The Effect and Durability of Six weeks Core Stability Exercises on Balance and Lumbo-Pelvic ‎Function in Women with Core Muscles Weakness

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose:
Core Stability is an important prerequisite to perform sports skills and all activities such as walking, climbing stairs and balance. Therefore, the aim of this study was the effect and durability of six weeks core stability exercises on balance and lumbo-pelvic function in women with core muscles weakness. 
Methods:
This study was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up design. A number of 30 active women of Mahabad city were selected purposive and available from the statistical population and were randomly divided into two groups of 15 subjects, control and experimental. To evaluate static balance, dynamic balance, lumbo-pelvic function and endurance of trunk muscles, respectively Stork, Y Balance, FSD) Forward Step-Down and McGill tests are used. After the pre-test, the experimental group performed the exercises for 6 weeks and three sessions per week, and the control group continued their daily activities. Then, both groups participated in the post-test, and one month after the exercises, variables of study were followed up. Repeated measured ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05 was used to compare the data.
Results:
The results in the training group showed that core stability exercises had a significant effect on the variables of static balance (p=0.001), dynamic balance (p=0.001), lumbo-pelvic function (p=0.001) and trunk endurance (p=0.001). However, the effects of training after one month without training were durable only for the variable of lumbo-pelvic function (p=0.73). The results of the Bonferroni post hoc test in the post-test also showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups in all the variables studied and that the training group performed better (p < 0.05). In the follow-up phase, there was a difference between the two groups only in the variables of lumbo-pelvic function (p=0.001) and trunk endurance (p=0.001).
Conclusions:
According to the results of the study, core stability exercises improved static and dynamic balance, lumbar-pelvic function and trunk endurance of middle-aged women. Therefore, trainers and therapists are suggested to use core stability exercises as an effective training protocol in their programs.
 

Keywords


  1. Panjabi M, Abumi K, Duranceau J, Oxland T. Spinal stability and intersegmental muscle forces. A biomechanical model. Spine 1989; 14(2): 194-200.
  2. Clark M, Lucett S. NASM essentials of corrective exercise training: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010.
  3. Willson JD, Dougherty CP, Ireland ML, Davis IM. Core stability and its relationship to lower extremity function and injury. JAAOS-Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2005; 13(5): 316-325.
  4. Akuthota V, Nadler SF. Core strengthening. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 2004; 85: 86-92.
  5. Hodges PW, Richardson CA. Contraction of the abdominal muscles associated with movement of the lower limb. Physical therapy. 1997;77(2):132-142.
  6. Robinson RL, Nee RJ. Analysis of hip strength in females seeking physical therapy treatment for unilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome. Journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy 2007; 37(5): 232-238.
  7. Kavcic N, Grenier S, McGill SM. Quantifying tissue loads and spine stability while performing commonly prescribed low back stabilization exercises. Spine 2004; 29(20): 2319-2329.
  8. Akuthota V, Ferreiro A, Moore T, Fredericson M. Core stability exercise principles. Current sports medicine reports 2008; 7(1): 39-44.
  9. Vera-Garcia FJ, Grenier SG, McGill SM. Abdominal muscle response during curl-ups on both stable and labile surfaces. Physical therapy 2000; 80(6): 564-569.
  10. Kibler WB, Press J, Sciascia A. The role of core stability in athletic function. Sports Med 2006; 36(3): 189-198.
  11. Akuthota V, Nadler S. Core strengthening. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2004; 85: S82-S92.
  12. Shahrokhi M, Baluchi R, Ebrahimi H. Effect of six week Pilates exercises on disability, abdominal and back muscle strength in patients with chronic low back pain due to disc herniation. Studies in Sport Medicine 2015; 7(17): 98-83.[Persian]
  13. Wilder DG, Aleksiev AR, Magnusson ML, Pope MH, et.al. Muscular response to sudden load: a tool to evaluate fatigue and rehabilitation. Spine 1996; 21(22): 2628-2639.
  14. McCaskey AJ, editor The effects of core stability training on Star Excursion Balance Test and global core muscular endurance 2011.
