Limited research has examined the demands of backward locomotion at various speeds using common load monitoring metrics in team sport athletes. Consequently, this study compared the external and internal loads between backward and forward locomotion during intermittent exercise in team sport athletes. Semi-professional, male rugby league players (n = 29) completed the same exercise protocol on two occasions in backward and forward directions. On each occasion, participants performed separate 20 m trials at self-selected walking, jogging, running, and sprinting speeds and then completed a 15 min modified Loughborough intermittent shuttle test (mLIST). Common external and internal load metrics were gathered across testing. Faster speeds (p < 0.001) were attained at all speeds during forward locomotion in the 20 m trials. Non-significant differences in accumulated PlayerLoad^TM were found between directions across the mLIST; however, higher relative (per min) PlayerLoad^TM (p < 0.001) was apparent during backward locomotion when walking and during forward locomotion when sprinting during the mLIST. RPE and mean heart rate were higher (p < 0.001) during backward locomotion across the mLIST. These data highlight the unique loading patterns experienced during backward locomotion and suggest practitioners should consider the discernment in loading imposed between backward and forward locomotion when measuring athlete demands using common metrics.

中文翻译：

---

橄榄球联赛运动员间歇运动前后向和向前运动过程中PlayerLoadTM和心率的比较

有限的研究使用了团体运动运动员中常见的负荷监控指标，研究了各种速度下向后运动的需求。因此，本研究比较了团体运动运动员间歇运动期间前后运动之间的外部和内部负荷。半职业男性橄榄球联盟球员（n = 29）两次在向前和向后的方向上完成了相同的锻炼方案。在每种情况下，参与者以自行选择的步行，慢跑，奔跑和冲刺的速度分别进行20 m的试验，然后完成15分钟的改进的拉夫堡间歇穿梭试验（mLIST）。跨测试收集了常见的外部和内部负载指标。更快的速度（p在20 m试验中，在向前运动期间以所有速度均达到<0.001）。在跨mLIST的方向之间发现累积的PlayerLoad ^TM差异不显着；但是，在mLIST期间，步行时向后运动和冲刺时向前运动时，PlayerLoad ^TM的相对（每分钟）较高（p <0.001）很明显。在整个mLIST的向后运动过程中，RPE和平均心率较高（p <0.001）。这些数据突出了在向后运动过程中经历的独特负荷模式，并建议从业者在使用通用指标测量运动员需求时应考虑在向后和向前运动之间施加的负荷的区别。