DOI: 10.4103/ijptr.ijptr_9_25 ISSN: 2666-3481

Effect of Core Training on Selected Motor Components among Recreational Cricket Players

Aditya M. Barot, Aniket Solanki
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Abstract

Background:

Cricket is a noncontact sport, and there is a wide variety of causes of injuries. Cricketers must have the potential strength of core muscle; a core is the essential structure between upper limbs and lower limbs. The core training is a commonly used method that we should dwell on for athletic performance due to the fact that it trains a lot of trunk muscles which stabilize the spin and glute. The core training method differs from weight-lifting exercises in practice, and it aims to improve muscle strength. At the same time, it builds up the core part which helps transmitting the energy efficiently from lower extremity to upper extremity, and also the other way around, it improves the body control, body balance, and efficiency between movement transitions.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to find out the effectiveness of core training on selected motor components among recreational cricket players.

Materials and Methods:

This is an interventional study where 30 male recreational cricket players meeting the criteria were recruited and allocated into two groups, namely Group A (core training, n = 15) and Group B (cricket-specific exercise, n = 15). Core endurance, dynamic balance, agility, and speed are measured using McGill core endurance test, Y-balance test, Illinois Agility Test, and 4 m × 10 m shuttle run test. Group A underwent core training program and Group B underwent cricket-specific exercise. The training programs were scheduled for 4 weeks and required 3 training sessions per week for 45–60 min per day.

Results:

Paired t -test was used for within-group analysis, whereas independent t -test was used for between-group analysis. Statistical analysis of the pre- and posttest measurement showed a statistically significant improvement in all the variables in both the groups at the end of 4 weeks. However, the difference in the mean values of all the variables between both groups indicates that Group A (core training) showed more statistically significant improvement ( P < 0.05) when compared to Group B (cricket-specific exercise).

Conclusion:

Core training significantly improves all the selected outcome measures at the end of 4 weeks when compared to cricket-specific exercise, in short duration. Therefore, Core training is a viable, practical, and cost-effective method that may be used as a training regimen for recreational cricket players.

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