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Abstract Background Badminton, a dynamic sport, demands players to display exceptional physical attributes such as agility, core stability, and reaction time. Backward walking training on a treadmill has garnered attention for its potential to enhance physical attributes and optimize performance in athletes while minimizing the risk of injuries. Objective By investigating the efficacy of this novel approach, we aim to provide valuable insights to optimize training regimens and contribute to the advancement of sports science in badminton. Methodology Sixty-four participants were randomized into a control group (n = 32) and an experimental group (n = 32). The control group received routine exercise training, while the experimental group received routine exercise training along with additional backward walking training on the treadmill. Pre- and post-intervention measurements were taken for core stability using the Plank test, balance using the Star Excursion Balance test, reaction time using the 6-point footwork test, and agility using the Illinois Agility test. Results The results showed that the experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in core stability (p

Background: balance and risk of falls are common problems among People with Parkinson's disease (PD) which compromise their functional independence and quality of life. Various rehabilitation protocols are being used for these patients. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of backward walking training (BWT) and standing balance training (SBT) on balance, and risk of falls among Parkinson's patients. Methodology: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at General Hospital Lahore from June 2020 to March 2021. The Parkinson's Patients of stage 3 or 4 of lower extremity on Brunnstrom motor recovery and the ability to walk 14 m with or without a walking aid or orthosis were included in the study. The Berg Balance Scale was used to evaluate the balance and fall risk. Group A (n=15) received backward walking training and Group B (n=15), standing balance training. The participants were assessed at the baseline, after the 6th week, and after 12 weeks of intervention. Results: The mean age of participants was 50.03+8.36 years. A total of n=17 participants were male while 13 were female. The result showed that group A received backward walking training (BWT) had a significantly large mean difference (22.13+-2.35 vs. 18.20.3.58, 95%CI (1.64,6.22) in BSS score as compared to group B received standing balance training (SBT). Conclusion: The study concluded that standing balance training and backward walking training both are effective, but backward walking training is more effective in improving balance and the risk of falls in Parkinson's patients.

INTRODUCTION. Osteoarthritis of the knee joint or gonarthrosis (GA) is one of the most common joint pathologies. The medical and social significance of GA is associated with its high prevalence and a significant percentage of premature disability and a significant deterioration in the quality of life due to persistent pain syndrome. Modern treatment of patients with GA includes a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods; physical therapy is the leading method of non-drug therapy. By now, a number of studies have been conducted to research the effectiveness of backward walking (BW) in people with GA. AIM. Analysis of scientific data on the possibilities of using BW in the rehabilitation of patients with GA. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A systematic search of literary sources by keywords was carried out: “backward walking”, “gonarthrosis”, “knee osteoarthritis”, “knee joint”, “rehabilitation”, “physical therapy”. DISCUSSION. Recently, backward locomotion is increasingly used in medicine. Kinetic and kinematic analysis during BW showed a number of advantages over the usual method of movement, which can be successfully used for rehabilitation of patients with GA. BW is associated with less overload on knee joints. It is also one of the few natural ways of strengthening the quadriceps. It prevents excessive stretching of the anterior cruciate ligament and improves the stability of the knee joint. BW leads to a more cardiovascular and respiratory load and a more significant aerobic and anaerobic capacity of the organism compared with forward walking at similar parameters of physical activity. CONCLUSION. There is evidence that adding BW to conventional physiotherapy treatment may further reduce pain, functional disability and improve the strength of the quadriceps muscles.

