Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in Professional Football Players
Conditions
Keywords
Dynamic balance, Diaphragmatic breathing, Core stability
Brief summary
Football players require good core strength and balance to perform well and reduce the risk of injury. The muscles of the trunk and diaphragm play an important role in maintaining stability, posture, and movement control during sports activities. This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises on dynamic balance, hop performance, and core endurance in professional football players. Balloon breathing exercises are designed to improve diaphragmatic breathing and trunk muscle activation. Eligible football players will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises along with regular football training, while the other group will receive core stability training with regular football training only. The intervention will be performed three times per week for eight weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Outcome measures, including dynamic balance, hop performances, core endurance, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention, at the end of the program, and at a three-month follow-up. The findings of this study may help improve training strategies aimed at enhancing performance and reducing injury risk in football players.
Interventions
OTHERCore Stability Training
McGill's Big Three core stability exercises including curl-up, side bridge, and bird-dog exercises performed three times per week for eight weeks, with progression to unstable surfaces as tolerated.
OTHERBalloon Breathing Exercise
Diaphragmatic breathing exercise involving controlled inhalation through the nose and prolonged exhalation into a balloon while maintaining trunk engagement, performed alongside core exercises for eight weeks.
Sponsors
Gulf Medical University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 28 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male professional football players aged 18 to 35 years * Currently playing at club level * Free from musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months prior to enrollment * Willing to participate and provide written informed consent * Able to participate in regular football training and exercise programs
Exclusion criteria
* Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting training or performance * History of lower limb or spinal surgery within the past year * Any neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory condition that limits physical activity * Participation in any structured core stability or breathing training program within the past 3 months * Female players
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test) | Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-intervention | Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Y-Balance Test. Reach distances in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions will be measured and normalized to leg length. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Core Muscle Endurance | Baseline and 8 weeks | Core endurance will be assessed using McGill's trunk endurance tests, including trunk flexor hold, trunk extensor hold, and side bridge hold tests. The duration (in seconds) each position is maintained will be recorded. |
| Lower Limb Hop Performance | Baseline and 8 weeks | Hop performance will be evaluated using single-leg hop, triple hop, and crossover hop tests. The distance hopped will be measured in centimeters. |
| Vertical Jump Height | Baseline and 8 weeks | Vertical jump height will be measured using a validated smartphone application (My Jump 2). The average of the best two out of three trials will be recorded. |
| maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) | Baseline and 8 weeks | Inspiratory muscle strength will be assessed using a portable respiratory pressure meter. The highest value from three maximal inspiratory efforts will be recorded. |
Countries
United Arab Emirates
Contacts
CONTACTRajaskar Sannasi
Outcome results
None listed