Is there correlation between peak backward running velocity and performance variables in physically active men?

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify the correlations between peak backward running velocity (Vpeak_BR) and peak forward running velocity (Vpeak_FR), 5-km running performance, the agility T-test, 20-m sprint, and countermovement jump (CMJ) in physically active men. Fifty-four physically active men (age: 27.7 ± 4.8 years) performed the following tests: Vpeak_FR, Vpeak_BR, 5-km running performance, agility T-test, and 20-m sprint on the athletics track, and the CMJ test in the laboratory. Tests were performed at the same time of day with 48-hour intervals. Data normality was verified using the Shapiro-Wilk test and the Student's t test for dependent samples was used to compare variables. The correlation between the Vpeak_BR and the other variables was performed using the Pearson correlation test (r), according to the following classification: 0.0 to 0.1 very low; 0.1 to 0.3 low; 0.3 to 0.5 moderate; 0.5 to 0.7 high; 0.7 to 0.9 very high; and 0.9 to 1.0 almost perfect. The significance level adopted was P < 0.05. There was a high correlation between the Vpeak_BR and Vpeak_FR (7.7 ± 0.1 km·h− 1; 13.0 ± 0.2 km·h− 1, respectively; r = 0.58); the Vpeak_BR showed a moderate and negative correlation with 5-km running performance time (t-5km) (27.4 ± 0.5 min; r = -0.46). The Vpeak_BR presented low or very low correlations with the other variables. We concluded that there is a correlation between Vpeak_BR and performance variables in physically active men, however this correlation is more expressive with the variables Vpeak_FR and 5-km running performance.