Korean J Sports Med.  2010 Jun;28(1):37-43.

The Effect of Forward and Backward Treadmill walking Training on Muscular Strength of Lower Extremities before and after Exhausting Exercise

• Ryu HY
• Yoon BC
• Park SK
• Park HC
• Yoon SJ

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological effects of forward and backward walking training on lower extremity muscle strength before and after exhausting exercise. Fourteen healthy male adults were randomly divided into backward walking (BW, n=7) and forward walking (FW, n=7) training groups. Each group took part in pre-test consisted of knee extensor and flexor isokinetic peak torque (PT), total work (TW), electromyography (EMG) before and after exhausting exercise. Exhausting exercise was used to measure lower extremity endurance, which is incremental treadmill running using the Bruce protocol. The BW and FW training groups participated in a 6 weeks training program, consisted of 3 sessions per week for a total of 18 sessions. After finishing the training program, the post-test was performed using the same method. BW training group showed significant increases in knee extensor/flexor PT (4.6%/13.9%), TW (17.34%), EMG (35.9%) before exhausting exercise and PT (23.9%/18.8%), TW (46.7%), EMG (59.8%) after exhausting exercise. But FW training group did not show a significant increase in knee extensor/flexor PT (0.1%/3.2%), TW (1.8%), EMG (10.9%) before exhausting exercise and PT (2%/1%), TW (5.6%), EMG (17.2%) after exhausting exercise. BW training has positive effects on lower extremity muscle strength, especially muscle endurance that is important to prevent muscle weakness during competitive sports.

Keyword

Backward walking; Strength; Endurance; Exhausting; EMG

MeSH Terms

Adult
Electromyography
Humans
Knee
Lower Extremity
Male
Muscle Strength
Muscle Weakness
Muscles
Running
Sports
Torque
Walking