• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2020

Background: Backward walking exercise may offer some unique and potentially beneficial differences compared with forward walking exercise. There is still a lack of research on backward walking exercises and forward head posture. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of backward walking exercise on college students forward head posture in their 20s. Methods: Twenty-one subjects participated in the experiment. The subjects were those with a craniovertebral angle (CVA) of 55 degrees or less who understood the purpose and method of this study and voluntarily agreed. A camera capable of taking pictures of the lateral plane was installed at a distance of 1.5 meters before exercising. Pictures were taken before walking backward, and after walking for 15 minutes on the treadmill, the images were taken in the same way. The composition of the backward walking exercise was walking at a rate of 1.0 for 5 minutes, and the remaining 10 minutes were walking at a rate of 1.5. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare CVA and craniorotational angle (CRA) before and after exercise. Results: As a result of this study, there was a significant difference in CVA before and after exercise (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in CRA before and after exercise (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The backward walking exercise and verbal command seems to have positively influenced the changes in CVA and CRA among college students in their 20s. It seems that studies to confirm balance or muscle activity as well as changes in forward head posture through the long-term intervention of the backward walking exercise should be conducted.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify whether backward walking exercise was more effective than conventional physical therapy for balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to the experimental (n=9) or control (n=9) group. The experimental and control group performed backward walking exercise and conventional physical therapy, respectively, for 8 weeks. Stability Index (SI) and Weight Distribution Index (WDI) during standing were assessed using the Tetrax Balance System. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Korean version of the Berg Balance Scale (K-BBS) were used to evaluate balance and fall risk. Walking speed, stride length, and step length on the affected side were measured using the 10-Meter Walk and ink foot printing tests. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for within- and between- group comparisons, respectively. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significantly higher changes in SI (p<.01), WDI (p<.01), TUG (p<.001), and BBS score (p<.001) following intervention compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed significantly greater improvements in walking speed (p<.01), stride length (p<.001), and step length on the affected side (p<.001) after intervention compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Backward walking exercise is an effective intervention to improve balance and gait in hemiplegic stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the effect of a backward walking exercise using a mirror on balance and gait in patients with stroke. METHODS: Twenty subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis volunteered to participate in this study. The experimental and control groups performed backward walking exercise plus conventional therapy or conventional physical therapy, respectively, for 6 weeks. Assessment instruments included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and 10-m walking test (10MWT). Evaluation was performed before and after the 6-week training period. We conducted a paired t-test to compare the within-group changes before and after the intervention. An independent t-test was used to compare between-group differences. The statistical significance level was set at ${\alpha}=.05$ for all variables. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significant within-group change in the BBS, TUG, and 10MWT (p<.05). The control group also showed a significant change (p<.05). A significant difference was observed between the experimental and control groups with regard to changes in the BBS, TUG, and 10MWT results after the interventions (p<.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that backward walking exercise using a mirror may be valuable for future research. Further studies with a wider range of pathology and longer experiment duration are required to validate the results of the present study.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.241-250
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• 2022

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of backward walking exercise on changes in the cervical angle and gait parameters in subjects with moderate forward head posture. Methods : Four subjects were selected for this study. In particular, subjects with an average of 43 subjects with moderate craniovertebral angles were selected as the criteria for subject selection. The exercise program consisted of a 5 minutes warm-up exercise, 20 minutes main exercise, and 5 minutes cool-down exercise. In the main exercise, the treadmill speed was 2.5 km/h for men, 2.0 km/h for women in the first week, from the 2nd week to the 4th week, it was increased by 0.5 km/h every week. Results : Craniovertebral angle increased by 2.06±2.46 ° before and after the backward walking exercise, and craniorotational angle decreased by -1.69±3.33 ° before and after exercise. As for the gait parameters, in the amount of change before and after the backward walking exercise, the left foot pressure was 4.58±5.70 % from front to back and the right foot pressure was 5.08±3.06 % from front to back. The left step length and right step length showed a change of -.33±4.43 cm and -2.08±7.26 cm, respectively. stride length showed a change of -2.59±11.18 cm. The left and right stance phase showed a change of -1.02±2.03 % and -1.23±1.54 %, respectively. The left and right swing phase showed changes of 1.02±2.03 % and 1.22±1.53 %, respectively. The left and right step times were -.01±.06 sec and -.02±.12 sec, respectively. The stride time showed a change of -.03±.18 sec. Conclusion : Changes in cervical angle and gait parameters were confirmed by performing backward walking exercise for subjects with moderate forward head posture for 4 weeks. Therefore, additional research should be conducted based on this case study.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2018

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between heart rate (HR), self-awareness of exercise intensity (rating of perceived exertion, RPE), and 5-meter walk test (5MWT) of persons affected by stroke during backward walking according to the preferred stride frequency (PSF), PSF+3 and PSF+6 conditions. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 11 persons with stroke (9 males, 2 females) participated voluntarily. All patients underwent backward walking under the PSF, PSF+3, and PSF+6 conditions in underwater and ground environments, and each condition was performed for 5 minutes. The HR, RPE, and walking speeds were measured during walking, and the measured values from underwater and ground environments were compared. Results: The HR and RPE in the ground environment were significantly increased (p<0.05), and although the 5MWT showed an increase in speed, it was not significant. The HR and RPE in the underwater environment were also significantly increased (p<0.05), however, although the 5MWT results was increased, it was not significant. The HR and RPE were significantly increased in the PSF+6 condition (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that backward gait training underwater can provide an appropriate exercise intensity for stroke survivors and suggests that exercises performed in an underwater environment is more effective compared to the ground environment.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.566-572
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• 2013

