Effect of Progressive Isolated Core Stability Training
Condition: CORE STABILITY; Upper Extremity; Physical Performance
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Forty-two adolescent female volleyball athletes (16.0±1.4 years) were randomly divided into
      two groups. Group 1 was the training group and, in addition to the routine volleyball
      training programmes, underwent an 8-week (3 days/week) progressive core stability training
      programme. Group 2 was the control group and only did routine volleyball training, with no
      core stability training.

      Main outcome measures: Shoulder IR and ER strength, medicine ball throw (MBT), modified push
      up (MPU) and closed kinetic chain (CKC) upper extremity stability tests were used to evaluate
      physical performance.
    

Detailed description: 
      Most studies have focused on the effects of core stability training on injury prevention and
      physical performance for the lower extremities . However, little is known about its effect on
      upper extremity performance. Previous studies suggest that core strengthening could enhance
      upper extremity physical performance because it might lead to more efficient use of the
      extremity muscles . Core weakness in overhead athletes with shoulder pain. Insufficient power
      generation by the core muscles might overload the shoulder girdle to compensate for altered
      biomechanics during throwing, and this overload made the shoulder prone to sport injuries. A
      systematic review has suggested, however, that isolated core stability training cannot be the
      primary component of athletic performance enhancement and that the variability in exercise
      training protocols, testing methods, study population and sample size among the available
      studies leads to difficulties in understanding whether or not core stability training
      enhances physical performance.

      There has been no study in the literature investigating the effect of progressive isolated
      core stability training on upper extremity performance in adolescent overhead athletes. This
      study therefore sought to investigate the effects of progressive isolated core stability
      training on shoulder internal (IR) and external rotator (ER) strength and upper extremity
      physical performance in female adolescent volleyball players. Hypothesized that core
      stability training would enhance shoulder rotator strength and upper extremity physical
      performance in these athletes.
    

Intervention name(s): exercise training
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): The core stability training programme was performed 3 days per week over an 8-week period, and each training session lasted approximately 50 minutes.We created a special programme for our study based on the literature; the core stability training programme was divided into 3 phases: easy(1-2 weeks), moderate(3-5 weeks) and difficult(6-8 weeks In the easy phase(phase1), the athlete was intended to gain sensorimotor control that would ensure the smoothness of the neutral spine during slow movements. The participants learned the hallowing technique and how to use this technique while doing core exercises. In the moderate phase(phase2), muscular neural adaptation and neuromuscular facilitation were targeted with the transition to high threshold strength training.In the last, difficult, phase(phase3), subconscious control of movement was taught using combined movement patterns with the aim of transitioning to functional positions and activities.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Forty-two adolescent female volleyball athletes (16.0±1.4 years) were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 was the training group and, in addition to the routine volleyball training programmes, underwent an 8-week (3 days/week) progressive core stability training programme. Group 2 was the control group and only did routine volleyball training, with no core stability training.
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: athlete; exercise; muscle strength; flexibility