Forward and Retro Locomotion Training on Anthropometrical Body Compositions and Aerobic Performance

Abstract

Background Forward and retro locomotion on a treadmill is a common tool for lower extremity rehabilitation in the clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect on anthropometrical body composition adaptations and aerobic performance during forward and retro locomotion training on a treadmill at 10-degree inclinations.

Methods A convenience sample of 30 healthy male subjects with mean age of 20.93±2.54 years, participated in the study. Subjects were divided into 2 groups, Forward Locomotion Group (FLG) and Retro Locomotion Group (RLG) (n=15) and performed forward and retro locomotion training on a treadmill at 10-degree inclination respectively for duration of 6 weeks. Study outcomes such as aerobic performance and anthropometrical body composition were measured at pre and post intervention phases.

Results Although both FLG and RLG training improved aerobic performance significantly. However, RLG reported a significant improvement as compared to FLG in the above parameters. Whereas, anthropometrical body composition changes are not found to be significant even after 6 weeks of intervention in both groups.

Conclusion Both the forward and retro locomotion training improved aerobic performance but not the body composition variables, also retro locomotion training was more effective than forward locomotion in improving aerobic performance.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Gehtraining und Rückwärtsgehen auf dem Laufband sind im klinischen Umfeld eine gängige Maßnahme in der Rehabilitation der unteren Extremitäten. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Wirkung auf die anthropometrischen Parameter der Körperzusammensetzung und die aerobe Leistung während des Gehtrainings und Rückwärtsgehens auf einem Laufband bei 10 Grad Neigung zu untersuchen.

Methoden An der Studie nahmen 30 willkürlich ausgewählte, gesunde männliche Probanden mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 20,93±2,54 Jahren teil. Die Probanden wurden in 2 Gruppen aufgeteilt; eine Gruppe erhielt ein normales Gehtraining (forward locomotion group FLG), die andere trainierte Rückwärtsgehen (retro locomotion group RLG) (n=15). Das Training wurde über einen Zeitraum von 6 Wochen auf einem Laufband mit 10 Grad Neigung durchgeführt. Ergebnisse wie die aerobe Leistungsfähigkeit und die anthropometrischen Parameter der Körperzusammensetzung wurden jeweils vor und nach dem Training gemessen.

Ergebnisse Zwar konnten beide Gruppen die aerobe Leistungsfähigkeit signifikant verbessern, im Vergleich war aber die Verbesserung der RLG-Gruppe (Rückwärtsgehen) signifikant größer als die der FLG-Gruppe (Gehtraining). Dagegen waren die Veränderungen der anthropometrischen Parameter selbst nach 6 Wochen Training in keiner der beiden Gruppen signifikant.

Schlussfolgerung Sowohl das Gehtraining als auch das Rückwärtsgehen verbesserten die aerobe Leistungsfähigkeit, nicht jedoch die anthropometrischen Parameter der Körperzusammensetzung. Außerdem konnte durch das Rückwärtsgehen die aerobe Leistungsfähigkeit wirksamer als mit dem einfachen Gehtraining gesteigert werden.

Key word

Forward locomotion - Retro locomotion - Aerobic - Body composition

Schlüsselwörter

Gehtraining - Rückwärtsgehen - aerobe Leistung - Körperzusammensetzung

Publication History

Received: 23 December 2019

Accepted: 11 June 2020

Article published online:
10 August 2020

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