Effect of core muscle strengthening on balance in badminton players

Background: Balance is a key component of a complex game like badminton. Core, is an important component of badminton players, which functions to maintain postural alignment and balance. However, it is not clear how it affects dynamic balance in sports persons. The purpose was to study the effects of core strengthening on static and dynamic balance in badminton players using SEBT, Stork test and Tandem Walk test. Methods: It was a pre-test post-test study design, in which 30 healthy young badminton players (Mean age 13.70 ± 1.47 years) from Badminton Academy, Mumbai were selected. Measurements of their pre test parameters were recorded. Intervention: Subjects were assessed and subjected to 8 weeks (4 days/week) of core strengthening program which consisted of four levels and lasted for 30 minutes per session. Subjects progressed to the next level at 2-week intervals. After 8 weeks post-test was conducted. Main outcome Measures: The subjects were evaluated using the Star excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Stork test and tandem walk test. Results: There was statistically significant improvement in SEBT scores measuring dynamic balance and Stork test measuring static balance. (p value< 0.001) Conclusion: Core strengthening of eight weeks duration is effective in improving dynamic balance in healthy, young badminton players.