The Effect of 8 Weeks of Selected Exercises on Strength of the Hip Abductor Muscles and Balance in Healthy Elderly Women

Decreased postural balance and control in the elderly cause unpleasant complications such as falling and hip fracture. Given the importance of balance and strength in the elderly's health, the aim of study was the effect of 8 weeks of selected exercises on strength of the hip abductor muscles and balance in the healthy elderly women. In this semi-experimental study, 50 elderly women (mean age 59.04±2.1 yr, weight 60.93±6.5 kg and height 152.45±2.28 cm) participated voluntarily. Static and dynamic balance and strength of the hip abductor musculature of participants were measured by tests of one leg standing time (OLST) (static balance), timed get up and go (TUG) (dynamic balance) and digital dynamometer device (strength of the hip abductor muscles) before and after 8 weeks of selected exercises. The descriptive statistics were used to calculate the mean and standard deviation of data and independent and dependent t test were applied to determine the difference between pretest and posttest scores of inter-groups and intra-groups at P≤0.05. Results showed that 8 weeks of selected exercises increased strength of the hip abductor muscles and improved static and dynamic balance of the elderly women. These findings emphasized the role of selected therapeutic exercises in improving static and dynamic balance of the elderly and also the existence of a relationship between strength of hip abductor muscles and static and dynamic balance of healthy elderly women.