Effect of a Six-Week Core Conditioning as a Warm-Up Exercise in Physical Education Classes on Physical Fitness, Movement Capability, and Balance in School-Aged Children

Nai-Jen Chang, I-Hsien Tsai, Chia-Lun Lee and Chun-Hao Liang
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Nai-Jen Chang: Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
I-Hsien Tsai: Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
Chia-Lun Lee: Center for Physical and Health Education, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
Chun-Hao Liang: Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-11

Abstract: Whether the implementation of feasible, equipment-free, and simple core exercises in warm-up routines in physical education classes for school-aged children is beneficial remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of a core conditioning in the warm-up routine of physical education classes on trunk muscular endurance, movement capability, and flexibility in this population. In these pre- and post-test control group experiments, 52 healthy, school-aged children (aged 10–11 years) were cluster randomized allocated to either the dynamic core exercise (DCE) group or general physical education (GPE) group. The DCE group performed a 10-min core exercise routine twice per week for six consecutive weeks; the GPE group performed traditional physical education warm-up exercises regularly. The children were assessed by conducting the trunk muscular endurance test (i.e., dynamic curl-up, static curl-up, plank, and lateral plank), functional movement screen (FMS), and single-leg balance test before and after the intervention. At the end of the intervention, the DCE group demonstrated a significant effect on trunk muscular endurance, movement capability (i.e., FMS scores), flexibility, and balance (each p < 0.001, effect size: 0.38–1.3). Furthermore, the DCE group showed significant improvements in all outcome measurements compared with the GPE group ( p < 0.05, effect size: 0.29–1.68). These data may provide a reference for incorporating additional core stability exercises in the warm-up routine of physical education classes in school-aged children in the future.

Keywords: pediatrics; trunk muscular endurance; physical activity; sports; functional movement screen (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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