Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee Arthritis

Stair ambulation requires precise lower extremity control and postural stability. Middle-aged women with degenerative knee arthritis (DKA) are at an increased risk of falls, yet the effects of unstable load training on their postural stability remain underexplored. This study investigated the effect...

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Main Authors: Yuanyan Huang, Shuho Kang, Ilbong Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/2992
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author Yuanyan Huang
Shuho Kang
Ilbong Park
author_facet Yuanyan Huang
Shuho Kang
Ilbong Park
author_sort Yuanyan Huang
collection DOAJ
description Stair ambulation requires precise lower extremity control and postural stability. Middle-aged women with degenerative knee arthritis (DKA) are at an increased risk of falls, yet the effects of unstable load training on their postural stability remain underexplored. This study investigated the effects of a 10-week Aqua Vest-based unstable load training program on postural stability and pain during stair ambulation in middle-aged women with DKA. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG) or a control group (CG), with 15 participants in each group. The EG completed a 10-week Aqua Vest training program, while the CG received no intervention. Pre- and post-assessments included spatiotemporal parameters, lower extremity kinematics, and center of pressure (CoP) trajectories during stair descent, as well as knee pain evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS). After training, the EG demonstrated significant improvements in spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters, reduced ML displacement, lower VAS scores, as well as significant changes in AP CoP parameters. These findings suggest that Aqua Vest-based unstable load training may enhance ML postural stability and alleviate pain in DKA patients, potentially contributing to enhanced balance function and improved stair ambulation safety.
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spelling doaj-art-c1e7e3ba59694ec0a75902ef2e9ac8da2025-08-20T02:42:45ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01156299210.3390/app15062992Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee ArthritisYuanyan Huang0Shuho Kang1Ilbong Park2Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Busan University of Foreign Studies, Busan 46234, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sports Rehabilitation, Busan University of Foreign Studies, Busan 46234, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sports Rehabilitation, Busan University of Foreign Studies, Busan 46234, Republic of KoreaStair ambulation requires precise lower extremity control and postural stability. Middle-aged women with degenerative knee arthritis (DKA) are at an increased risk of falls, yet the effects of unstable load training on their postural stability remain underexplored. This study investigated the effects of a 10-week Aqua Vest-based unstable load training program on postural stability and pain during stair ambulation in middle-aged women with DKA. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG) or a control group (CG), with 15 participants in each group. The EG completed a 10-week Aqua Vest training program, while the CG received no intervention. Pre- and post-assessments included spatiotemporal parameters, lower extremity kinematics, and center of pressure (CoP) trajectories during stair descent, as well as knee pain evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS). After training, the EG demonstrated significant improvements in spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters, reduced ML displacement, lower VAS scores, as well as significant changes in AP CoP parameters. These findings suggest that Aqua Vest-based unstable load training may enhance ML postural stability and alleviate pain in DKA patients, potentially contributing to enhanced balance function and improved stair ambulation safety.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/2992unstable load trainingstair ambulationdegenerative knee arthritisAqua Vest
spellingShingle Yuanyan Huang
Shuho Kang
Ilbong Park
Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee Arthritis
Applied Sciences
unstable load training
stair ambulation
degenerative knee arthritis
Aqua Vest
title Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee Arthritis
title_full Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee Arthritis
title_fullStr Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee Arthritis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee Arthritis
title_short Effects of Unstable Exercise Using the Inertial Load of Water on Lower Extremity Kinematics and Center of Pressure During Stair Ambulation in Middle-Aged Women with Degenerative Knee Arthritis
title_sort effects of unstable exercise using the inertial load of water on lower extremity kinematics and center of pressure during stair ambulation in middle aged women with degenerative knee arthritis
topic unstable load training
stair ambulation
degenerative knee arthritis
Aqua Vest
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/2992
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