Effectiveness of an Innovative Leg Support Ring for Lower Limb Muscle Rehabilitation Among Older Adults in Eastern Thailand: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES

Thailand is rapidly transitioning to an aged society. Lower limb muscle weakness among older adults is associated with increased fall risk, loss of independence, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Although exercise can improve strength and mobility, many community-dwelling older adults face barriers to participation. We evaluated the effectiveness of an innovative leg support ring for lower limb muscle rehabilitation among older adults in Eastern Thailand.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial, repeated-measures study included 64 adults aged 60 years or older with lower limb muscle weakness and activities of daily living (ADL) scores of 9-11. The intervention group (n=32) used the leg support ring for 12 weeks (3-5 day/wk), while the control group (n=32) received standard care and continued usual physical exercise. Leg motor power, range of motion (ROM), ADL, and QoL were assessed at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance.

RESULTS

Compared with control participants, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in motor power of the quadriceps, hamstrings, hip flexors, ankle dorsiflexors, and ankle plantar flexors (p<0.001) and ROM for hip flexion, hip extension, knee flexion, and ankle plantar flexion (p<0.05). ADL and QoL also demonstrated significantly greater improvements (p<0.001). These improvements were sustained or further increased at the 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The leg support ring program was associated with improvements in lower limb strength, mobility, functional independence, and QoL among older adults. Its simplicity and accessibility may support integration into community-based health promotion programs for active aging.