Core Strength Training in Youth

Summary

Background: It has been demonstrated that core strength training is an effective means to enhance trunk muscle strength (TMS) and athletic performance in youth. However, the role of instability with core strength training is unresolved in youth. This study specifically will investigate the effects of core stability (CST) compared to core instability strength training (CIST) on physical fitness in adolescents.

Methods: Twenty-seven (14 girls, 13 boys) healthy adolescents (age 14±1 years) will be assigned to a CST (n=13) or a CIST (n=14) group. Both training programs will last 6 weeks (2 sessions/week) and included frontal, dorsal, and lateral core exercises. During CIST, these exercises will be conducted on unstable surfaces (e.g., TOGU© DYNAIR CUSSIONS, THERA-BAND© STABILITY TRAINER).

Expected Results: Based on selected results reported in the literature, we hypothesize that participants performing CIST as compared to CST will show larger improvements in physical fitness tests (i.e., strength, speed, flexibility, coordination, balance) following training. Of note, training induced gains in strength, speed, flexibility, coordination, and balance are of vital importance for sports performance, everyday activities, and injury prevention.

Conditions

• Exercise
• Strength Training

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

core strength training

Both training programs will last 6 weeks and comprise 2 training sessions per week with a total of 12 training sessions for each intervention group. Each training session will last 30 min, starting with a brief warm-up program mainly consisting of core strength exercises at moderate intensities and ending with a cool-down program (i.e., dynamic stretching). During the main part of training, both groups mainly conduct the "big 3" exercises as described by McGill. These will include the curl-up, side bridge, and quadruped position. In other words, every single training session will consist of frontal, dorsal, and lateral core exercises. The only difference between the 2 intervention groups is that the CSTU protocol comprise core exercises that will be conducted on unstable elements (e.g., TOGU© DYNAIR PRO, THERA-BAND© STABILITY TRAINER), whereas the CSTS program will contain the same exercises on stable surface only.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• THIM - die internationale Hochschule für Physiotherapie

  collaborator OTHER

• Free University of Brussels

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Potsdam

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Urs Granacher, PhD · University of Potsdam

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

15 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-06-30

Primary Completion

2014-08-31

Completion

2014-08-31