CORE STABILITY / B.J.

Lehecka, DPT



CORE STABILITY and ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

A 6-week core strength training program
significantly increased 5000-m run times compared
to controls (by 30 seconds).
1


Abdominal muscle fatigue has appeared to
contribute to hamstring injuries in rugby players.
2


Core fatigue has been linked to altered lower
extremity mechanics during cycling that have the
potential to increase the risk of overuse injury
from misalignment.
3


Delayed trunk muscle reflex responses have
predicted low back injuries in collegiate athletes.
4


Soccer players demonstrated increased core
muscle response times and unilateral balance
performance when compared with nonplayers.
5,6


Core stability training improved maximal throwing
velocity by 5% in female handball players.
7


Impaired core proprioception predicted knee
injury risk in female collegiate athletes with 90%
sensitivity and 56% specificity.
8


1
Sato K, Mokha M. Does core strength training influence
running kinetics, lower-extremity stability, and 5000-M
performance in runners? J Strength Cond Res. 2009
Jan;23(1):133-40.
2
Devlin L. Recurrent posterior thigh symptoms detrimental to
performance in rugby union: predisposing factors. Sports Med.
2000 Apr;29(4):273-87.
3
Abt JP, Smoliga JM, Brick MJ, Jolly JT, Lephart SM, Fu FH.
Relationship between cycling mechanics and core stability. J
Strength Cond Res. 2007 Nov;21(4):1300-4.
4
Cholewicki J, et al. Delayed trunk muscle reflex responses
increase the risk of low back injuries. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).
2005 Dec 1;30(23):2614-20.
5
Borghuis AJ, Lemmink KA, Hof AL. Core muscle response
times and postural reactions in soccer players and nonplayers.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jan;43(1):108-14.
6
Thorpe JL, Ebersole KT. Unilateral balance performance in
female collegiate soccer athletes. J Strength Cond Res. 2008
Sep;22(5):1429-33.
7
Saeterbakken AH, van den Tillaar R, Seiler S. Effect of core
stability training on throwing velocity in female handball
players. J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Mar;25(3):712-8.
8
Zazulak BT, Hewett TE, Reeves NP, Goldberg B, Cholewicki J.
The effects of core proprioception on knee injury: a
prospective biomechanical-epidemiological study. Am J Sports
Med. 2007 Mar;35(3):368-73. Epub 2007 Jan 31.
Altered motor control of lower lumbar
musculature has been associated with low back
pain in cyclists.
9


Abdominal muscle performance has correlated
with driver and 5-iron carry distance as well as
average putt distance after chip and sand shots in
competitive golfers; a significant relationship was
also demonstrated between dominant leg balance
and greens hit in regulation.
10


Dynamic balance testing performance was
predictive of lower extremity injury in high school
basketball players.
11


Triathletes showed greater trunk activation than
non-runner athletes while running at consistent
percentages of their maximal heart rate reserve.
12


Intercollegiate basketball and cross-country
athletes who experienced an injury over the course
of a season demonstrated significantly lower core
stability measures including hip abduction and
external rotation strength as well as generally
lower abdominal testing performances.
13


Core strength of collegiate football players has
been significantly correlated with performance
measures such as the 20- and 40-m sprints, shuttle
run, vertical jump, and power clean.
14


9
Burnett AF, Cornelius MW, Dankaerts W, O'sullivan PB.
Spinal kinematics and trunk muscle activity in cyclists: a
comparison between healthy controls and non-specific
chronic low back pain subjects-a pilot investigation. Man Ther.
2004 Nov;9(4):211-9.
10
Wells GD, Elmi M, Thomas S. Physiological correlates of golf
performance. J Strength Cond Res. 2009 May;23(3):741-50.
11
Plisky PJ, Rauh MJ, Kaminski TW, Underwood FB. Star
Excursion Balance Test as a predictor of lower extremity injury
in high school basketball players. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther.
2006 Dec;36(12):911-9.
12
Behm DG, Cappa D, Power GA. Trunk muscle activation
during moderate- and high-intensity running. Appl Physiol
Nutr Metab. 2009 Dec;34(6):1008-16.
13
Leetun DT, Ireland ML, Willson JD, Ballantyne BT, Davis IM.
Core stability measures as risk factors for lower extremity
injury in athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Jun;36(6):926-34.
14
Nesser TW, Huxel KC, Tincher JL, Okada T. The relationship
between core stability and performance in division I football
players. J Strength Cond Res. 2008 Nov;22(6):1750-4.