# Backward Locomotion as a Novel Strategy for Enhancing Obesity Management
## 3 Results  
Table 2 presents the changes in cardiovascular, metabolic, electromyographic, and perceived exertion parameters of the participants during forward and backward movement at speeds of 3 km/h and 4 km/h. At 3 km/h, backward locomotion significantly increased VO\({}_{2}\) (1226.53 \(\pm\) 190.76 mL/min), VCO\({}_{2}\) (989.57 \(\pm\) 198.48 mL/min), VO\({}_{2}\) (13.25 \(\pm\) 4.59 mL/min/kg), and energy expenditure (5.86 \(\pm\) 0.91 kcal/min) compared to forward locomotion (_p_\(<\) 0.001). Similarly, at 4 km/h, backward locomotion led to higher VO\({}_{2}\) (150.74 \(\pm\) 210.48 mL/min), VCO\({}_{2}\) (1208.27 \(\pm\) 194.2 mL/min), VO\({}_{2}\) (15.19 \(\pm\) 1.87 mL/min/kg), and energy expenditure (7.17 \(\pm\) 1.03 kcal/min) than forward locomotion (_p_\(<\) 0.001). Heart rate was also elevated during backward locomotion at both 3 km/h (97.33 \(\pm\) 12.47 beats/min) and 4 km/h (108.91 \(\pm\) 12.63 beats/min) compared to forward locomotion (_p_\(<\) 0.001). Post-lactate levels increased after backward locomotion at 4 km/h (2.51 \(\pm\) 0.87 mmol/L, _p_\(=\) 0.04). Perceived exertion (Borg RPE) was higher during backward locomotion than forward locomotion at both speeds. At 3 km/h, Borg RPE was 2.61 \(\pm\) 0.74 for backward locomotion compared to 1.21 \(\pm\) 0.42 for forward locomotion (_p_\(<\) 0.001). At 4 km/h, it reached 4.46 \(\pm\) 1.04 for backward locomotion compared to 2.04 \(\pm\) 0.74 for forward locomotion (_p_\(<\) 0.001). Figure 5 shows the graph of the participants' VO\({}_{2}\) (mL/min) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 6 shows the graph of the participants' VCO\({}_{2}\) (mL/min) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 7 shows the graph of the participants' VO\({}_{2}\) (mL/min/kg) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 8 shows the graph of the participants' heart rate (beats/min) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 9 shows the graph of the participants' energy expenditure (kcal/min) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 10 shows the graph of the participants' Borg RPE (0-10) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 11 shows a graph of the participants' mean pre-lactate and post-lactate (mmol/L) during forward motion at  
Forward locomotion significantly increased quadriceps activation compared to backward locomotion. At 3 km/h, the quadriceps %MVC was higher during forward locomotion (22.02 \(\pm\) 14.50) than backward locomotion (18.94 \(\pm\) 9.17, \(p\) = 0.015). Similarly, at 4 km/h, the quadriceps %MVC was greater during forward locomotion (30.47 \(\pm\) 18.55) than backward locomotion (25.03 \(\pm\) 10.64, \(p\) < 0.001). In contrast, tibialis anterior %MVC and hamstring %MVC were higher during backward locomotion. At 3 km/h, the tibialis anterior %MVC (25.56 \(\pm\) 9.75) and hamstring %MVC (13.18 \(\pm\) 3.18) were elevated in backward locomotion compared to forward locomotion (20.57 \(\pm\) 10.32 and 12.77 \(\pm\) 5.60, respectively, \(p\) < 0.05). At 4 km/h, this trend persisted with the tibialis anterior %MVC (30.81 \(\pm\) 11.60) and hamstring %MVC (18.02 \(\pm\) 4.77) being higher in backward locomotion compared to forward locomotion (20.57 \(\pm\) 10.32 and 12.77 \(\pm\) 5.60, respectively, \(p\) < 0.05). At 4 km/h, this trend persisted with the tibialis  
forward locomotion (26.74 \(\pm\) 14.27 and 15.93 \(\pm\) 6.19, respectively, \(p\) \(<\) 0.001). Figure 12 shows the graph of the participants' quadriceps (MVC%) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 13 shows the graph of the participants' hamstring (MVC%) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 14 shows the graph of the participants' soleus (MVC%) mean values at different speeds and directions. Figure 15 shows the graph of the participants' tibialis anterior (MVC%) mean values at different speeds and directions. These findings indicate that forward locomotion leads to greater quadriceps activation.