EFFECT OF CORE STABILITY TRAINING ON SPINAL-PELVIC STABILITY DURING RUNNING AND ON A SINGLE LEG HOPFOR- DISTANCE PERFORMACNE TEST IN FEMALE RUNNERS

Abstract

Background and purpose: Spinal-pelvic stability is the ability of the spinal-pelvic complex to prevent buckling and to return to equilibrium after perturbation and is achieved during locomotion by coordinated and timed activity of the spinal-pelvic-hip musculature. Inability of the spinal-pelvic complex to achieve this results in increased pelvic-spinal angular displacements, linked to lower limb mal-alignment and injury. Core stability training (CST) aims to improve proximal stability, prevent injury and enhance performance. This study aimed to determine whether CST affected spinal-pelvic stability and a single leg hop for distance test (SLHD).

Method: Thirty five matched female runners randomized into CST (n=16) and control groups (n=20). CST consisted of 6-weeks training including trunk and gluteal muscle strengthening, lunging and running drills focused on maintaining neutral spine. Frontal plane pelvic obliquity (PO) and spinal side flexion (SSF) during stance phase of running was measured using Matlab 2D motion analysis and SLHD. Outcome measures were recorded at baseline and completion of CST/control period. Reliability of Matlab motion analysis system was determined.

Results: Matlab demonstrated high intra and inter-rater reliability measuring PO (r=.990; r=.960 respectively) and SSF (r=.974; r=.982 respectively). CST programme demonstrated a significant reduction in SSF (p ≤ 0.05), PO (p ≤ 0.05) and significant improvements in SLHD (p ≤ 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that improvements in SLHD were unrelated to the reduction in PO and SSF.

Conclusion: Improvements in the spinal-pelvic stability and SLHD can be achieved by CST and could provide a focus for rehabilitation programmes, including injury prevention in female runners.