Abstract - The effects of Core Training on speed, anaerobic power and agility in 11–14 age wrestlers
Background. Core exercises improve the central muscles of the human body such as the spine, abdomen, hip and pelvic muscle groups. It is also known that a strong core will provide a transfer of force from the lower extremity to the upper extremity.
Objective. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of including 8-week core training program in wrestling training on speed, anaerobic power and agility performance in wrestlers aged 11-14.
Methods. 24 wrestlers between the ages of 11-14 participated in this study. Participants were divided into two homogeneous groups of 12, considering their age and body weight. One group formed the experimental group (EG; n = 12) and the other formed the control group (CG; n = 12). In addition to wrestling training, core training program was applied to the experimental group 2 days a week (Tuesday-Friday) for 8 weeks. During this time the control group undertook a technical warm-up session specific to wrestling with a partner. Two-way repeated measures of ANOVA was used to analyze the mean differences between groups. One-way repeated measures of ANOVA was used to examine the score differences in the pre-post tests of the same group. The effect size was analyzed. For statistical significance level p < 0.05 was accepted.
Results. There was no significant improvement in speed (p = .943), anaerobic power (p = .680), and agility performance (p =.343) from the pre-test to the post-test in the control group. In the experimental group, a statistically significant improvement was observed in all of the measured properties (speed, p = .001; anaerobic power, p = .000; agility, p = .028). In addition, group x time interaction between experimental group and control group pre-test and post-test scores was found to be statistically significant (speed, p = .000; anaerobic power, p = .006; agility, p = .023).
Conclusion. With the addition of the 8-week core training program to wrestling training, it has been observed that speed, anaerobic power and agility performances have been positively affected.