Effect of Progressive Isolated Core Stability Training

Most studies have focused on the effects of core stability training on injury prevention and physical performance for the lower extremities . However, little is known about its effect on upper extremity performance. Previous studies suggest that core strengthening could enhance upper extremity physical performance because it might lead to more efficient use of the extremity muscles . Core weakness in overhead athletes with shoulder pain. Insufficient power generation by the core muscles might overload the shoulder girdle to compensate for altered biomechanics during throwing, and this overload made the shoulder prone to sport injuries. A systematic review has suggested, however, that isolated core stability training cannot be the primary component of athletic performance enhancement and that the variability in exercise training protocols, testing methods, study population and sample size among the available studies leads to difficulties in understanding whether or not core stability training enhances physical performance. There has been no study in the literature investigating the effect of progressive isolated core stability training on upper extremity performance in adolescent overhead athletes. This study therefore sought to investigate the effects of progressive isolated core stability training on shoulder internal (IR) and external rotator (ER) strength and upper extremity physical performance in female adolescent volleyball players. Hypothesized that core stability training would enhance shoulder rotator strength and upper extremity physical performance in these athletes.