The effects of 8 week balance training on the kayaking performance of the beginners

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the effects of a special 8-week balance-training program on the static and dynamic balance values and on kayak specific balance values of female candidate athletes who are new to kayaking. Material: The study included 25 volunteer healthy young women (mean age: 14.92 ±0.39 years, mean weight: 58.47 ±11.28 kg, mean height: 165.68 ±3.84 cm, mean body fat: 27 ± 7.61%); they were randomly divided into two groups as intervention (n=15) and control (n=10). The intervention group had a special 40-minute balance training (10-min warm-up and 30-min proprioceptive exercises) 3 days a week. The control group had their traditional training scheme only (initial 10-min run for warm-up, 40-min ergometer exercise and strength training, 10-min stretching; after 1 month, 10-min warm-up, 4x10-min technical training in water with 5-min rest between sets, technical training in water for 3 km, 20-min stretching). Along with these, both groups had “technical kayak training” 2 days a week. Static and dynamic balance measurements were done with Prokin Tecnobody Isokinetic balance measurement device; kayak-specific balance measurements were done on specially designed kayak prototype and on standard race kayak (K1). Results: An improvement was found in the static and dynamic balance values of both groups as well as their kayak-specific balance values. It was found that the improvements in static and dynamic balance and especially in kayak-specific balance measured on the prototype kayak ( 15x"> =17.8 -82.4%) and standard race kayak ( 15x"> =36.2) were significantly higher in the intervention group (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that the 8-week-long special balance training had positive effects on kayaking balance performance of the beginners.

Keywords

• sprint kayak
• balance
• balance training
• beginners