Background In recent years, the incidence of non-specific low back pain has been increasing. The duration of conventional treatment is short, and the symptoms tend to rebound, which has a great impact on the body and mind of patients. Objective To investigate the effectiveness of backward walking based on anti-gravity treadmill training system combined with conventional low back core training on patients with non-specific low back pain. Methods A total of 40 patients with non-specific low back pain admitted to the Rehabilitation Department of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from July to December 2022 were divided into the experimental group (20 cases) and control group (20 cases) according to the random number table method. The control group received conventional low back core training, and the experimental group received backward walking based on anti-gravity treadmill training system on the basis of the control group. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Back Pain Classification Scale (BPS) of the 2 groups were evaluated before and 4 weeks after treatment, respectively. Results There was no significant difference in ODI, VAS and BPS scores between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05) ; after 4 weeks of treatment, ODI, VAS and BPS scores of the 2 groups were decreased, and ODI, VAS and BPS scores of the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P

Although extensive literature exists on forward and backward walking, a comprehensive assessment of gait parameters on a wide and homogenous population is missing. Thus, the purpose of this study is to analyse the differences between the two gait typologies on a relatively large sample. Twenty-four healthy young adults participated in this study. By means of a marker-based optoelectronic system and force platforms, differences between forward and backward walking were outlined in terms of kinematics and kinetics. Statistically, significant differences were observed in most of the spatial–temporal parameters, evidencing some adaptation mechanisms in backward walking. Differently from the ankle joint, the hip and knee range of motion was significantly reduced when switching from forward to backward walking. In terms of kinetics, hip and ankle moment patterns for forward and backward walking were approximately mirrored images of each other. Moreover, joint powers appeared drastically reduced during reversed gait. Specifically, valuable differences in terms of produced and absorbed joint powers between forward and backward walking were pointed out. The outcomes of this study could represent a useful reference data for future investigation evaluating the efficacy of backward walking as a rehabilitation tool for pathological subjects.

Introduction Recently backward/retro walking has been increasingly used in medicine. Kinetic and kinematic analysis during backward walking showed advantages over traditional ambulation making it ideal for those who struggle with knee pain. Retro walking is well known for reducing the strain on the knees and it is one of the few natural ways to strengthen the quadriceps of the thigh. Walking backwards leads to a more significant load on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. This load builds a more substantial increase in both the aerobic and anaerobic capabilities than just walking forward with similar parameters of physical activity. Material and methods A systematic search of studies published during the period up to February 2020 was conducted using bibliographic databases in English, including Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and in Russian, including eLIBRARY, CyberLeninka to summarize the available information on the possibilities of retro walking in treatment and rehabilitation of patients with knee pathology. Search terms included 'backward/retro walking/running', 'knee joint'. Results and discussion Several studies have been performed to explore the effectiveness of backward walking for knee osteoarthritis. There is a strong evidence that backward walking can be a useful adjunct to conventional physiotherapy to improve pain, knee function and strength of the quadriceps muscles. There is a limited number of papers describing effects of backward walking for patellofemoral pain syndrome and anterior cruciate ligament injury. Conclusions Although there is little data overall reporting effects of backward walking, and more studies are needed to further explore this topic this version of walking has been shown to provide great beneficial effects in knee joint rehabilitation.

Background: Backward walking exercise may offer some unique and potentially beneficial differences compared with forward walking exercise. There is still a lack of research on backward walking exercises and forward head posture. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of backward walking exercise on college students forward head posture in their 20s. Methods: Twenty-one subjects participated in the experiment. The subjects were those with a craniovertebral angle (CVA) of 55 degrees or less who understood the purpose and method of this study and voluntarily agreed. A camera capable of taking pictures of the lateral plane was installed at a distance of 1.5 meters before exercising. Pictures were taken before walking backward, and after walking for 15 minutes on the treadmill, the images were taken in the same way. The composition of the backward walking exercise was walking at a rate of 1.0 for 5 minutes, and the remaining 10 minutes were walking at a rate of 1.5. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare CVA and craniorotational angle (CRA) before and after exercise. Results: As a result of this study, there was a significant difference in CVA before and after exercise (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in CRA before and after exercise (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The backward walking exercise and verbal command seems to have positively influenced the changes in CVA and CRA among college students in their 20s. It seems that studies to confirm balance or muscle activity as well as changes in forward head posture through the long-term intervention of the backward walking exercise should be conducted.

