Effects of Backward Walking Training on Balance, Mobility, and Gait in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background and Purpose: Backwards walking has shown promise as an intervention in many at-risk populations. The purpose of this study was to determine the benefits of backward walking training on balance, mobility, and plantar flexor endurance in individuals 60 years of age and older. Methods: Participants were community-dwelling, ambulatory older adults. The kinematics of forward and backward walking, the Mini BESTest, timed-up-and-go test, four-square step test, Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale, and single heel-rise test were performed. The control group were tested and re-tested five weeks later. The intervention group was tested at baseline and following ten backward-walking training sessions. Results: The training group improved on the Dynamic Gait subsection of the Mini-BESTest, the timed-up-and-go test, the number of heel-rises and the total work done in the heel-rise test. The control group did not improve in these measures, although they generally had better function at baseline than the intervention group. Conclusion: Backward walking training benefits plantar flexor endurance and dynamic balance during gait. These results justify further study in frailer older adults and a more rigorous study design.