Agility, Balance, and Core Stabilization in Youth Athletes, Motor Skills Development, Physical Performance Enhancement
Conditions
Keywords
Folk dances,, Kinesthetic sense, Core region stability, Youth football, Balance, Turkish folk dance, Agility, core stability, flexibility, proprioception, exercise intervention, sports performance, U14 athletes
Brief summary
This study aims to examine the effects of integrating Turkish folk dance exercises into the training routines of U14 football players on their kinesthetic sense, balance, agility, core stabilization, and flexibility. The study includes 15 young male football players actively participating in league matches in Istanbul, randomly assigned to either control or intervention groups. The intervention group participates in an additional Turkish folk dance training program for eight weeks alongside their regular football practice, while the control group continues with regular training only. Both groups undergo assessments on agility, flexibility, core stabilization, balance, and kinesthetic sense using standardized field tests. The study seeks to explore whether Turkish folk dance training can provide added value to conventional youth football training programs.
Detailed description
This randomized controlled study investigates the potential impact of Turkish folk dance-based exercises on core region stabilization, balance, and agility among U14 male football players in Istanbul. Fifteen participants are divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group participates in an eight-week Turkish folk dance exercise program in addition to their regular football training. Pre- and post-intervention assessments include the Illinois Agility Test, Y-Balance Test, joint position sense measurements, flexibility assessments, and the Core Stabilization Test (CST). Statistical analysis methods planned for evaluating the outcomes include normality analysis, independent samples t-tests for group comparisons, and paired samples t-tests for within-group differences, with a significance level set at p\<0.05. The study aims to assess whether incorporating Turkish folk dance movements into youth football training programs may contribute to improvements in motor skills relevant to athletic performance and injury prevention.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALTurkish Folk Dance-Based Exercise Program
Participants in the intervention group received a structured Turkish folk dance-based exercise program in addition to their regular football training. The dance-based intervention consisted of two 45-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks, including traditional Turkish folk dance movements aimed at improving balance, agility, and core stability.
Sponsors
Marmara University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
12 Years to 14 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male football players actively participating in the U14 league in Istanbul. * Age between 12 and 14 years. * Actively training and participating in official football matches. * Voluntary participation with parental/guardian consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of musculoskeletal, neurological, or chronic health conditions that would prevent participation. * History of injury or surgery affecting balance or mobility within the last 6 -months. * Participation in other structured exercise or dance programs outside of football training. * Non-compliance with the training or assessment schedule.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Agility Performance | Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks) | Change in agility measured by the Illinois Agility Test, assessed before and after the 8-week intervention period. |
| Balance Performance | Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks) | Change in dynamic balance measured by the Y-Balance Test, assessed before and after the 8-week intervention period. |
| Core Stabilization | Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks) | Change in core stabilization measured by the Core Stabilization Test (CST), assessed before and after the 8-week intervention period. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks) | Change in flexibility assessed by the Passive Straight Leg Raise Test, before and after the intervention. |
| Kinesthetic Sense / Joint Position Sense | Baseline and post-intervention (8 weeks) | Change in kinesthetic sense measured by Joint Position Sense (JPS) testing, before and after the intervention. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed