A team of researchers and students from Wayne State University’s Eugene Applebaum School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, and Gerontology Research Institute is studying the effects of a backward walking program on patients with multiple sclerosis.
the study, “Structural and functional changes after 8 weeks of backward walking training in multiple sclerosis: A case series.” Published in the January issue of the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy.
A team led by Nora Fritz, Ph.D., Eugene Applebaum Professor and Director of Research in the Department of Health Care Sciences in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the Department of Neurology in the School of Medicine, conducted this study to determine whether backward gait training can improve mobility, balance, brain structure, and reduce the risk of falls. Participants participated in 8 weeks of treadmill and overground backward walking therapy.
“The results of this pilot study showed that backward gait training led to measurable improvements in postural stability and gait speed for the majority of study participants,” said Dr. Fritz. “This suggests that walking backwards may cause positive physical adaptations.”
The authors noted that larger clinical trials are needed to confirm the benefit.
“This new physical therapy intervention was designed to combat the progressive movement challenges associated with MS,” said Dr. Fritz. “We measured structural changes in the brain’s white matter in three brain regions: the body of the corpus callosum, the superior cerebellar peduncle, and the corticospinal tract. The results of this small trial suggest that this type of treatment may promote neuroplasticity in brain areas associated with balance. Our next step is to conduct a larger trial to determine the potential impact this type of treatment may have on all MS patients.”
Wayne State University researchers participating in the study include Mariam Abawi, a doctoral student in the Translational Neuroscience Program. Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Michael VanNostrand. Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Patrick Monaghan. Taylor Takla, PhD student in the Translational Neuroscience Program. Dr. Anna Daugherty, Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Gerontology Institute. Dr. Jeffrey Stanley is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience and director of the Translational Neuroscience Program.
For more information on the research, please visit: https://cdn-links.lww.com/permalink/jnpt/a/jnpt_50_1_2025_12_22_fritz_jnpt-d-24-00138r2_sdc1.mp4
This research was funded by a University Research Grant from Wayne State University.