The effect of 6-week core stability training on core endurance and physical performance in professional rugby players: A randomized controlled pilot study

Background: Core stability training (CST) is used to enhance sports performance. The relationship between core endurance and physical performance in rugby players had not been evaluated before in Asia. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to determine the effects of a 6-week specific CST program on the core endurance and physical performances (speed, upper body power, lower body power, and agility) following a CST intervention in male rugby players. Materials and Methods: Professional rugby players (n=8, intervention and n=8, control) were randomly selected. Mean (SD) age, height and weight of intervention group were 25.25 (2.4) years, 1.64 (0.03) m, and 69.6 (14.9) kg, respectively. In the control group, corresponding values were 29.75 (4) years, 1.66 (0.04) m, and 72.3 (19.1) kg, respectively. Intervention group was trained CST sessions complementary to the usual physical training, 3 times/week for 6 weeks. The control group followed the usual physical training. Subjects were tested for four physical performances (using 40 m sprint, vertical jump, 3 kg medicine ball put, and agility T tests) and four core endurance tests (back extension, abdominal fatigue [AF], and left and right bridges). Results: AF, left bridge, right bridge, and total core endurance were significantly increased in the intervention group (P=0.028, P=0.006, P= 0.008, and P=0.001, respectively). Agility and AF were increased significantly in the control group (P=0.048, P=0.027). The right side bridge endurance (P=0.024) was significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that the CST improves core endurance without improving physical performances in rugby players.

The Effect of Core Stability Training on Dynamic Balance and Smash Stroke Performance in Badminton Players - An Evidence Based Study

Background: Badminton is one of the most popular sports and fastest racket sports in the world in which single or double players striking shuttle cock to and fro across the net to score a point. The important components for badminton players are muscle strength, muscular endurance, power, speed, agility, flexibility, balance and coordination. Core stability training is one of the essential fitness components of any racket sports player, especially for badminton players during smashing the shuttlecock smash through the game. Purpose: The purpose is to study the scientific evidences regarding the effect of core stability training on dynamic balance and smash stroke performance in badminton players. Methodology: A search for relevant articles was carried out using key words- Badminton, core stability training, dynamic balance and smash stroke performance and search engines- Google Scholar, PubMed, PEDro, Science Direct, SPOERT Discuss, Research Gate and CINAHL. Studies were selected from year 2010-2019. Ten studies were included in which there were 2 systemic reviews, 5 RCT, 2 correlation study,2 experimental study, and 1 cross sectional study. Results: 12 studies were reviewed from which 11 studies concluded that core stability training is effective in improving dynamic balance and smash stroke performance in badminton players. Conclusion: Based on the analysis of these 12 articles, it can be concluded that core stability training is effective in improving dynamic balance and smash stroke performance in badminton players. Clinical Implication: Core stability training is found to be effective improving and smash stroke performance in athletes with various racquet sports and can be performed to improve athletics skill performance. Keywords: Badminton, Core stability training, Dynamic balance and Smash stroke performance

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Core Stability Training on the Balance and Disability of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose: Physicians report balance disorders and fatigue as the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease. The present study compares the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and core stability training on the balance and disability of patients with MS. Methods: This is a pre-test, post-test experiment study. The statistical population included all patients with MS who reffered to Rofaydeh Rehabilitation Hospital in Tehran City, Iran, in the winter of 2019. A total of 30 male and female patients aged 27-70 years were selected through available and purposive sampling methods and then randomly divided into experimental and control groups (each group 15 persons). The initial measurements of the participants’ kinetic variables of postural control were carried out by the posturography device, and afterward, Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was employed to measure disability. The participants’ training included core stability training for 8 weeks (30-40 min, 3 sessions per week) with 20 min online cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation, 2 sessions per week (The first and third sessions). Then, the research variables were measured again. Results: The results demonstrated the significant influence of cerebellar tDCS on the variables of postural control equilibrium in the second sensory condition (P<0.001), third sensory condition (P<0.001), fourth sensory condition (P<0.001), fifth sensory condition (P=0.034), and combine equilibrium (P<0.001). Besides, the cerebellar current stimulation enhanced the sensory performance of the experimental group in using the vestibular system input data (P<0.001) and vision (P<0.001), but it had no significant effect on the ability to use somatosensory input (P=0.203) and vision preference (P=0.343). This research also revealed that the cerebellar current stimulation decreased EDSS in MS patients (P=0.026). Conclusion: The cerebellar tDCS has a beneficial effect on balance, EDSS, and modified fatigue impact scale in MS patients. The study findings also indicate that the cerebellum, vestibular system, and visual system are related, and they have an impact on balance, and cerebellar stimulation can facilitate learning motor skills.

