OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION, HEART-RATE, AND RATING OF PERCEIVED EXERTION IN YOUNG-ADULT WOMEN DURING BACKWARD WALKING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS

Backward walking has gained popularity as an adjunct to treatment for patients undergoing rehabilitation for patellofemoral pain syndrome an d anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Researchers have suggested that backward walking decreases the compressive forces at the patellofemor al joint while also preventing overstretching of the anterior cruciate ligament. Prior to this study, precise prescription of backward walki ng speeds for women was not possible. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between heart rate, oxygen consumption, an d backward walking speeds. Twenty-five healthy, adult female volunteer s participated in this study. Subjects were tested at speeds of 0.96, 1.20, 1.43, 1.67, and 1.91 m/sec. Subjects also performed a graded exe rcise stress test. Analysis revealed curvilinear relationships between oxygen consumption and speed as well as between heart rate and speed. With these results, clinicians may now prescribe specific speeds of b ackward walking for women to elicit a desired cardiopulmonary response .