The Importance of Hip Abductor and Adductor Muscles in Balance and Mobility Tasks After a Stroke: A Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review was to identify the association between muscle strength, activation, and structure of the hip abductor-adductor muscles and balance and mobility tasks in individuals post stroke. The present systematic review is comprised of 37 research articles, with 911 individuals that had a stroke. The extracted data included the study population, sample size, sex, stroke side of paresis, time poststroke, and evaluated measurements. We concluded that stronger hip abductors and adductors (both paretic and nonparetic legs) resulted in quicker voluntary step, and faster walking speed and cadence. Also, stronger paretic hip abductors were associated with a faster completion of the timed up and go test, higher ambulation ability, better control of the centre of mass, and quicker stair climbing. Overall, it demonstrated a lateral induced step to the paretic side, increased muscle activation of the gluteus medius of the paretic leg, and increased nonparetic hip abductor muscle activation. The strength and ability to activate the hip abductor and adductor muscles appears to be related to better performance during balance or mobility tasks in individuals with stroke. Therefore, the present systematic review results suggest that improving muscle strength and activation of the hip abductor and adductor muscles might help individuals with stroke to avoid falls.