Core Stabilization Training in Elite Athletes

Overview

The studies in the literature have not sufficiently investigated the effects of core stabilization training on anaerobic performance. Therefore, this study was planned to comparatively investigate effects of progressive core stabilization training applied to elite athletes on anaerobic capacity, anaerobic performance, and fatigue.

Full Title of Study: “The Effects of Progressive Core Stabilization Training on Anaerobic Performance in Elite Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.”

Study Type

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Masking: Single (Participant)
• Study Primary Completion Date: November 21, 2021

Detailed Description

In taekwondo, weightlifting, badminton, and volleyball sports branches, strong relationships between sports performance, anaerobic strength and fatigue parameters have been also shown. It is clear of the necessity of developing anaerobic capacity using various exercises in these elite athletes. However, the studies conducted to date have not sufficiently investigated the effects of core stabilization training on anaerobic performance and fatigue with more objective methods and enough sample sizes. This study was planned to comparatively investigate effects of progressive core stabilization training applied to elite athletes on anaerobic capacity, anaerobic performance, and fatigue.

Interventions

• Other: Progressive Core Stabilization Training
  • The Progressive Core Stabilization Training was applied to study group as a group exercise with 5-10 athletes which was planned in the form of 3 days/week for a total of 9 weeks and 27 sessions. A session consisted of warm-up, core stabilization (30-40 min.), and cool-down exercises. During the training period, exercise volume, degree of difficulty, additional weight, and level of instability (contralateral limb movements and reduction of the support surface, etc.) for each exercise were incrementally increased in four steps.
• Other: Standard Core Strengthening Exercises
  • The athletes included in the CG performed only Standard Core Strengthening Exercises which is the first phase of the Progressive Core Stabilization Training on fixed surfaces (i.e. without pads and balls, with a flat floor and a bench) for 3 days/week and totally 9-week.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

• Experimental: Study group
  • The Progressive Core Stabilization Training was applied to study group as a group exercise with 5-10 athletes which was planned in the form of 3 days/week for a total of 9 weeks and 27 sessions.
• Sham Comparator: Control group
  • The athletes included in the CG performed only Standard Core Strengthening Exercises.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

• anaerobic peak power
  • Time Frame: Baseline and after 9-week training
  • The power will be evaluated using anaerobic endurance test (a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power Test) applied on a bicycle ergometer.
• anaerobic mean power
  • Time Frame: Baseline and after 9-week training
  • The power will be evaluated using anaerobic endurance test (a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power Test) applied on a bicycle ergometer.

Secondary Measures

• squat jump power
  • Time Frame: Baseline and after 9-week training
  • It will be evaluated the squat jump test.
• active jump power
  • Time Frame: Baseline and after 9-week training
  • It will be evaluated the active jump test.
• fatigue index
  • Time Frame: Baseline and after 9-week training
  • The percent of fatigue will be evaluated using anaerobic endurance test (a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power Test) applied on a bicycle ergometer.
• anaerobic power from 0 to 5 seconds
  • Time Frame: Baseline and after 9-week training
  • The power will be evaluated using anaerobic endurance test (a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power Test) applied on a bicycle ergometer.
• anaerobic capacity from 0 to 30 seconds
  • Time Frame: Baseline and after 9-week training
  • The power will be evaluated using anaerobic endurance test (a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power Test) applied on a bicycle ergometer.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

• being between 18-25 of age, – actively keeping on a similar technical workout season program, – volunteering to participate in the study, – having at least five years of professional sports history and – being an elite athlete in taekwondo, weightlifting, volleyball, or badminton branches Exclusion Criteria:

• having had any pathological condition and/or surgical procedure of the column vertebral and extremities within the last three months, – having had any serious orthopedic or systemic condition that could prevent doing and continuing exercises – discontinuing exercise training for more than three sessions.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 25 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

• Lead Sponsor
  • Gulsah Bargi
• Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
  • Sponsor-Investigator: Gulsah Bargi, Principal Investigator – Izmir Democracy University
• Overall Official(s)
  • GÜLŞAH BAŞANDAÇ, PhD., Principal Investigator, Mok Academy, Istanbul
  • GÜLŞAH BARĞI, Assoc. Dr., Principal Investigator, Izmir Democracy University
  • VOLGA BAYRAKCI TUNAY, Prof. Dr., Study Director, Hacettepe University

References

Yang CY, Thurston TS, Cho EH, Cho JY, Koo JH. Non-combative taekwondo evokes highly anaerobic physiological responses in elite-level athletes: potential evidence for a new training modality. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2019 Sep;59(9):1450-1457. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.09365-9. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Lee B, McGill S. The effect of core training on distal limb performance during ballistic strike manoeuvres. J Sports Sci. 2017 Sep;35(18):1-13. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1236207. Epub 2016 Oct 3.