. If you have sharp pain, tenderness that just won’t go away, or discomfort that’s impacting your gait, step away from the treadmill and call a medical professional, like a physical therapist or sports doctor. They can provide an individual treatment plan for you and ensure your knee heals properly.
