Core Exercises and Their Effects on Sprint, Jump, Agility, and Balance in Amateur Soccer Players

NCT06942676 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: CORE2025-SK
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 4-week core exercise program on sprint, vertical jump, agility, and postural sway performance in amateur male soccer players aged 18-23. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (core training) or a control group (regular training). Physical performance tests were conducted before and after the training program. The results are expected to help coaches and sports scientists better understand the performance benefits of core training.

Conditions

Athletic Performance Improvement Through Core Training

Keywords

Core Training; Sprint; Vertical jump; Postural sway; change of direction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change of Direction Performance (Illinois Test)

  Change of direction (COD) performance was measured using the Illinois Change of Direction Test. Participants completed the test before and after a 4-week core training intervention. COD time was recorded using infrared timing gates, and the best of two attempts was used for analysis. Lower completion time indicates better performance.

  Baseline (Week 0) and Week 5 (immediately after the 4-week intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Core Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received a 4-week core training program in addition to their regular soccer training. The program included dynamic and static core stabilization exercises, performed 3 times per week, each session lasting approximately 25-30 minutes.

Behavioral: Core Exercise Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group continued their usual soccer training routine and did not receive any additional core training during the 4-week period.

Interventions

Core Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

This intervention consists of a 4-week core training program including exercises like planks, side planks, bird-dogs, bridges, and dead bugs, performed 3 days per week alongside regular soccer training. Each session lasted approximately 25-30 minutes.

Core Training Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 23 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male amateur soccer players aged 18 to 23 years
• Actively participating in regular soccer training (minimum 3 sessions/week)
• No musculoskeletal injuries within the last 6 months
• Provided informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of lower extremity surgery
• Any neurological or vestibular disorders
• Participation in core training within the past 3 months
• Use of medication that may affect balance or neuromuscular performance

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Yalova: lead

Study Sites (1)

Yalova University

Yalova, Marmara, 77100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Officials

• Selman Kaya, Phd

  University of Yalova

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Due to the nature of the exercise intervention, no blinding was applied. Both participants and investigators were aware of group assignments.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants were randomly assigned to one of two arms: (1) Core training group, which performed a 4-week structured core exercise program in addition to their routine training; (2) Control group, which continued regular training without additional intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2025
• First Posted: April 24, 2025
• Study Start: November 15, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2024
• Study Completion: December 20, 2024
• Last Updated: April 29, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

TU (1)