Core Stabilization Training on Chest Expansion, Functional Capacity, Trunk Muscle Endurance in Hearing-Impaired Children

Children's motor skills and physical performance increase with age due to the development of neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory systems. Sensory impairment seen in children with hearing loss can cause balance and coordination disorders, as well as decreased muscle strength and respiratory functions.

Anatomically, core stabilization is provided by the diaphragm, abdominal, hip, pelvic floor, and gluteal muscles. Training for these muscles is intended to improve strength, endurance, and neuromuscular control. This training can help to improve the control of intra-abdominal pressure, intersegmental control of the spine, and muscular control of trunk movement. It also helps in strengthening the respiratory muscles, especially the main inspiratory muscle, the diaphragm. In this study, the effects of core stabilization training on children with hearing impairments' thoracic mobility, functional ability, and trunk muscle endurance will be examined.

Children's motor skills and physical performance increase with age due to the development of neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory systems. Children with hearing loss can display impaired balance and coordination, as well as decreased muscle strength and respiratory functions. Thoracic mobility relates to the function of respiratory muscles that help expand and contract the ribcage. Exercise capacity, or functional capacity, refers to the individual's ability to perform submaximal activities that require the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and skeletal muscle systems to work together and be healthy. Chest wall expansion determines lung volume and functional capacity. A study in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed that lung function was positively associated with reduced chest wall expansion.

Core stabilization is provided anatomically by the abdominal muscles in the front, the spinal and gluteal muscles in the back, the diaphragm above, and the pelvic floor and hip muscles below. Core (trunk) stabilization training is a training to increase strength, endurance, and neuromuscular control of the muscles mentioned above. Thus, intersegmental control of the spine, control of intra-abdominal pressure, and muscular control of trunk movement can be improved. It is also beneficial for strengthening the respiratory muscles, especially the diaphragm, which is the main inspiratory muscle.

When the literature was examined, no studies were found that evaluated the effects of exercise on thoracic mobility (chest expansion) and functional capacity in hearing-impaired children. Our planned study is important because it is the first study to evaluate both chest expansion and functional capacity in hearing-impaired children and also because it is the first study to show the effect of the core stabilization exercise program on chest expansion and functional capacity in these children.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Presence of clinically diagnosed prelingual sensorineural hearing loss
* Absence of any neurological or orthopedic problems
* Absence of any mental disorder, developmental disorder or syndrome
* Not having participated in any core (trunk) stabilization exercises during the previous six months
* Not having used any medication that would affect respiratory functions in the last 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Intellectual disability that would prevent participation in evaluation and treatment
* Presence of chronic respiratory disease