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

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 (3m timed up-and-go test, seconds), and cognitive function (Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA-K, points). Withingroup 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, <i>p</i> < 0.001, r = 0.86), balance (Z = -4.143, <i>p</i> < 0.001, r = 0.85), and cognitive function (Z = -3.807, <i>p</i> < 0.001, r = 0.78). No significant between-group difference was found for upper-limb muscle function (grip strength; <i>p</i> = 0.581). Post-intervention Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant negative associations between lower-limb strength and balance (r = -0.701, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and between balance and cognitive function (r = -0.613, <i>p</i> = 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.