CARDIORESPIRATORY AND METABOLIC RESPONSES DURING FORWARD AND BACKWARDWALKING

Level and incline backward treadmill walking techniques are used in th e rehabilitation of certain lower extremity injuries (eg., anterior cr uciate ligament reconstruction). Of interest to clinicians is the main tenance of cardiorespiratory fitness resulting from these activities. The purpose of the present study was to determine the cardiorespirator y and metabolic stress of backward walking compared with forward walki ng. The metabolic cost of backward incline walking above a 1% grade ha s previously not been reported. Seventeen volunteers (11 males and six females, age = 25 +/- 2 years) underwent a forward maximal running te st and four random-ordered 6-minute submaximal walking bouts at 93.8 m /min (3.5 mph). The bouts consisted of forward walking at 0% and 5% el evation and backward walking at 0% and 5% elevation. Measurements take n for each exercise session were oxygen uptake, expired ventilation, h eart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion. Statistical analysis of these dependent variables indicates that: 1) at a given elevation, bac kward walking elicited greater cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perce ptual responses than forward walking and 2) backward walking at 5% ele vation could provide a sufficient stimulus to maintain cardiorespirato ry fitness.