The Effects of Small Gym Equipment-Based Movement Pattern Training on Muscle Function, Balance and Cognitive Function of Older Adults

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of an 8-week small equipment-based movement pattern training program on muscle function, balance, and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults aged 65-70 years.


METHODS: Twenty-four older adults were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 13), which performed a movement pattern training program using kettlebells, Swiss balls, and Aquabag organized according to Brown et al.’s (2024) movement pattern classification framework, with an additional rotational pattern based on Boyle (2019) (Squat, Deadlift, Press, Bent Row, Rotation, Calf Raise), or an active control group (n = 11), which performed a basic exercise program of equivalent frequency and duration. Both groups exercised twice per week for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included upper-limb muscle function (relative grip strength, %), lower-limb muscle function (30-second chair stand test, repetitions), balance (3 m timed up-and-go test, seconds), and cognitive function (Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA-K, points). Within-group changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, between-group differences in change scores were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and associations among post-intervention variables were examined using Spearman correlation analysis.


RESULTS: The experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the active control group in lower-limb muscle function (Z = -4.197, p < 0.001, r = 0.86), balance (Z = -4.143, p < 0.001, r = 0.85), and cognitive function (Z = -3.807, p < 0.001, r = 0.78). No significant between-group difference was found for upper-limb muscle function (grip strength; p = 0.581). Post-intervention Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant negative associations between lower-limb strength and balance (r = -0.701, p < 0.001) and between balance and cognitive function (r = -0.613, p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS: Small equipment-based movement pattern training simultaneously improved lower-limb muscle function, dynamic balance, and cognitive function in older adults, while preventing grip strength decline. These findings support the application of multi-joint, instability-based pattern training as an integrated dual-task intervention for healthy aging.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of an 8-week small equipment-based movement pattern training program on muscle function, balance, and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults aged 65-70 years.




METHODS: Twenty-four older adults were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 13), which performed a movement pattern training program using kettlebells, Swiss balls, and Aquabag organized according to Brown et al.’s (2024) movement pattern classification framework, with an additional rotational pattern based on Boyle (2019) (Squat, Deadlift, Press, Bent Row, Rotation, Calf Raise), or an active control group (n = 11), which performed a basic exercise program of equivalent frequency and duration. Both groups exercised twice per week for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included upper-limb muscle function (relative grip strength, %), lower-limb muscle function (30-second chair stand test, repetitions), balance (3 m timed up-and-go test, seconds), and cognitive function (Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA-K, points). Within-group changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, between-group differences in change scores were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and associations among post-intervention variables were examined using Spearman correlation analysis.




RESULTS: The experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements than the active control group in lower-limb muscle function (Z = -4.197, p < 0.001, r = 0.86), balance (Z = -4.143, p < 0.001, r = 0.85), and cognitive function (Z = -3.807, p < 0.001, r = 0.78). No significant between-group difference was found for upper-limb muscle function (grip strength; p = 0.581). Post-intervention Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant negative associations between lower-limb strength and balance (r = -0.701, p < 0.001) and between balance and cognitive function (r = -0.613, p = 0.001).




CONCLUSIONS: Small equipment-based movement pattern training simultaneously improved lower-limb muscle function, dynamic balance, and cognitive function in older adults, while preventing grip strength decline. These findings support the application of multi-joint, instability-based pattern training as an integrated dual-task intervention for healthy aging.