Background: Regular physical activity plays a key role in improving metabolic health and physical fitness. The current study aimed to investigate and compare the impact of two training methods, forward and backward running, on changes in body composition, lipid profiles, cardiovascular function, and some physical fitness indices in young men.
Methods: Thirty eligible young men were selected and divided into two homogeneous groups: forward and backward running. Both groups performed interval running training four days per week for eight weeks (Two minutes of training at 60-85% of the maximum heart rate and one minute of active rest at 35-50% of the maximum heart rate). The interval training programs of both groups were identical, differing only in directions.
Results: There was a significant difference between the effects of two training methods on body fat percentages, waist-hip ratio, anaerobic power, agility, triglyceride and HDL-C (P < 0.05), while they showed no significant difference in terms of weight, body mass index, aerobic power, velocity, glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and Rate Pressure Product (RPP) (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Results of the present study indicated that eight weeks of backward interval running improved some components of physical fitness, body composition and lipid profiles in young men compared with the forward interval running.
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