Backward walking trainings are recommended to improve lower limb muscle performance in patients with joint injuries. The purpose of this study was to investigate muscles activity and co-contraction in ankle and knee joints during forward walking (FW) and backward walking (BW) in healthy individuals.

Ten healthy men aged between 18-28 years participated in this study. The activity and co-contraction of selected muscles (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, semitendinosus, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and tibialis anterior) were detected using electromyography (EMG) during stance and swing phases of FW and BW. To identify beginning and end of movement, 4 cameras of motion analysis system were synchronously used with EMG. The data statistical analysis was done using repeated measures ANOVA test via SPSS software.

The activity of tibialis anterior (P < 0.001) and gastrocnemius lateralis (P = 0.02) increased respectively at stance and swing phases of BW in comparison to FW. In knee joint, co-contraction of vastus lateralis and vastus medialis at swing phase of BW increased in comparison to FW (P = 0.02). In the ankle joint, co-contraction of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscles at stance phase of BW increased in comparison to FW (P < 0.001). At swing phase, co-contraction of dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscles decreased during BW in comparison to FW (P = 0.04).

The results of the current study suggest that activity of the lower limb muscles increased during BW in comparison to FW. In addition, co-contraction of lower limb muscles can have mal-effect on knee joint, but useful effect on ankle joint during BW in comparison to FW.

This study aims to assess the effect of a forward and backward walking training program on some inflammatory markers and physical function of older women.

Twenty-four older women (aged 60-75 years) were divided into three groups of walking forward, walking backward, and control. Two groups of walking forward and walking backward, performed training three times a week for eight weeks with an exertion rate of 14-15 according to Borg’s scale. Before and after the training, anthropometric factors (age, body height, body weight, and body mass index) and the muscle strength and muscle endurance were measured and blood sampling (for biochemical analysis) was conducted. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the means in SPSS software, version 23, and the significance level was set at 0.05.

The results showed that backward walking training significantly increased muscle strength and muscle endurance compared to the control and forward walking groups, but the program did not cause a significant change in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, or vitamin D binding protein.

It seems that backward walking training can have a greater effect on physical function in older women compared to forward walking, and lead to a healthier life for them.

Walking as a form of transportation, is the basis for competitive sports as well as health and fitness. However, in connection with the common style of walking forward much research has been done, however, walking backward has not been noticed and is new to most people (11). Walking backward can have potentially beneficial benefits for rehabilitating a physical injury and be equally important for a sedentary one (14). Electromyographic activity of the lower limb muscles while walking backward is higher than forwards, resulting in more energy consumption (15). Other benefits of walking backward include producing more muscle activity due to the personchr('39')s effort compared to walking forward. This consumes more energy while walking backward. Also, walking back requires more oxygen, metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses than walking forward (16, 17). The researches done in this regard have shortcomings so that in none of the researches, a certain speed has been used and the subjects have practiced at the desired speed and the intensity of the exercises is not known in much researches. On the other hand, in this researches, exercises have been performed on a flat surface without slopes and on the ground, and most of the tests performed have been reported in the field using formulas and mathematical calculations, and laboratory and accurate studies are rarely seen among them. Therefore, according to the above, it is possible to observe different effects in training responses by manipulating the components and training methods. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the effect of four weeks of walking back and forth on a treadmill on the components of body composition and physical fitness in sedentary and overweight girls.

