Effects of IMS Training on Physical Performance and Muscle Strength in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Single-Arm Trial

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ideal Movement Stabilizer (IMS) training, a decompression-based standing postural control program, on physical performance and muscle strength in older adults residing in community settings.Design: The study followed a single-arm, prospective intervention design.Methods: A group of ten community-dwelling older adults participated in a 12-week IMS training program, where one-hour sessions were conducted once weekly.The IMS program was structured as an ideal movement stabilization system, consisting of bodyweight decompression movements performed in a standing position.The program emphasized postural control and stabilization without incorporating external loads.Physical performance was assessed through the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) components, which included balance, gait speed, and sit-to-stand, alongside grip strength measurements.Evaluations were conducted at baseline and again post-intervention, with changes analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.Results: After completing the 12-week intervention, participants exhibited significant improvements in their total SPPB scores (baseline: 9.900.99,post-intervention: 11.300.82;p 0.014), accompanied by a large effect size (r 0.78).Although not reaching statistical significance, there were observable improvements in specific components: balance increased from 3.600.70to 3.900.32(p 0.180), gait speed from 3.600.52 to 3.900.32( p 0.180), sit-to-stand performance from 2.701.16 to 3.50.71(p 0.107), and grip strength from 25.124.36 to 27.226.30( p 0.333). Conclusions: The 12-week IMS training program effectively enhanced physical performance in community-dwelling older adults, as shown by significant increases in SPPB scores.This decompression-based, bodyweight-focused program supports postural control and stability, offering a safe and beneficial way to improve functional mobility without external loads.