Backward running (BR) has been used for strength gain and rehabilitation over the past several years, but no study has investigated BR as it is used in competitive sporting events, a maximum velocity. The purpose of this study was to compare the kinematic parameters of maximum velocity BR (BRmax) to the parameters of two forward running velocities (FRmax & FRequal). Thirty runners volunteered for the study. Each participant completed BR trials at maximum velocity, FR trials at maximum velocity (FRmax) and FR trials at BRmax velocity ñ5% (FRequal). Variables that were compared included velocities, stride lengths, stride frequencies, ranges of motion (ROM) of the hip, knee and ankle, intrinsic support lengths (ISL) and stance times. The FR conditions had greater stride lengths, great ROMs at each joint, and greater ISLs than did BRmax. Subjects spent a greater percentage of time in stance during BR than FR and stride frequencies were greater for BRmax than FR. The results indicated that there are major kinematic differences between FR and high speed BR. The shorter stride length of BR may be the most notable difference between BR and FR velocity.
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