ABSTRACT
The core is the center of the functional kinetic
chain providing the proximal stability for the distal mobility and function of
the limbs. The study aims to verify the effects of an integrative core
stability training on jump and sprint performance in young basketball players. Young
basketball players were involved in the study (n = 42, 16 female, 26 male)
whose age, stature and weight were respectively (average ± ds) 8.22 ± 0.4
years, 118.2 ± 3.7 cm and 28.8 ± 4.9 kg and was randomly divided in Training
Group (TG, n = 24, 10 F, 14 M) and Control Group (CG, n = 18, 6 F, 12 M). The
training program was monitored for 4 weeks (8 sessions, twice a week and
lasting 1 hour each during the usual sports activity; in addition to the usual
technical and sport-specific exercises, the TG introduced only 4 core stability
exercises in the warm-up). The results revealed a change in test scores across
the two time periods for TG in the left limb Side hop (p < 0.026), in the right limb side hop (p < 0.001), in the left limb 6 meter timed hop (p < 0.0005), in the right limb 6
meter timed hop (p < 0.0005), in
the vertical jump (p < 0.002), in
the 10 meters sprint (p < 0.0005)
and in the 10 × 5 meters test (p <
0.001). The CG highlighted differences statistically significant only in the 10
meters sprint (p < 0.05). The
study confirms the need to hypothesize in youth sport supplementary sessions
intended for strength training, as the literature has already suggested for
several years.