  15. Melo RdS, Lemos A, Macky CFdST, Raposo MCF, et.al. Postural control assessment in students with normal hearing and sensorineural hearing loss. Brazilian Journal of otorhinolaryngology 2015; 81: 431-438.
  16. Kisner C, Colby LA, Borstad J. Therapeutic exercise: foundations and techniques: Fa Davis; 2017.
  17. Skelton DA, Beyer N. Exercise and injury prevention in older people. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 2003; 13(1): 77-85.
  18. Greenlund LJ, Nair KS. Sarcopenia—consequences, mechanisms, and potential therapies. Mechanisms of ageing and development 2003; 124(3): 287-299.
  19. Brumitt J, Matheson JW, Meira EP. Core stabilization exercise prescription, part I: current concepts in assessment and intervention. Sports Health 2013; 5(6): 504-509.
  20. Piry H, Naserpour N, Sheikhhosseini R. The Effect of Core Stability Exercises on Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Older Men. Journal of Gerontology 2023; 7(4): 61-74. [Persian]
  21. Zahedi h, Amini Nnajafabadi n. Comparing the Effects of Pilates and Core Stability Training on Dynamic Balance and the Improvement of Cognitive Function in Elderly Females. Journal of Sport Management and Motor Behavior 2021; 17(33): 110-197.] Persian[
  22. Gopika S, Dinakaran R. Effect of eight-week core stabilization program on core muscle endurance and function in female staff nurses. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2017.
  23. Salar S, Daneshmandi H. The Effect of 8 Weeks of Core Stability Training Program on Lumbar-Pelvic Function in Children with Autism Spectrum. Sport Sciences and Health Research 2016; 8(1): 67-81. [Persian]
  24. Stephenson J, Swank A. Core Training: Designing a Program for Anyone. Strength and conditioning journal 2004; 26: 34-37.
  25. Fong DT-P, Hong Y, Chan L-K, Yung PS-H, et.al. A systematic review on ankle injury and ankle sprain in sports. Sports medicine 2007; 37: 73-94.
  26. Murphy D, Connolly D, Beynnon B. Risk factors for lower extremity injury: a review of the literature. British journal of sports medicine 2003; 37(1): 13-29.
  27. Cook G, Burton L, Hoogenboom BJ, Voight M. Functional movement screening: The use of fundamental movements as an assessment of function‐part 1. International journal of sports physical therapy 2014; 9(3): 396.
  28. Demoulin C, Vanderthommen M, Duysens C, Crielaard JM. Spinal muscle evaluation using the Sorensen test: a critical appraisal of the literature. Joint Bone Spine 2006; 73(1): 43-50.
  29. Kahle NL, Gribble PA. Core stability training in dynamic balance testing among young, healthy adults. Athletic Training & Sports Health Care 2009; 1(2): 65-73.
  30. Momeni S, Moghaddasi A, Farahpour N, Golpayegani M, Darehbidi MA. The effect of exercise therapy on pain, disability and endurance of trunk flexor-extensor muscles in women with chronic idiopathic low back pain. Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences 2012; 15(5): e79020. [Persian]
  31. Guthrie RJ, Grindstaff TL, Croy T, Ingersoll CD, et.al. The effect of traditional bridging or suspension-exercise bridging on lateral abdominal thickness in individuals with low back pain. Journal of sport rehabilitation 2012; 21(2): 151-160.
  32. Ghasemi G, Goharjoo M, Faizi M. Effects of conventional core stability and core stability suspension exercises on multifidus muscle endurance, pain and quality of life in people with nonspecific chronic low back pain. Jundishapur Scientific Medical Journal 2020; 18(6): 571-584. [Persian]
  33. Johnson BL, Nelson JK. Practical measurements for evaluation in physical education. 1969.
  34. Tahmasebi S, Ghods Mirheydari S. The Effect of Different Imagery Methods on Balance in Female Students of University of Tehran. Journal of Sports and Motor Development and Learning 2012; 4(1): 111-127. [Persian]
  35. Plisky PJ, Gorman PP, Butler RJ, Kiesel KB, et al. The reliability of an instrumented device for measuring components of the star excursion balance test. North American journal of sports physical therapy: NAJSPT 2009; 4(2): 92.
