Interaction Effects of Obesity and Falls on Knee Strength and H/Q Ratio in Older Adults

초록

This study examined the combined effects of fall history and obesity on knee extensor and flexor strength, as well as the hamstring-to-quadriceps (H/Q) strength ratio in community-dwelling older adults. Forty-eight participants (≥65 years) were categorized into four groups based on fall status (fallers vs. non-fallers) and obesity classification (normal weight vs. obese), and performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the nondominant knee. Maximal strength was normalized to body weight, and two-way ANOVAs were conducted for each outcome variable. Significant main effects of both fall history and obesity were observed for extensor and flexor strength (p < .001), with an interaction effect found for extensor strength (p < .001). The non-faller normal-weight group exhibited the highest strength across all measures, while faller-obese individuals showed the lowest. The H/Q ratio was significantly reduced in fallers compared to non-fallers (p < .001), with a trend toward lower ratios in obese participants. These findings highlight that the co-occurrence of obesity and fall history is associated with compounded deficits in lower extremity strength and muscular balance in older adults. Clinicians and researchers should consider both factors when assessing fall risk and designing targeted interventions in aging populations.

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