This study aims to compared effect of balance between general walking exercise and power walking exercise. Twenty subjects were classified into two groups, general walking exercise(n=10) and power walking exercise(n=10). As a result, two group showed difference within the group and there is significant difference between two groups. 1) In compared static balance of sway area at pre-post test to exercise group, general walking exercise group did not change significantly. however, power walking exercise group did change significantly. and At sway distance, two group showed significant changes. 2) In compared Static balance between the groups sway area and sway path at pre-post test, two group showed significant changes. 3) In compared dynamic balance of center distance at pre-post test to exercise group, general walking exercise group was no significant difference in all directions. power walking exercise group was significant difference in all directions. 4) In compared dynamic balance between the groups sway area and sway path at pre-post test, there was no significant difference in leftward, rightward, forward directions and was significant difference in backward, overall direction. Therefore, power walking exercise can be recommended promote balance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2199-2205
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to find out the effects of depending on variations of speed in backward walking on lower extremities muscle. For this study, 30 members were randomly divided into three groups; groupI(n=10, forward walking: 5km/h), groupII(n=10, backward walking: 5km/h), groupIII(n=10, backward walking: 2.5km/h). This exercise was performed to 30 minutes 4 times a week for 4 weeks. This study was measured before the exercise and after 4 weeks. The result of this study are as follows. The muscle activity of rectus femoRIS was higher in backward walking group(p<.01) than in forward walking group and it was the highest at groupII(p<.001). The quadriceps muscle strength of thigh was higher in backward walking group(p<.01) than in forward walking group and it was the highest at groupII(p<.001). From these results, backward walking training was effective on muscle activity, strength of thigh muscle. Although fast speed backward walking was most effective, low speed backward walking that compare with forward walking was effective.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the activity of the thigh muscle(rectus femoris, vastus medial/ lateralis, hamstring medial/lateralis) which are caused by the change cf lower extremity muscle activity to speed and inclination during forward and backward walking on the treadmill. Method: Twenty healthy young adults were recruited. The subjects were given a warm-up for 1 minute at the speed of 2.0km/h before exercise, and 2km/h to 4km/h from 10% to 4km/h in the frontal and backward walking. Result: In the present study, it was found that the muscle activity of the lateral broad and inward wide muscles increased when the treadmill was backward for 40 seconds without training. And the femur and the muscle were significantly different from 10% to 4km/h(p<.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that in the treadmill, it is effective in increasing the leg strength in the backward walking than in the forward walking. And it was concluded that muscle activity increased at 4km/h when the speed was 2km/h when backward walking.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.135-144
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 2 weeks of backward walking exercise (BWE) on cervical angle and gait parameters in college students with forward head posture. Methods : Fifteen subjects participated in the experiment. All the participants had a craniovertebral angle (CVA) of 55 degrees or less. The purpose of the study was explained to all the subjects prior to participation, and volunteered to take part in the study. A camera capable of taking pictures of the lateral plane was installed at a distance of 1.5 meters from each subject. Images of forward head posture were obtained before and after performing the BWE, and the CVA and craniorotational angle (CRA) were compared pre- versus post exercise. Foot pressure and gait parameters (step length of left and right, stride length, stance of left and right, swing of left and right, step time of left and right, and stride time) were measured using a rehabilitation treadmill. The subjects performed the BWE for 2 weeks. The exercise program consisted of a 5-minute warm-up exercise, 20-minute main exercise, and 5-minute cool-down exercise. In the main exercise, the treadmill speed was set to 2.4 km/h in the first week and 3.4 km/h in the second week. A paired t test was used to compare the CVA and CRA and gait parameters before and after the exercise. Results : Comparison of the CVA and CRA before and after the BWE revealed a significant difference post exercise, with a marked improvement in forward head posture after the exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, the BWE is considered to be an effective exercise for the forward head posture. Also, additional research is needed to shed light on the impact of the BWE on gait parameters.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2010

Purpose: This study examined how the degrees of muscle activity of Rectus Femoris and Tibialis Anterior during the four phases of walking vary according to three different treadmill slopes of $0^0$, $7^0$, and $15^0$. Methods: Subjects were 14 randomly selected healthy students attending G University in Seoul, Korea who had never had articular problems with lower limb and had no difficulties walking at the time of study. Results: 1) With respect to Rectus Femoris, in every phase of both forward and backward walking, there were significant differences among all of the slope degrees (p <.05), while the activity increased with increased slope degrees in every phase of backward walking. 2) For Tibialis Anterior, only in P2 and P3 of both forward and backward walking there were significant differences in every slope (p <.05). Conclusion: Both Rectus Femoris and Tibialis Anterior were found to be more active during backward walking compared to backward walking. In addition, the activity degree of Rectus Femoris was high between the early part of two foot support phase and the early part of one foot support phase, whereas that of Tibialis Anterior was high between the early part of one foot support phase and the latter part of both foot support phase.