  36. Sipe CL, Ramey KD, Plisky PP, Taylor JD. Y-balance test: A valid and reliable assessment in older adults. Journal of aging and physical activity 2019; 27(5): 663-669.
  37. Shaffer SW. SP USA, Deydre S. Teyhen, SP USA, Chelsea L Lorenson, et.al. Y-Balance Test: A Reliability Study Involving Multiple Raters, Military Medicine 2013; 178(11): 1264-1270.
  38. Park K-M, Cynn H-S, Choung S-D. Musculoskeletal predictors of movement quality for the forward step-down test in asymptomatic women. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 2013; 43(7): 504-510.
  39. McGill SM, Childs A, Liebenson C. Endurance times for low back stabilization exercises: clinical targets for testing and training from a normal database. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 1999; 80(8): 941-944.
  40. Araujo S, Cohen D, Hayes L. Six weeks of core stability training improves landing kinetics among female capoeira athletes: A pilot study. Journal of human kinetics 2015; 45(1): 27-37.
  41. Örgün E, Kurt C, Özsu İ. The effect of static and dynamic core exercises on dynamic balance, spinal stability, and hip mobility in female office workers. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil 2020; 66(3): 271-280.
  42. Mustu T, Esen HT. The Effect of Eight-Week Core Training Applied to High School Girls on Balance. Journal of Education and Learning 2020; 9(1): 251-257.
  43. Kloubec JA. Pilates for improvement of muscle endurance, flexibility, balance, and posture. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 2010; 24(3): 661-667.
  44. Kibler WB, Press J, Sciascia A. The role of core stability in athletic function. Sports medicine 2006; 36: 189-198.
  45. McGill SM. Low back exercises: evidence for improving exercise regimens. Physical therapy 1998; 78(7): 754-765.
  46. Robinson RH, Gribble PA. Support for a reduction in the number of trials needed for the star excursion balance test. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 2008; 89(2): 364-370.
  47. Verheyden G, Vereeck L, Truijen S, Troch M, et al. Trunk performance after stroke and the relationship with balance, gait and functional ability. Clinical rehabilitation. 2006;20(5):451-458.
  48. Salar S, Daneshmandi H. Relationship between Lumbar-Pelvic Function and Static and Dynamic Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine  2017; 6: 168-179. [Persian]
  49. Fadaei Dehcheshmeh P, Gandomi F, Maffulli N. Effect of lumbopelvic control on landing mechanics and lower extremity muscles’ activities in female professional athletes: implications for injury prevention. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation 2021; 13(1): 1-11.
  50. Jung S-h, Hwang U-j, Ahn S-h, Kim H-a, et.al. Lumbopelvic motor control function between patients with chronic low back pain and healthy controls: a useful distinguishing tool: The STROBE study. Medicine 2020; 99(15): e19621.
  51. Perrott MA, Pizzari T, Opar M, Cook J. Development of clinical rating criteria for tests of lumbopelvic stability. Rehabilitation Research and Practice 2012; 2012.
  52. Hodges PW. Core stability exercise in chronic low back pain. Orthopedic Clinics 2003; 34(2): 245-254.
  53. Ilbeigi S, Nikbin L, Afzalpour ME. The effect of six weeks of core stability exercise on pain and trunk muscle endurance in girl students with chronic non-specific low back pain. Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences 2014; 2(2): 5-13. [Persian]
  54. Mohebi Rad Z, Norasteh AA. The effect of a six-week core stability exercises on balance, strength, and endurance in female students with trunk defects. Physical Treatments-Specific Physical Therapy Journal 2020; 10(4): 231-238.
  55. Shankar G, Chaurasia V, Zambare PD. Effect of core stabilization exercise in improvingtrunk endurance. IJHSR 2011; 1(1): 1-6.