Backward walking has is used in a variety of situations
as a form of balance training and as a preventive measure for
falling. Studies analyzing the motions involved in backward
walking have focused on movements of the joints. Among
these studies are those indicating the patterns of movements
in the joints is the reverse of forward walking and that the
trajectories of motion of the two modes of walking are similar1)
. There are also studies that have indicated that the patterns
of movements are different due to differences in the
stride and speed of walking2)
. However, there are almost no
studies that have used kinetic analysis. One of the factors
used in kinetic analysis is ankle power. Ankle power is an
index used to assess forward propulsive force. Ankle power
is calculated by multiplying joint moment and angular velocity.
Positive power indicates energy generation, which is
generally related to concentric contractions, while negative
power indicates energy absorption, which is related to eccentric
contractions3)
. Therefore, plantar flexion (push off)
during forward walking is indicated by a large amount of
positive power generated at the ankle. Plantar flexion plays
a role in forward propulsive force while walking and contributes
to the stability and the initial forward motion of the
lower limb prior to the swing phase4)
. Ankle power is an
important index which provides a deeper understanding of
the movements of the ankle, and the objective of this study
was to perform kinematic and kinetic analyses of the ankle
during both forward and backward walking using threedimensional
motion analysis.