Professor at department of physical therapy Yonsei University, United States
Research Objectives: To investigate the effects of core stabilization training (CST) and general core training (GCT) on muscle activation and x-factor, and postural stability during the golf swing in male golfers. The hypothesis is that there will be significant difference in the improvements in muscle activation, x-factor, and postural stability between the CST training group and the GCT group.
Design: Randomized control trial with a two-group pre-test/post-test design.
Setting: A biomechanics lab in Yonsei University.
Participants: The participants in this study were male golfers aged 20-65 years, who had been playing golf for at least 2 years and had a handicap between 10 to 30.
Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned to the GCT or CST group, then completed an 8-week GCT or CST exercise program. Both groups were instructed to continue with their normal levels of physical activity including playing golf. However, they were asked not to undertake in any golf lessons or make any conscious technique changes.
Main Outcome Measures: Outcome measures entailed kinematic data (x-factor), muscle activity of obliquus externus (EO) and internus abdominis (IO), rectus abdominis (RA), lumbar erector spinae (LES), vastus lateralis oblique (VLO), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles collected with electromyogram(EMG), as well as center of pressure (COP) with force plate, respectively.
Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences in muscle activation and x-factor between the two groups for any of the muscles measured (p > 0.05). After 8 weeks of training, the CST group showed significantly greater activation of the EO (p < 0.001) and IO (p < 0.001), slightly decreased COP (p < 0.05) and a significant increase in x-factor (p = 0.001) compared to the GCT group.
Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of incorporating core stability training into golfers' training programs to optimize performance and prevent injury.
Author(s) Disclosures: The authors report no conflict of interest.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the effects of different types of core training on golf-specific outcomes.
Upon completion, participants will be able to determine the importance of incorporating core stability training into golfers' training programs to optimize performance and prevent injury.
Upon completion, participants will be able to understand the core stability training and its practical implications for golf coaches and trainers seeking to optimize the performance of their athletes.
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