In recent years backward walking is increasingly used in sports and medicine. During sports training backward walking can be used as one of the methods of fitness. Backward walking increases the cardiovascular and respiratory loads and aerobic and anaerobic capacities of the organism. Backward walking is associated with less overload of knee joints. It is also one of the few natural ways of strengthening the quadriceps. Backward walking training has found its application in rehabilitation programs for different categories of neurological patients with the aim of restoring sustainable body position and gait. Backward walking is used to elaborate the correct pattern of gait in children with cerebral palsy, in persons with hemiplegia after stroke, in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, in spinal cord injured patients. There is an information about the application of backward walking exercises in diabetic foot syndrome in order to reduce a plantar pressure and in physical rehabilitation of postoperative patients. Tests with backward walking are used for diagnostic purposes - to assess the severity of impaired coordination and motor skills in post-stroke patients and in Parkinson's disease, to identify the minimal walking impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis and for probability of falling prediction in elderly individuals and patients with dizziness.

Introduction: Retro walking or backward walking is an exercise mode which incurs an increased metabolic cost and results in a greater cardiopulmonary demand when compared to forward walking, while placing a lower stress on the joints of the lower limb. Abdominal adiposity, a part of metabolic syndrome, is an early risk-factor for morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Aim: The study aims to compare the effect of retro walking treadmill training and that of forward walking treadmill training, as potential modifiers of general obesity and abdominal obesity in untrained young adults. Materials and Methods: In this quasi experimental study, 111 untrained young men/young males aged 18-25 who were students of a medical university in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were recruited and allocated randomly into two groups. One group underwent retro walking treadmill training five times a week for six weeks, and the other group underwent forward walking treadmill training for the same period. Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), Waist- Height Ratio (WHtR) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were measured before and after the six-week intervention and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: There was a significant reduction in WHR and WHtR in the participants of the retro walking program when compared to participants of forward walking program. The decrease in BMI was not statistically significant. Conclusion: A retro walking training program is more effective in reducing BMI, WHR and WHtR in untrained young adults as compared to a forward walking program.

Purpose: Forward Walking (FW) and Backward Walking (BW) on different gradients of the treadmill is a common exercise for lower extremity rehabilitation. However, limited studies are found about the three-dimensional analysis of lower extremity and status of the knee joint during FW and BW on different gradients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the lower extremity joints kinematics during FW and BW on incline and decline surfaces. Methods: The current research has a quasi-experimental design. Sixteen healthy males with the mean (SD) age of 22.4(2.5) years, volunteered to participate in this study. The subjects’ FW and BW with their preferred speed on a treadmill at four gradients (-7.5%, 0%, +5% and +10%), were analyzed by using motion capture system. All data were analyzed using paired sample t test (P

Studies have compared the differences and similarities between backward walking and forward walking, and demonstrated the potential of backward walking for gait rehabilitation. However, current evidence supporting the benefits of backward walking over forward walking remains inconclusive. Considering the proven association between gait and the cerebral cortex, we used electroencephalograms (EEG) to differentiate the effects of backward walking and forward walking on cortical activities, by comparing the sensorimotor rhythm (8–12 Hz, also called mu rhythm) of EEG signals. A systematic signal procedure was used to eliminate the motion artifacts induced by walking to safeguard EEG signal fidelity. Statistical test results of our experimental data demonstrated that walking motions significantly suppressed mu rhythm. Moreover, backward walking exhibited significantly larger upper mu rhythm (10–12 Hz) suppression effects than forward walking did. This finding implies that backward walking induces more sensorimotor cortex activity than forward walking does, and provides a basis to support the potential benefits of backward walking over forward walking. By monitoring the upper mu rhythm throughout the rehabilitation process, medical experts can adaptively adjust the intensity and duration of each walking training session to improve the efficacy of a walking ability recovery program.

