Open AccessBalance and Core Stabilization Training with Eyes Open Versus Eyes Closed in Young Football Players
Author(s) -
Rilind Obertinca,
Vilma Dudonienė,
Jūratė Požėrienė
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
reabilitacijos mokslai: slauga, kineziterapija, ergoterapija
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2538-8673
pISSN - 2029-3194
DOI - 10.33607/rmske.v2i19.761
Subject(s) - core stability , balance (ability) , eyes open , core (optical fiber) , balance test , football , athletes , physical therapy , test (biology) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , balance training , dynamic balance , training (meteorology) , football players , psychology , medicine , computer science , engineering , mechanical engineering , telecommunications , paleontology , physics , meteorology , political science , law , biology
Background. Core stability (or core strengthening) has become a well-known fitness trend that has started transcending into sports medicine. It has become a common practice to incorporate balance tasks into the training program for athletes who want to improve performance and prevent injuries. Hypothesis. We suggest that core stabilization and balance training with closed eyes will be more effective than training with open eyes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of core stabilization training with open eyes versus closed eyes on balance and stability of young football players. Methods. Fourteen healthy young football players aged 10–12 years were assessed for pre and post core stabilization training using two balance tests: Stork Balance Test (SBT) and Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT), and one test for core stability ‒ McGill Core Stability Test (MCST). The intervention included twelve twenty-minute training sessions each of them involved six core strengthening exercises. One group performed exercises with open eyes, and another with eyes closed. Results. Core stability exercises with eyes closed as well as the same exercise done with eyes open insignificantly improved dynamic balance and core stability, but significantly improved the static balance of the subjects. Conclusion. After applying training with closed eyes as well as eyes open, core stability and balance of young football players increased insignificantly. There were no significant differences in core stability and balance training between training with eyes open and eyes closed.Keywords: core stabilization training, balance, open eyes, closed eyes.