Efficacy of Core Training in Swimming Performance and Neuromuscular Parameters of Young Swimmers: A Randomised Control Trial

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of core training in the swimming performance and neuromuscular properties of young swimmers. Methods: Eighteen healthy male swimmers (age: 13 ± 2 years, height: 159.6 ± 14.5 cm, weight: 48.7 ± 12.4 kg) were recruited from the Public Authority for Sports swimming pool in Dammam and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed a six-week core-training program consisting of seven exercises (three times/week) with regular swimming training. The control group maintained its regular training. Swimming performance and neuromuscular parameters were measured pre- and post-interventions. Results: The experimental group benefitted from the intervention in terms of the 50 m swim time (−1.4 s; 95% confidence interval −2.4 to −0.5) compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed improved swimming velocity (+0.1 m.s−1), stroke rate (−2.8 cycle.min−1), stroke length (+0.2 m.cycle−1), stroke index (+0.4 m2·s−1), total strokes (−2.9 strokes), and contraction time for erector spinae (ES; −1.5 ms), latissimus dorsi (LD; −7 ms), and external obliques (EO; −1.9 ms). Maximal displacement ES (DM-ES) (+3.3 mm), LD (0.5 mm), and EO (+2.2 mm) were compared with the baseline values for the experimental group, and TC-ES (5.8 ms), LD (3.7 ms), EO (2.5 ms), DM-ES (0.2 mm), LD (−4.1 mm), and EO (−1.0 mm) were compared with the baseline values for the control group. The intergroup comparison was statistically significant (p < 0.05; DM-ES p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that a six-week core-training program with regular swimming training improved the neuromuscular properties and the 50 m freestyle swim performance of the experimental group compared with the control group.

7-10 Yaş Grubu Çocuklarda Yüzme Antrenmanlarına Ek Olarak Yapılan Kara Antrenmanlarının Serbest ve Sırtüstü Stil Yüzme Performansına Etkileri

“…In recent years, this situation has paved the way for an increase in studies on the development of training to improve swimming performance from an early age and the examination of the effects of training. In studies based on strength training in this field, the effects of resistance training (Girold et al, 2012;Marques et al, 2020;Amaro et al, 2021;Wirth et al, 2022), plyometric training (Bishop et al, 2009;Rejman et al, 2017;Canas-Jamett et al, 2020) and core training (Weston et al, 2015;Atici & Afyon, 2016;Patil, Salian & Yardi, 2012;Gencer, 2018;Khiyami et al, 2022) Shapiro-Wilk test was performed to determine whether the groups' freestyle and backstroke swimming pre-test results were normally distributed. Within-group pre-and post-test comparisons were analyzed by paired sample t-test and between-group pre-and post-test comparisons were analyzed by independent sample t-test.…”