The Effects of 8 Weeks TRX Exercises and Core Stability in the Stable Level on the Landing Pattern, the Stability of the Core Area and Balance of Girls Football Players

Background and Aims: This study aimed at the effects of 8 weeks TRX exercises and core stability exercises in the stable level on the landing pattern, the stability of the core area, and the balance of girls football players. Methods: Thirty athletes with trunk defects were screened by Tuck Jump test and selected as a statistical sample. Finally, assigned to two groups of 15 subjects at a stable level and varying level training. Both groups participated in pretest and post-test. Both groups training sessions for 8 weeks and three weeks each week on core stability training at both sustained (stable) and unstable (TRX). This study used the core stability practice protocol in the training section at a stable and unstable level. The static and dynamic balance were evaluated by BESS and Y tests, respectively. McGill’s endurance tests also evaluated the endurance of the core region. In addition, landing mechanics were assessed using the Landing Error Score System test. ANCOVA test was used to compare the differences between the research variables by two types of training. The stability of the core body was used in two groups of training (stable and TRX) and a t-test for correlating the changes within the group. Results: The results of the analysis of t-test showed that in the results of the stable training (P≤0.001) and TRX (P≤0.001) effect on score of the error of landing error, LESS, flexion 60 °, Sorensen, Right Plank, static balance and total dynamic balance score. In the post-test, there are significant differences between the two groups in the TRX and stable levels in LESS, Sorensen, static balance in the state stand on two legs on a soft surface and stand in the Tandem on a soft surface (P≤0.05). Conclusion: the results of this study showed that the use of core stability training at a stable and unstable level by helping to improve the landing jump activity, as well as improving muscular balance and endurance, can be eliminated by modifying some of the risk factors associated with an ACL injury to prevent Lower limb non-limiting injury in athletes with trunk defects.

The Effect of Trunk Stability Training Based on Visual Feedback on Trunk Stability, Balance, and Upper Limb Function in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Control Trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of trunk stability training based on visual feedback on trunk stability, balance, and upper limb function in patients with stroke. Twenty-eight patients with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to either a trunk support group (n = 14) or a trunk restraint group (n = 14) that practiced upper limb training with trunk support and trunk restraint, respectively, based on visual feedback for 30 min per day, three times per week, for 4 weeks. The postural assessment scale for stroke (PASS) was used to assess the stability of patients, and the functional reaching test (FRT) was performed to assess balance. To assess upper extremity function, a range of motion (ROM) test, manual muscle testing (MMT), and Fugl–Meyer assessment-upper limb (FMA-upper limb) were performed. Consequently, both groups showed significant differences before and after training in the PASS, FRT, shoulder flexion ROM, triceps brachii MMT, and FMA-upper limb (p < 0.05), while the trunk support group showed more significant improvements than the trunk restraint group in the PASS, FRT, and FMA-upper limb (p < 0.05). Trunk support-based upper limb training effectively improved trunk stability, balance, and upper limb function and is beneficial as an upper limb training method. Providing trunk support is more effective than restricting the trunk; trunk support-based upper limb training is expected to promote voluntary participation when combined with visual feedback.

The effects of supervised versus home Pilates-based core stability training on lower extremity muscle strength and postural sway in people with multiple sclerosis

Background: Pilates-based core stability training (PBCST) is a controlled form of exercise that may improve the transmission of torque from the upper extremities and trunk to the lower extremities by enabling the core muscles to activate effectively. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PBCST given as supervised or home-based on lower extremity strength and postural control in multiple sclerosis. Methods: Fifty individuals were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups. Primary outcome measures were knee muscle strength and postural sway in different conditions. The supervised group received PBCST 2 days per week for 8 weeks at the clinic, and the other group performed PBCST at home. Exercises were progressed every 2 weeks in both groups. Results: Between groups, the supervised group was mostly superior to the home group ( p < 0.05). A significant improvement was noted in all parameters in both groups, except some sub-parameters of postural sway in home PBCST ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: Supervised PBCST was determined to be more effective than home PBCST in improving strength, postural control, core stability, physical capacity, and fatigue. Although supervised training is the primary choice, home training can be recommended to patients who have limitations attending supervised sessions.