MEDICINA SPORTIVA - Journal of Romanian Sports Medicine Society

Effect of core stabilization exercises in addition to conventional training on core stability and running performance

There is a lack of studies pertaining to performance enhancement is noted, specifically regarding training of the core for runners. This study would be necessary in order to contribute information about how core stabilization training affects the athleticism of a runner as well as introducing formal core training in addition to conventional regime for improvement of running performance and core stability.
Material and Method. Thirty healthy male athletes (18.80±1.26) were divided into 2 groups, 15 subjects in core stability enhanced conventional Experimental Group (I) and 15 subjects in conventional Control Group (II) only. The study designed as a two groups Pre-Test and Post Test study for three session/week during 5 weeks. Dependent variable: 100m sprint test for running performance, Back Extensor test, Abdominal Fatigue test, Side Bridging test to the right, Side Bridging test to the left measured -pre training and -post training.
Results. The analysis revealed that Experimental Group shows better improvement then Control Group: the Running Performance of Control Group = 0.1280±0.02ms, Experimental Group = 0.6153±0.02ms with t=27.83; the Back Endurance test of Control Group = 4.54 ±0.50s, Experimental Group 25.72±2.3s with t=34.78; the Abdominal Fatigue test of Control Group =0.4.037±.21s, Experimental Group =22.08±0.34s, with t=171.77; the Side Bridging test for right side of Control Group = 9.77±.98s, Experimental Group =16.80±0.51s with t=24.50 and of Left Side of Control Group = 5.092±0.21s, Experimental Group =16.13±0.26s with t=125.21. Correlation of Core Stability and Running Performance of Control Group of Running performance - 1.000, Back Extensor Test 0.871, Abdominal Fatigue test 0.881, Side bridging test Right 0.801, Side bridging test Left 0.868 and of Experimental Group of Running Performance - 1.000, Back Extensor Test 0.817, Abdominal Fatigue test 0.852, Side bridging test Right 0.872, Side bridging test Left 0.852.
Conclusion. Our results clearly emphasize the fact that core stabilization exercises in runners not only improves Core stability but it may also significantly affect running performance. The results also demonstrating that there is significant correlation between running performance and core stability, confirmed that better core stability lead to improved running performance.