The Effect of a 6-Week Core Stability Training Program on the Stroke Index and Front Crawl Record of Male Swimmers

Abstract

Objective For optimal performance of swimmers, it is necessary to determine a level for the functional interaction of upper and lower limbs. This level, created by more than 20 pairs of muscles, is the core of the body. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of six weeks of core stability exercise on the stroke index and front crawl record of male swimmers. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 24 male swimmers were selected by a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned into control (n=12) and exercise (n=12) groups. The core stability training was performed for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, each for 45-50 minutes. Before and after training, the stroke index and 100-m front crawl records of subjects were evaluated. For the within-group and between-group comparisons, the student t-test and ANCOVA were used, respectively. The significance level was set at P<0.05. Results Six weeks of core stability exercise led to significant improvement in 100-m front crawl record in the exercise group. There was no significant difference in the mean scores of stroke index and 100-meter front crawl record between and within the two study groups. Conclusion Core stability exercise is recommended for dryland training of swimmers.

Keywords

• core stability
• stroke index
• swimming record