History and Objectives: The ultimate objective of rehabilitation in sport injury is the rapid and safe return of the individual to his pre-injury status. If the therapeutic plan is oriented only to increase strength, tolerance, and range of motion, and such factors as balance, agility, deep sensation, and neuromuscular coordination are not stressed, the risk of repeated injury will increase. In this study the effect of walking and running as the main function of lower limbs are considered. Materials and methods: This study has been carried out as a clinical trial using six functional performance tests of single leg hop distance test, vertical jump, anaerobic power test, modified Romberg test, shuttle run, and single leg hop for time before and after exercise in two groups of 15 healthy girls matched for age. All the girls had three sessions of 15 minutes running forward and Backward each week for six consecutive weeks. At the end of each week, some of the tests were performed and finally after eight weeks, all the tests were repeated again. Results: In the group walking or running forward, vertical test revealed 0.46% (p>0.003), single leg hop for time 10.52% (p>0.005), vertical jump 9.95% (p>0.005), anaerobic power 4.58% (p > 0.005), modified Romberg test 59.26% (p>0.003), and shuttle run test 2.19% (p>0.001). improvement, and for those with Backward walking or running, single leg hop distance test revealed 4.5% (p>0.003), single leg hop for time 23.89% (p<0.005), vertical jump 2.98% (p>0.005), Anaerobic power test 0.53% (p>0.005), modified Romberg test 68.33% (p>0.003), and shuttle run test 6.88% (p<0.001) improvement. Conclusions: In rehabilitation planning, when improvement of strength, velocity, agility, static balance, and aerobic power is considered, walking and running Backwards, and when increase in vertical jump, or aerobic power is the aim, walking and running forward is recommended.    

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<0.05).Results: Significant differences were seen between FW and BW in most angular variables in sagittal plane. However, there were no significant differences between FW and BW in most parameters of knee angle in frontal plane.Conclusion: Based on the results, with increase in FW inclination and decrease in BW inclination, the knee varus angle in frontal plane reduces. Therefore, FW on the upslope surfaces or BW on downslope surfaces, probably is a suitable solution to reduce the loads exerted on medial compartment of the knee.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Backward walking training on the maximum tensions of the knee and ankle joints’ muscles during forward walking. Thirty volunteer male university students were divided into control and experimental groups and the subjects of the experimental group participated in a 4-week Backward walking training program. Kinematics of the knee and ankle joints of the dominant limb along with the electromyography of their muscles were recorded during forward walking in pre- and post-tests. Maximum muscular tensions of the knee and ankle joints were determined during flexion and extension phases. Results showed Backward walking training decreased the maximum tensions of some of the knee extensors and flexors during forward walking. This reduction, that indicates improvement of control mechanisms of the central nervous system to maintain the joint balance, decreases the energy expenditure and delays the muscle fatigue during forward walking.

Background Motor intervention plays an important role in reducing the disabilities of Down syndrome (DS). A lack of balance and postural control has created motor problems in DS patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of Backward walking on postural stability of DS patients. Materials and Methods Sixteen DS children with 8-10 age range were selected by convenience sampling method and assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group performed Backward walking training for 8 weeks (2 sessions per week, each session for 25 min). The dynamic postural stability of both groups was examined by Biodex stability system (general balance, medial collateral and anterior-posterior balance indexes) before, during and after the training (pretest, 4th week, 8th week and 18th week). To analyze the data and test the hypotheses, independent t test was used. Results The results of this study showed that the three balance indexes in the experimental group was drastically lower than the control group after 8 weeks of Backward walking training (P˂ 0. 01). In addition, significant differences could be observed in balance indexes even 10 weeks after the last session of the Backward walking training (P˂ 0. 05). Conclusion It seems that the findings of this study have confirmed the effect of Backward walking training on the improvement of postural stability and Syndrome children with 8-10 age range can benefit from this method.

Background and aim: Flexible flat foot is a common deformity in lower extremity, the foot arch collapses and the ground reaction forces does not apply properly to the foot. Backward walking is a common rehabilitive technique and is utilized to improve strength and balance. The purpose of this present study is to compare the salient points vertical ground reaction force measurements in flat foot patients while walking forward and Backward with those of healthy subjects using a force plate system.Materials and methods: 10 flexible falt foot female subjects and 10 healthy female subjects were recruited to participate in this study. Each Subject walked 5 times forward and 5 times Backward and the vertical ground reaction force was measured by a force platform.Results: The results of this present study suggest a significant difference in kinetic pattern of forward walking compared to Backward walking in both healthy and flexible flat foot participants. The force related to first peak of vertical ground reaction force was significantly less in forward walking compared to Backward walking (p=0.000). Whereas the force related to trough and second peak of vertical ground reaction force were significantly high in forward walking compared to Backward walking (p=0.000).Conclusion: The results of this study show that Backward walking changes the ground reaction force compared to forward walking; and the main characteristic of this difference is due to decrease of forces applied to the heel of foot which may be important in flat foot patients.

Backward walking compared to forward walking in combination with resistance training and their interference effect have been less studied. So, the purpose of this study was to compare the effect of three resistances, concurrent forward walking, and Backward walking training on the physical and cardiac function in middle-aged men. Methods: In a semi-experimental study design, 48 middle-aged (mean age 56. 5±4. 3 years, mean weight 79. 4 ±4. 9 kg and mean body mass index 27 ±2. 9 kg/m2) were recruited and randomly assigned into four groups: Group 1) resistance training (n=8), Group 2) resistance–aerobic training forward walking/running (n=10), Group 3) resistance–aerobic training Backward walking/running (n=11), and Group 4) control (n=9). The training was performed for eight weeks, three sessions per week. 48-h after the last exercise training, echocardiography (TAPSE, LVEDD, ESV, EF, and RHR), muscle strength, and aerobic capacity were performed. An analysis of variance with repeated measures test was used to analyze the data (p<0. 05). Results: The results showed that despite improvement in aerobic capacity (Group1. 2, 3 and 4, 6. 1, 8. 4, 7. 5, and 1. 3 percent respectively) and muscle strength (Group1. 2, 3 and 4, 5. 5, 2. 15, 3. 8, and-1. 1 kg respectively) there was no significant difference between or within groups in any cardiac performance variables (P>0. 05). However, the training improved some physical performance. Conclusion: In middle-aged men, eight weeks of combined training regardless of aerobic type (forward or Backward walking or running), although it improves aerobic capacity and muscle strength, has no significant effect on cardiac performance. Perhaps the duration or intensity of the training was not enough to affect these variables, which could be considered in future studies

Background and Aim: Study of ground reaction force characteristics during walking is an important descriptor factor in gait pathology. With regard to this subject, the purpose of this study was to compare the vertical ground reaction force during forward and Backward walking in athlete’s ankle sprain.Materials and Methods: The present study was semi-experimental, in which thirteen athletes with ankle sprain and eleven healthy athletes were participated. All participants performed three trials of walking in forward and Backward directions. By using two force plates, ground reaction force was measured on a vertical axis and normalized with body weight. The mean and standard deviation of the data were measured to describe data and two-way ANOVA test was used to analyze the value of between the groups.Results: Findings showed significant differences of the produced ground reaction force in a vertical direction in first and second peak during forward and Backward walking. However, in comparison between groups, there were no significant differences between damaged and healthy athletes.Conclusion: This study shows that the ankle sprain injuries on the ground reaction force generated during walking toward the forward and Backward has no effect, rather the differences between the healthy and affected groups are related to specific patterns of walking for each subject.