Comparison of gluteus medius strength between obese and eutrophic individuals: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The hip abductor muscles, primarily the gluteus medius, play an important role in stabilizing the pelvis during gait. Gluteus medius weakness is associated with biomechanical changes and musculoskeletal disorders. Obese individuals can have great difficulty maintaining abductor muscular function due to being overweight and possibly experiencing a decrease in muscle mass. However, it is still unclear whether the musculature of obese individuals can compensate for these changes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare gluteus medius strength between obese and normal-weight individuals using a digital hand-held dynamometer.Methods: Twenty-five obese (BMI > 35 kg/m2) participants were matched for sex, age, and height with normal-weight individuals. Gluteus medius strength was measured by a single examiner using a belt-stabilized hand-held digital dynamometer placed on the knee of the individuals positioned in lateral decubitus. Three measurements were recorded with rest intervals, and only the highest value measured for each limb was used for analysis. The differences between pairs were calculated, and the normality of the data was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test (p < 0.05). The matrices of the variables were standardized and analysed using principal component analysis (PCA).Results: For the strength variables (Newtons) on both sides, no significant differences were detected between the groups (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were detected in these variables between the groups (p < 0.05) when the measurements were normalized to body weight (Newtons/kilograms). PCA indicated that both the absolute and normalized values of strength are lower in obese than in normal-weight individuals.Conclusions: These findings indicate that obese individuals have the same or less strength (PCA) to move more mass, which may suggest a relative weakness that induces functional limitations.Trial registration: The study was approved by the UNIOESTE Human Research Ethics Committee (#1.180.202) in July 2015.

Association Between Gluteus Medius Strength and Gait Instability among University Students with BMI

“…It is possible that the long-term effect of obesity on muscle tissue overlaps with this weight stimulus on antigravity muscles and culminates in muscle loss over time. 2 Regarding muscle mass, the authors also reported that individuals with obesity required greater gluteal muscle strength for normal gait. This evidence is relevant since it suggests that individuals with obesity need stronger gluteal muscles, causing them to be more susceptible to fatigue.…”

“…If weight overload or muscular deterioration occurs, an adaptation of the upper body will be started in an effort to bring the centre of gravity closer to the centre of hip rotation. 2 For obese people, maintaining the strength of the gluteus musculature can be exceedingly difficult. Larger hip adduction with noticeable ankle eversion was seen during the terminal stance and per-balance phases of a three-dimensional gait examination of obese individuals.…”