Fitness fanatics in Eastern China's Suzhou City have embraced a bizarre new exercise routine dubbed the 'Crocodile Crawl', as seen in footage captured at a local park on Sunday.

Video shows people of all ages crawling in procession on all fours and chanting in unison during the intense workout which organisers claim bolsters back strength and helps to relieve spinal pain.

"A few years ago, we discovered this crawling exercise. We thought it was quite unique and fresh, so we decided to give it a try," said Zhu Jianlian, leader of the 'Crocodile Crawl Fitness Group'.

"At first, people were not very interested; only a few individuals participated. However, everyone gradually found it fun, and more and more people joined in. Now, we have 80 members," he continued.

Zhu explained that the routine begins at 5:00 every morning, with participants walking to the top of a mountain to perform warm-up exercises.

"After we finish, we gather around at 6:10 to practice the crocodile crawl. We do two rounds and finish around 6:25. Since 80% of our members have to go to work," he added.

A participant said he was convinced to join the group after watching fitness influencers perform unique exercises on social media.

"We wanted to challenge ourselves to see if we could do it too," he said. "Once we tried it, we realised it significantly strengthened our core, arms, waist, and legs."

"Overall, it's been great. We feel completely rejuvenated, and our mental outlook and overall well-being have improved significantly," the man added.

Despite the organiser's claims that the Crocodile Crawl has health benefits, doctors have warned that the intense workout is not for everybody and could be harmful to some, including older people.