Balance, Core Endurance, Explosive Power, Judo Performance
Conditions
Keywords
Core endurance, medicine ball throw, balance, judo, young athletes, cross-sectional study
Brief summary
This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the association between core endurance, medicine ball throw performance, and static balance in young male judokas aged 10-13 years. Core endurance will be assessed using McGill's isometric core endurance protocol, including trunk flexion, trunk extension, and lateral bridge tests. Explosive performance will be evaluated using the backward overhead medicine ball throw test, while static balance will be assessed using the Flamingo Balance Test. Correlation and regression analyses will be conducted to examine the relationships between core endurance and performance variables. The findings may contribute to understanding the role of core endurance in youth judo performance.
Detailed description
Judo is a high-intensity combat sport that requires explosive power, postural control, balance, and efficient force transmission throughout the kinetic chain. Core musculature plays a central role in stabilizing the trunk and transferring force between the lower and upper extremities during sport-specific movements. In judo, throwing techniques such as ippon-seoi-nage, uchi-mata, and harai-goshi require substantial trunk stabilization and rotational force production. Although previous studies have investigated the importance of core training and trunk muscle function in athletic performance, limited evidence exists regarding the association between core endurance and sport-related performance parameters in young judokas. Understanding these relationships may provide valuable insights for training program design in youth judo athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional observational study is to examine the association between core endurance, medicine ball throw performance, and static balance in male judokas aged 10-13 years. Twenty male judokas with at least two years of regular judo training experience will participate in the study. Core endurance will be evaluated using McGill's isometric core endurance test battery, including trunk flexion, trunk extension, right lateral bridge, and left lateral bridge tests. Explosive upper-body performance will be assessed using the backward overhead medicine ball throw test with a 2-kg medicine ball. Static balance performance will be evaluated using the Flamingo Balance Test. Data collection will be conducted over two testing sessions separated by at least 48 hours. Spearman rank correlation analyses and regression analyses will be used to examine the relationships between variables. The study hypothesizes that greater core endurance will be positively associated with medicine ball throw performance and static balance performance in young male judokas.
Interventions
OTHERMcGill's Core Endurance Test Battery
Participants performed four isometric endurance tests: trunk flexor, trunk extensor, and right/left lateral bridge tests to assess core stability.
OTHERBackward Overhead Medicine Ball Throw
Used to measure explosive power. Participants threw a 2 kg medicine ball backward over their head for maximum distance
OTHERFlamenco Balance Test
A static balance test where participants stood on one leg on a metal beam for as long as possible
Sponsors
Inonu University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
This is a cross-sectional study evaluating the associations between core endurance, medicine ball throw performance, and static balance in a single cohort of young male judokas.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
10 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Being a male judoka aged between 10 and 13 years. * Having at least 2 years of regular judo training experience * Training at least 3 days per week regularly * Volunteering to participate in the study and providing parental informed consent * Being free from any physical injuries or health conditions that could interfere with physical performance testing
Exclusion criteria
* Having any acute or chronic musculoskeletal injuries within the last 6 months * Having a history of surgery that affects physical movement or balance * Using any medication or supplements that could influence physical performance or balance during the testing period * Failure to complete all the required test protocols * Any neurological or vestibular disorders that affect static balance
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Core Endurance (McGill's Test Battery) | Baseline | Total core endurance measured through four isometric tests: trunk flexion, trunk extension, right lateral bridge, and left lateral bridge. Each test measures the duration (in seconds) the participant can maintain the required position. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Explosive Power (Backward Overhead Medicine Ball Throw) | Baseline | The maximum distance achieved by throwing a 2 kg medicine ball backward over the head. The best of three trials is recorded. |
| Static Balance (Flamenco Balance Test) | Baseline | Assessment of static balance where the number of falls or balance losses are counted during a 1-minute period while standing on a metal beam. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORÖzgür Eken, PhD, Assoc. Prof
Inonu University
Outcome results
None listed