Backward walking (BW) is being increasingly used in neurologic and orthopedic rehabilitation as well as in sports to promote balance control as it provides a unique challenge to the sensorimotor control system. The identification of initial foot contact (IC) and terminal foot contact (TC) events is crucial for gait analysis. Data of optical motion capture (OMC) kinematics and inertial motion units (IMUs) are commonly used to detect gait events during forward walking (FW). However, the agreement between such methods during BW has not been investigated. In this study, the OMC kinematics and inertial data of 10 healthy young adults were recorded during BW and FW on a treadmill at different speeds. Gait events were measured using both kinematics and inertial data and then evaluated for agreement. Excellent reliability (Interclass Correlation > 0.9) was achieved for the identification of both IC and TC. The absolute differences between methods during BW were 18.5 ± 18.3 and 20.4 ± 15.2 ms for IC and TC, respectively, compared to 9.1 ± 9.6 and 10.0 ± 14.9 for IC and TC, respectively, during FW. The high levels of agreement between methods indicate that both may be used for some applications of BW gait analysis.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as variáveis espaço-temporais entre o andar para frente (AF) e para trás (AT) em indivíduos com hemiparesia. Dez participantes com hemiparesia crônica (30,6±25,1 meses), comprometimento motor leve (20-31 pontos no Fugl-Meyer-membro inferior), bom equilíbrio (escore=50±7 na escala de Berg) e marcha independente (capaz de caminhar 10 metros sem auxilio) foram filmados caminhando em velocidade confortável, com marcadores reflexivos nos maléolos laterais. As variáveis comprimento, duração e velocidade da passada, bem como duração do apoio foram analisadas pela ANOVA com 2 fatores: tarefa e membro inferior. O comprimento da passada foi menor (~44cm) no AT do que no AF (F(1,18)=130,94; p≤0,001), assim como a velocidade da passada (F(1,18)=163,78;p≤0,001) e da marcha (t19=10,99;p≤0,001). A duração da passada e do apoio foram respectivamente maiores, ~0,18s e ~8%, no AT do que no AF, (F(1,18)=11,98; p=0,003; F(1,18)=32,00; p≤0,001, respectivamente). Embora o comprimento da passada do AT seja reduzido, o maior tempo do MI parético suportando o peso do corpo no AT pode ser um indicador relevante na reabilitação motora.The present study aimed to compare spatial temporal variables between forward (FW) and backward walking (BW) in individuals with hemiparesis. Ten adults with chronic hemiparesis (30.6±25.1 months), mild motor impairment (20-31 points on Fugl-Meyer lower limb test), good balance (score=50±7 in the Berg scale) and independent walking (able to walk 10 meters without aid) were videotaped walking at comfortable speed with reflexive markers placed on lateral malleolus. The variables stride length, duration and speed and stance phase duration were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA: task and lower limb (LL). Stride length was lower (~44cm) in BW than in FW (F(1,18)=130,94; p≤0,001), as well as for stride (F(1,18)=163,78;p≤0,001) and walking speed (t19=10,99;p≤0,001). Stride and stance duration were ~0,18s e ~8%, respectively larger in BW than in FW (F(1,18)=11,98; p=0,003; F(1,18)=32,00; p≤0,001, respectively). Although the stride length in BW was reduced, the fact that the affected LL remained longer in stance in BW compared to FW indicates that the BW might be a relevant parameter in motor rehabilitation.

Abstract Background Falls remain a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. It is suggested that backward walking (BW) may offer some benefits especially in balance and motor control ability beyond those experienced through forward walking (FW), and may be a potential intervention for prevention of falls. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BW on balance in boys. Methods Sixteen healthy boys (age: 7.19 ± 0.40 y) were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group participated in a BW training program (12-week, 2 times weekly, and 25-min each time) but not the control group. Both groups had five dynamic balance assessments with a Biodex Stability System (anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, and overall balance index) before, during and after the training (week- 0, 4, 8, 12, 24). Six control and six experimental boys participated in a study comparing kinematics of lower limbs between FW and BW after the training (week-12). Results The balance of experimental group was better than that of control group after 8 weeks of training (P < 0.01), and was still better than that of control group (P < 0.05), when the BW training program had finished for 12 weeks. The kinematic analysis indicated that there was no difference between control and experimental groups in the kinematics of both FW and BW gaits after the BW training (P > 0.05). Compared to FW, the duration of stance phase of BW tended to be longer, while the swing phase, stride length, walking speed, and moving ranges of the thigh, calf and foot of BW decreased (P < 0.01). Conclusion Backward walking training in school-aged boys can improve balance.