walking backwards as an exercise

[chachee52]

I do this with my patients all the time, especially after hip or knee surgeries. Helps with balance, improves gait pattern walking forward by dynamically stretching the hip flexors (in a round about way), and as you said: it utilizes the glutes and hamstrings more which helps with other functional activities.
Just as long at its a safe area, it's a great exercise. I typically tell people down the hallway, that way you have something to hold onto if your balance is off.