Validation and Application of Two New Core Stability Tests in Professional Football

Abstract

The purpose of the first study was to validate two newly proposed core stability tests; Prone Plank test (PPT) and Closed Kinetic Chain test (CCT), for evaluating the strength of the body core. Subsequently, these tests were employed in a longitudinal prospective study implementing a core stability training program with a professional Spanish football team. For the validation study, 22 physically active men (Tegner Scale 6–7) performed three trials of the PPT and CCT tests in two different testing sessions separated by one week. In the longitudinal study, 13 male professional football players were equally evaluated (PPT and CCT) before and after the competitive session in which they completed a core training program. Intra-/intersession, and intertester, reliability was analyzed. PPT and CCT demonstrated excellent to good test–retest reliability and acceptable error measurement (ICCs for intratester and intrasession reliability ranged from 0.77 to 0.94 for the PPT, and 0.8–0.9 for the CCT) in all but one of the testing conditions (female tester for CCT test; ICC = 0.38). Significant improvements on core strength were found from pre to post evaluation in both the PPT (P < 0.01) and CCT (P < 0.01) after the implementation of a core training program in professional football players.

Strength and Power-Related Measures in Assessing Core Muscle Performance in Sport and Rehabilitation

“…Several authors have investigated the effects of core muscle training programs on a variety of characteristics of physical fitness. Most studies were related to muscle strength and power, such as leg muscle strength, abdominal muscle strength, and balance in male students of physical education and recreation health ( Firdauz and Setijono, 2018 ), core muscle strength and endurance in school’s football team players ( Boyaci and Tutar, 2018 ), isometric leg and back muscle strength, abdominal muscle strength, back extensor endurance, dynamic balance, flexibility of the lower back and hamstring muscles, thoracic and lumbar spine ROM and lateral bending in male university students ( Yaprak, 2018 ), balance, agility and explosive force in runners ( Dinç and Ergin, 2019 ), neuromuscular control of the trunk and lower limbs during jump landing and single-legged squatting in female collegiate basketball players ( Sasaki et al, 2019 ), core muscle strength in young male cyclists ( Chok, 2020 ), core muscle strength in professional football players ( Etxaleku et al, 2020 ), core muscle strength in junior swimmers ( Marani et al, 2020 ), endurance, strength and balance in female students with trunk defects ( Mohebi Rad and Norasteh, 2020 ), core muscle performance in rhythmic gymnasts ( Esteban-García et al, 2021 ), and neuromuscular control and strength of the trunk muscles in pediatric soccer players ( Kumahara et al, 2021 ). Other studies were related to balance, endurance and flexibility, for instance endurance, strength, flexibility and balance in sedentary women ( Sekendiz et al, 2010 ), dynamic balance, spinal mobility, functional mobility and trunk muscle strength in older adults ( Granacher.…”

Functional and Anthropometrical Screening Test among High Performance Female Football Players: A Descriptive Study with Injury Incidence Analysis, the Basque Female Football Cohort (BFFC) Study

“…The Prone Plank Isometric Test was performed according to the protocol established by Etxaleku et al [33]. The participants were placed in the prone position with the ankles placed at neutral dorsiflexion (0 • ).…”

“…The Side Bridge Isometric Test was also performed according to the protocol established by Etxaleku et al [33]. The participants were placed in a side lying position, resting the body on the supporting leg's knee and the flexed ipsilateral elbow.…”

Prospects for the Use of the “Biodex Balance System Sd” Device for Testing the Body's Ability to Maintain Balance ("Core Stability") and Its Training in Wrestling Sport

“…It is possible to divide them into several groupsmeasuring the strength of core muscles, measuring the endurance, flexibility, motor control and functional tests. We can also mention newly developed 2 tests -The Prone Plank Test (PPT) and Closed Kinetic Chain Test (CCT), which both demon-strated good test-retest reliability and acceptable error measurement [24]. Andy Waldhelm in his dissertation "Assessment of core stability: developing practical models."…”