Effects of a Hip Joint Muscle Strengthening Program using Props on Lower Limb Alignment and Balance in Older Adults

• Published in: Journal of Musculoskeletal Science and Technology Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 51 - 61
• Main Authors: Park, Heon-Jeong, Kim, Tae-ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: KEMA학회 01.06.2025
• Subjects: 물리치료학
• ISSN: 2635-8573; 2635-8581
• DOI: 10.29273/jmst.2025.9.1.51

Background Falls among older adults are not merely minor injuries but can lead to fatal outcomes. This study aimed to examine the effects of a small-equipment-based hip muscle strengthening program on lower extremity alignment and balance in older adults, to propose a more effective exercise intervention for fall prevention in this vulnerable population. Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effects of a small-equipment-based hip muscle strengthening program on lower extremity alignment, static balance, and dynamic balance in older adults. Study design A randomized controlled pretest-posttest design was used Methods Twenty-five older adults (≥ 65 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 13) or control group (n = 12). Both groups completed identical 8-week programs (2×/week, 60 min), with the experimental group using props. Back knee angle (alignment) was measured via a smartphone goniometer, dynamic balance via berg balance scale (BBS), and static balance via balancia. Data was analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA, with Bonferroni-corrected t-tests for significant interactions. Results In comparison of back knee angle for lower extremity alignment, both between-group and within-group analyses showed significant improvements. Similarly, dynamic balance, assessed by BBS scores, demonstrated significant improvements both between and within groups. In contrast, static balance showed no significant difference between groups, with a significant improvement observed only in the control group. Conclusions The prop-based hip joint muscle strengthening program demonstrated significant improvements in lower extremity alignment and dynamic balance among older adults. These results indicate that propassisted exercise interventions may offer a feasible and clinically relevant approach for fall prevention in geriatric populations. KCI Citation Count: 0