Email this article EFFECTS OF A 12-WEEK CORE TRAINING PROGRAM ON PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS: A STUDY IN KUALA LUMPUR- MALAYSIA
Abstract
Improving the physical characteristics among rhythmic gymnastics (RG) has significant impact on their level of performance. The enhancing of certain characteristics among RG is very helpful in the early stages of RG training process. The current Quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the effects of the core training program on enhancing the physical characteristics including Power (Vertical jump test), Balance (Stork Stand Balance Test), Flexibility (Sit and Reach Test), Strength and endurance (Sit-Up Test) among Malaysian Gymnasts Rhythmic. Forty female rhythmic gymnasts (aged 6-9 years old) from 2 sport clubs located in Kuala lumpur- Malaysia were selected to participant in this study dividing randomly into intervention and control groups. Participants in the intervention group received 8 weeks of the core training program as the intervention program. The Results showed the core training program had positive effects on the physical characteristics including power (∆mean=-2.95, P<0.001), balance (right leg: ∆mean=-2.25, P<0.001 and left leg: ∆mean=-0.69, P=0.04) and strength (∆mean=-2.70, P<0.001) among participants in intervention group. However, compared to pre-test scores, no significant change was seen in the mean score of flexibility (sit and reach test) in post-test (p>0.5). Overall, the results of the current study showed the intervention program can be introduced as an effective program for improving the physical characteristics of the young female Malaysian Rhythmic Gymnasts. The findings of the current study could be used by Malaysian gymnastics coaches and gymnastics trainers to design and implement a continuous core training program to improve the performance of Malaysian Rhythmic Gymnasts.
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References
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15282/mohe.v8i1.255