Backward Walking at Three Levels of Treadmill Inclination: An Electromyographic and Kinematic Analysis

Abstract

recent vears, the predominant philosophv of physical therapists and athletic trainers in treating lower extremity injuries has focused on the use of closed kinetic chain exercises. This is based on both observational and experimental data that suggest such exercises are more effective, safer, and more functional than previouslv emploved open kinetic chain exercises (3,8,9,12,20,23,29,30,37,58,41). M'hile a variety of techniques are typically used to create a closed kinetic chain environment, one that has evoked particular interest is backward walking (19,24,25). The functionality of both backward and forward walking in rehabilitation is quite obvious. However, it has been suggested that backward walking mav off'er some benefits beyond those experienced through forward walking alone. Gray reported his observation that backward walking appeared to create "more muscle activity in proportion to effort" than forward walking (24). This observation is supported by research demonstrating that the energy cost of backward walking is greater than that of forward walking ( 1 ) . Both Vilenskv et al (48) and Kramer and Reid (27) concluded that backward walking was different from forward walking. Thev reported that backward walking was associated with increased cadence and decreased stride length when compared with forward walking. These authors also observed that thejoint kinematics involved in backward walking were substantially different from those of forward walking (27.48). In contrast, however, Winter and Pluck (51) concluded that backward walking was a near mirror image of forward walking. Thev reported that, in order to produce the muscle activation patterns involved in forward walking, the

Effects of Partial Body Weight Support while Training Acute Stroke Patients to Walk Backwards on a Treadmill -A Controlled Clinical Trial Using Randomized Allocation-

“…If a certain amount of exercise time is given, a training task that makes lower extremity muscles discharge myogenic potential in a given time is generally effective. It is reported that discharged myogenic potential capacity is higher at various sites in backward walking than in forward walking [1][2][3][4] . Both forward and backward treadmill training were performed over the same period of time and with the same exercise tolerance in this study.…”

“…Walking backwards is different from walking forwards as toe contact is made at the initial foot contact during the stance phase of the gait cycle and the leg is swung, while conscious of the hip extensors' position, in the swing phase. Moreover, differences in muscle activity patterns and myogenic potentials occur while walking backwards compared to walking forwards [1][2][3][4] . For this reason, walking backwards can lead to effects that are not produced by walking forwards as well as increasing exercise tolerance 2,3,5,6) .…”

“…Moreover, differences in muscle activity patterns and myogenic potentials occur while walking backwards compared to walking forwards [1][2][3][4] . For this reason, walking backwards can lead to effects that are not produced by walking forwards as well as increasing exercise tolerance 2,3,5,6) . Training patients to walk backwards may be used as a therapeutic intervention to improve mobility in stroke patients.…”

How do Different Sporting Activities Affect Bone Patella Volume?: A Descriptive Pilot Study

“…In recent years, cycling has been used in clinical settings to successfully rehabilitate traumatic knee injuries in athletes (Flynn & Soutas-Little, 1993;Cipriani et al, 1995;Eisner et al, 1999). Researchers hypothesize that cycling backwards on a cycle ergometer increases muscle fiber activation of the lower-extremity musculature, improving strength.…”

The Effect of Gaze Angle on Muscle Activity and Kinematic Variables during Treadmill Walking

“…Previousstudies have mostly included analysis of gait characteristics (Bergmann, Graichen, & Rohlmann, 1993;Burnfield, 2010) and muscle activities (An, Kim, & Lee, 2007;Cipriani, 1995;McArdle, Katch, & Katch, 2001) according totreadmill speed or inclination. However, muscle activity and kinematic studies on gaze angle during treadmill walking are almost non-existent.…”