Steps forward in understanding backward gait: from basic circuits to rehabilitation.

Backward locomotion is used increasingly in sports and rehabilitation. However, it is unclear whether training effects of backward walking (BW)/backward running (BR) can be transferred simply to forward walking (FW)/forward running (FR). This touches on the question whether the same neural substrate can generate FW and BW. The available evidence suggests that BW uses the same rhythm circuitry but additionally requires specialized control circuits.