International Journal of Sports Science
p-ISSN: 2169-8759 e-ISSN: 2169-8791
2022; 12(3): 53-60
doi:10.5923/j.sports.20221203.01
Received: Jul. 7, 2022; Accepted: Aug. 19, 2022; Published: Aug. 30, 2022
Emily Cavallaro, Kate R. Pfile, J. Megan Irwin, Wesley D. Dudgeon
Department of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, Charleston, USA
Correspondence to: Wesley D. Dudgeon, Department of Health and Human Performance, College of Charleston, Charleston, USA.
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Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Scientific & Academic Publishing.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Many exercise modalities have been developed and marketed to improve core muscle function; likewise, there are multiple training programs that aim to improve balance. These variables are of interest given they are inherent to performing activities of daily living (ADLs), preventing injury, and maintaining physical activity levels. Our previous work shows suspension training (SuT) is effective at improving body composition, muscular strength, and muscular endurance in college aged females; however, it is unknown whether core muscle function and balance also improve. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of six weeks of SuT on balance and core muscle function. Methods: Eighteen SuT naïve females (19.8 ± 0.3 yrs; 166.7 ± 1.1 cm; 61.3 ± 1.7 kg), randomly assigned to a suspension training group (TRX), progressed through a six-week supervised training program consisting of 18, 50 to 60-minute interval style workouts. Six control participants (CON) (20.8 ± 0.7 yrs; 165.4 ± 1.3 cm; 63.5 ± 2.7 kg) maintained their normal activity levels. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Static balance was assessed using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) Test. Core endurance was assessed using the Sport-Specific Endurance Plank Test. The same test protocols were applied for pre- and post-testing. Results: Dependent measures t-test analysis showed significant improvements (p<0.05) in right leg stance SEBT scores (expressed as percentage of reference leg length) in all directions: anterior (5.0± 1.5%), posteromedial (9.2± 2.7%), and posterolateral (6.8± 2.2%), in the TRX group. The TRX group also showed left leg improvements (p<0.05) in posteromedial (6.4 ± 2.5%) and posterolateral (8.1 ± 2.4%) directions. There was an improvement in plank time (35.5 ± 10.3 seconds: p<0.05) in the TRX group. No difference in BESS Test scores were observed over time. There were no changes in any dependent variables in the CON group. Conclusions: These data suggest that six weeks of SuT facilitated improvements in bilateral dynamic balance and core endurance. Further work including additional assessments of core stability and balance measures is needed to investigate the lack of improvements observed in static postural control.
Keywords: Suspension Training, Dynamic balance, Static balance, Core endurance, Interval training
Cite this paper: Emily Cavallaro, Kate R. Pfile, J. Megan Irwin, Wesley D. Dudgeon, Suspension Training Improves Dynamic Balance and Core Endurance in Young Healthy Adult Females, International Journal of Sports Science, Vol. 12 No. 3, 2022, pp. 53-60. doi: 10.5923/j.sports.20221203.01.
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