Role of Hip Abductor Muscle Composition and Torque in Protective Stepping for Lateral Balance Recovery in Older Adults.
Odessa Addison, Mario Inacio, Woei-Nan Bair and 3 others
PMID 27840133WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults who recovered balance by stepping toward the midline had weaker hip abductors and more fatty infiltration than those who crossed their legs.
This suggests hip strength relates to the ability to perform the more complex cross-step strategy.
Key findings
01Participants who primarily used a medial stepping strategy exhibited lower hip abductor torque and increased intermuscular adipose tissue compared to cross-steppers.
02The cross-stepping group demonstrated 26% higher hip abductor torques than the medial-stepping group.
03The cross-stepping group had 5.2% lower levels of intermuscular adipose tissue in the gluteus medius and minimus than the medial-stepping group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that weak hip abductors cause medial stepping; they may just be associated. The sample size was small (40 participants). Participants were healthy, non-obese, and community-dwelling, so results may not apply to frailer or obese older adults. Hip adductor muscles were not examined, despite their potential role in cross-stepping. Data on hip abductor strength was missing for eight individuals.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The study was supported by the NIH and the U.S. Government.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that prescribing hip abductor strengthening will automatically change a patient's stepping strategy or reduce fall risk. This study shows an association in a small group of healthy older adults but did not test an intervention, and the cross-sectional design cannot prove causality.