The present study was conducted in a quasi-experimental design with two measurement steps and in two groups (walking forward and walking backward). The statistical population of this study was female students of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and the statistical sample of the study was 30 female students who were selected voluntarily through available sampling and based on research criteria. Before the start of the study, all subjects attended a coordination session and in this session, after a complete description of the objectives, research method, and possible risks arising from the research, all subjects completed the informed consent form, relevant questionnaires and randomly in two The group of 15 people was divided into walking forward and walking backward. Subjects in both groups performed back and forth walking protocols for four weeks. Measurement of variables from subjects (fat mass weight, lean mass weight, hamstring flexibility, quadriceps flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, hamstring muscle strength, quadriceps strength, hamstring endurance, quadriceps endurance- Thigh, static balance) was performed in two stages 24 hours before the first training session and 48 hours after the last training session in the fourth week. The training protocol consisted of four weeks of walking forward on a treadmill (for the forward walking group) and four weeks of walking backward on the treadmill (for the backward walking group), which was performed 3 sessions per week (4). Each session included 5 minutes of warm-up and 5 minutes of cooling with a treadmill at the desired speed. The training speed for 4 weeks was 1.1 m / s equal to 4 km / h and the treadmill slope was equal to 5%. To increase the load, the training time was increased by 5 minutes per week and reached 25 minutes in the last week (4). To measure body composition variables (weight, fat mass, and lean mass) from body composition analyzer with Inbody720 brand made in South Korea, the flexibility of hamstring and quadriceps muscle using a goniometer (9). Maximum oxygen consumption using Bruce test (12), lower body muscle strength using forward thigh movements with the machine and back movement with a supine device (10), muscular endurance using repetition to fatigue test with 70% of maximum repetition The person was moving in front of the thigh and behind the thigh with the device (12) and the balance was measured with the help of the Biodex balance device (13). SPSS statistical software (version 16) was used to analyze the data. Also, to compare intra-group and inter-group changes, the dependent and independent therapeutic methods were used, respectively. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

The results showed that between the two groups walking forward and walking backwards in the values of fat mass weight (p = 0.315), lean mass weight (p=0.872), general balance score (p=0.571), There is no significant difference between posterior anterior balance score (p=0.675), lateral balance score (p=0.987) and maximum oxygen consumption (p=0.053). But between the two groups in terms of superior hamstring muscle flexibility (p=0.001), non-superior hamstring muscle flexibility (p=0.015), superior quadriceps muscle flexibility (p=0.012), muscle flexibility Non-superior quadriceps (p=0.001), hamstring muscle strength (p=0.002), quadriceps muscle strength (p=0.001), hamstring muscle endurance (p=0.003) and endurance There is a significant difference in the quadriceps muscle (p=0.001) in favor of the backward walking group.

The results of the present study showed that walking forward during a four-week training period has a positive effect on improving cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, muscle flexibility and static balance, however, it has no effect on body composition indicators. The results also showed that walking backwards during a four-week training period has a positive effect on improving muscle strength, muscle endurance, and muscle flexibility and is more effective than walking forward. It also improves cardiorespiratory endurance index and static balance, although it did not show a significant difference with the way of walking forward, however, it had no effect on body composition indices. Therefore, using this method can play an important role in improving physical fitness indicators in sedentary people. Sedentary and overweight girls can use a four-week back-and-forth workout to improve cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, muscle flexibility, and static balance. Back, this method is recommended.

The effects of concurrent training (CT) on physical fitness (CRF) are well known in different populations. However, less is known about the difference between forwarding (FW) and backward walking (BW) in part of aerobic training. So, the aim of the present study was the comparison of strength training (ST) with CT (FW vs BW) on body composition and physical fitness of middle age men.

For this purpose, 48 middle age men were randomly divided into four groups: ST, concurrent training with forwarding walking (CFW) concurrent training with backward walking (CBW), and control (Con). The subjects did exercise training for eight weeks, three sessions per week. After the last training session the body composition, upper and lower body strength, agility, balance, and aerobic endurance were assessed.

The results showed that there were no significant differences between groups in weight, fat-free mass, and fat mass (P>0.05). Upper and lower body muscle strength, agility and balance, and aerobic endurance were increased in all training groups compared to before and after training with no difference between the groups.Discussion and

It can be said that eight weeks of ST and CT (FW vs BW) has a significant and beneficial effect on the functional performance of middle age men, and there is no concern about the interference effects of these exercises. So, because of the effectiveness of BW on other performance parameters and in order to diversify to CT, BW can be used by trainers as a part of aerobic exercises.