Backward Running: Acute Effects on Sprint Performance in Preadolescent Boys

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Pediatric Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Athletic warm-ups are crucial for optimizing sports performance.
• Backward running (BwR) is an alternative training method with potential benefits.
• Understanding the acute effects of BwR on preadolescent sprint performance is important for training program design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acute effects of backward running (BwR) during warm-up on the 20-meter sprint performance of preadolescent boys.
• To compare the impact of BwR warm-up versus forward running (FwR) warm-up on sprint dynamics.
• To assess the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) following different warm-up protocols.

Main Methods:

• Fourteen recreationally active preadolescent boys (12.5 ± 0.5 years) participated in three conditions: control warm-up, warm-up with 3x10m BwR sprints, and warm-up with 3x10m FwR sprints.
• Participants performed a 20-meter sprint and intermediate distance measurements 4 minutes post-warm-up.
• Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after each protocol.

Main Results:

• Sprint speed across the 10-20 meter interval was significantly higher following the BwR warm-up compared to the control warm-up (p < 0.05).
• A significantly higher RPE was observed after both BwR and FwR warm-up protocols compared to the control condition (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in sprint performance were found across the 0-5m, 5-10m, 0-10m, and 0-20m distances between the conditions.

Conclusions:

• While BwR or FwR warm-ups did not enhance overall 20m sprint performance in preadolescent boys, BwR showed a specific benefit in the 10-20m phase.
• Backward running may serve as a viable alternative method to enhance specific phases of sprinting for this age group.
• Further research is needed to determine optimal sprint conditioning stimuli and rest periods for preadolescent boys to maximize performance.