Hao Wei-Ya, Chen Yan
China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing, China.
Sports Med Arthrosc Rehabil Ther Technol. 2011 Oct 22;3:24. doi: 10.1186/1758-2555-3-24.
Falls remain a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. It is suggested that backward walking (BW) may offer some benefits especially in balance and motor control ability beyond those experienced through forward walking (FW), and may be a potential intervention for prevention of falls. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BW on balance in boys.
Sixteen healthy boys (age: 7.19 ± 0.40 y) were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group participated in a BW training program (12-week, 2 times weekly, and 25-min each time) but not the control group. Both groups had five dynamic balance assessments with a Biodex Stability System (anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, and overall balance index) before, during and after the training (week- 0, 4, 8, 12, 24). Six control and six experimental boys participated in a study comparing kinematics of lower limbs between FW and BW after the training (week-12).
The balance of experimental group was better than that of control group after 8 weeks of training (P < 0.01), and was still better than that of control group (P < 0.05), when the BW training program had finished for 12 weeks. The kinematic analysis indicated that there was no difference between control and experimental groups in the kinematics of both FW and BW gaits after the BW training (P > 0.05). Compared to FW, the duration of stance phase of BW tended to be longer, while the swing phase, stride length, walking speed, and moving ranges of the thigh, calf and foot of BW decreased (P < 0.01).
Backward walking training in school-aged boys can improve balance.
跌倒仍是儿童发病和死亡的主要原因。有人认为，向后行走（BW）可能具有一些益处，特别是在平衡和运动控制能力方面，超出向前行走（FW）所带来的效果，并且可能是预防跌倒的一种潜在干预措施。本研究的目的是调查向后行走对男孩平衡能力的影响。
16名健康男孩（年龄：7.19±0.40岁）被随机分为实验组或对照组。实验组参加向后行走训练计划（为期12周，每周2次，每次25分钟），而对照组不参加。两组在训练前、训练期间和训练后（第0、4、8、12、24周）使用Biodex稳定性系统进行五次动态平衡评估（前后、内外侧和总体平衡指数）。训练结束后（第12周），六名对照组和六名实验组男孩参与了一项比较向前行走和向后行走下肢运动学的研究。
训练8周后，实验组的平衡能力优于对照组（P<0.01），向后行走训练计划完成12周时，实验组的平衡能力仍优于对照组（P<0.05）。运动学分析表明，向后行走训练后，对照组和实验组在向前行走和向后行走步态的运动学方面没有差异（P>0.05）。与向前行走相比，向后行走的支撑相持续时间倾向于更长，而向后行走的摆动相、步长、步行速度以及大腿、小腿和足部的移动范围减小（P<0.01）。
学龄男孩进行向后行走训练可以提高平衡能力。
