Abstract
Background: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of core training in the swimming performance and neuromuscular properties of young swimmers. Methods: Eighteen healthy male swimmers (age: 13 +/- 2 years, height: 159.6 +/- 14.5 cm, weight: 48.7 +/- 12.4 kg) were recruited from the Public Authority for Sports swimming pool in Dammam and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed a six-week core-training program consisting of seven exercises (three times/week) with regular swimming training. The control group maintained its regular training. Swimming performance and neuromuscular parameters were measured pre- and post-interventions. Results: The experimental group benefitted from the intervention in terms of the 50 m swim time (-1.4 s; 95% confidence interval -2.4 to -0.5) compared with the control group. The experimental group also showed improved swimming velocity (+0.1 m.s(-1)), stroke rate (-2.8 cycle.min(-1)), stroke length (+0.2 m.cycle(-1)), stroke index (+0.4 m(2)center dot s(-1)), total strokes (-2.9 strokes), and contraction time for erector spinae (ES; -1.5 ms), latissimus dorsi (LD; -7 ms), and external obliques (EO; -1.9 ms). Maximal displacement ES (DM-ES) (+3.3 mm), LD (0.5 mm), and EO (+2.2 mm) were compared with the baseline values for the experimental group, and TC-ES (5.8 ms), LD (3.7 ms), EO (2.5 ms), DM-ES (0.2 mm), LD (-4.1 mm), and EO (-1.0 mm) were compared with the baseline values for the control group. The intergroup comparison was statistically significant (p < 0.05; DM-ES p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that a six-week core-training program with regular swimming training improved the neuromuscular properties and the 50 m freestyle swim performance of the experimental group compared with the control group.