The effect of 8-week core training on balance, agility and explosive force performance
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Date
2019
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of core strength training on balance, explosive force and agility. 28 athletes volunteered in the study. The athletes were separated into two groups: the experimental group (n=15) with the average of age and weight of 19.5 ± 1.2 years and 64 ± 8.9 kg, respectively and the control group (n=13) with average age and weight of 19.4 ± 1.5 years and 67.4 ± 10.3 kg respectively. During the intervention, both groups continued their normal training sessions for 8 weeks. The experimental group performed thirteen core movements 3 times a week for 8 weeks, while control group did not. The experimental group performed each movement with 20 repetitions of 3 sets and a 1 minute rest between sets. Pre and post-intervention, standing long jump, Illinois and double right/left foot balance tests were used to determine the explosive force, agility and balance performance, respectively. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used for the analysis of the difference between pre-test and post-test groups and Mann Whitney U test was used for the comparison of the two groups. In order to make statistical analysis of the study, the significance level was accepted as p <0.05. After the 8 week intervention, both groups’ participants showed significant improvement in the explosive force and agility performance; whereas no significant difference was found in the double right/left foot balance test results. When the difference between the groups was examined, the post test results showed a significant difference in long jump and agility tests. The post test results of the experimental group were found to be higher than the control group. The 8-week core strength training intervention showed no effect on athletes' balance but a positive effect on long jump and agility were observed. © 2019 by authors, all rights reserved.