ENHANCING BALANCE AND NEUROMUSCULAR COORDINATION THROUGH AGILITY TRAINING IN YOUNG ADULTS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Agility training, Balance, Neuromuscular coordination, young adults, Physical fitness, Motor skills, Quasi-experimental study
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week agility training program on balance and neuromuscular coordination in young adults. A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-testing was used. Participants were randomly assigned to either the agility training group (n=90) or the control group (n=90). The agility training group underwent twice-weekly agility training sessions for 8 weeks, while the control group maintained their normal daily activities. The results showed that the agility training group exhibited significant improvements in both left and right leg balance as measured by the Stork Stand Balance Test. Additionally, the agility training group demonstrated significant enhancements in neuromuscular coordination, as assessed by the McDonald Soccer Test, compared to the control group. In contrast, the control group did not show any significant changes in balance or neuromuscular coordination over the 8-week period. These findings suggest that the agility training protocol was effective in improving balance and neuromuscular coordination in the young adult participants. The study highlights the potential benefits of incorporating agility training into exercise and rehabilitation programs to enhance essential physical and neuromuscular attributes, which are crucial for overall health, athletic performance, and injury prevention.
Key Words: , , , ,
References
2. NICHOLAS RATAMESS Jr (Ed.) 2012. ACSM’s Foundations of Strength Training and Conditioning, Department of Health and Exercise Science The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ
3. Sheppard, J. M., & Young, W. B. (2006). Agility literature review: Classifications, training and testing. Journal of Sports Sciences, 24(9), 919–932. doi:10.1080/0264041050 0457109
4. Chaalali, A., Rouissi, M., Chtara, M., Owen, A., Bragazzi, N. L., Moalla, W., … Chamari, K. (2016). Agility training in young elite soccer players: Promising results compared to change of direction drills. Biology of Sport, 33(4), 345–351. doi:10.5604/20831862.1217924
5. Chaouachi, A., Chtara, M., Hammami, R., Chtara, H., Turki, O., & Castagna, C. (2014). Multidirectional sprints and small-sided games training effect on agility and change of direction abilities in youth soccer. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 28(11), 3121–3127. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000000505
6. Lehnert, M., Hůlka, K., Malý, T., Fohler, J., & Zahálka, F. (2013). The effects of a 6 week plyometric training programme on explosive strength and agility in professional basketball players. Acta Gymnica, 43(4), 7–15. doi:10.5507/ ag.2013.019
7. Thomas, K., French, D., & Hayes, P. R. (2009). The effect of two plyometric training techniques on muscular power and agility in youth soccer players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(1), 332–335. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e318183a01a
8. Missitzi, J., Geladas, N., & Klissouras, V. (2004). Heritability in neuromuscular coordination: implications for motor control strategies. Medicine & science in sports & exercise, 36(2), 233-240.
9. Khasawneh, A., Mousa, A., & Atiya, K. (2009). Evaluating Neuromuscular Coordination for Hands among Physical Education Students. The Shield, 4, 44-59
10. Magill, R. A. (2011). Motor Learning and Control: Concepts and Applications (9th ed., pp. 4). New York: McGraw-Hill
11. Spodek, B., & Saracho, O. N. (2006). Handbook of Research on the Education of Young Chidren (2nd ed., pp. 117). Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledgem
12. Getchell, N., & Whitall, J. (2003). How Do Children Coordinate Simultaneous Upper and Lower Extremity Tasks? The Development of Dual Motor Task Coordination. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 85, 120-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0965(03)00059-6
13. Singh A, Sathe A, Sandhu JS. Effect of a 6-week agility training program on performance indices of Indian taekwondo players. Saudi J Sports Med 2017;17:139-43
14. Mesfar A, Hammami R, Selmi W, Gaied-Chortane S, Duncan M, Bowman TG, Nobari H, van den Tillaar R. Effects of 8-Week In-Season Contrast Strength Training Program on Measures of Athletic Performance and Lower-Limb Asymmetry in Male Youth Volleyball Players. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 27;19(11):6547. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116547. PMID: 35682140; PMCID: PMC9180623.
15. Khazaei L, Parnow A, Amani-Shalamzari S. Comparing the effects of traditional resistance training and functional training on the bio-motor capacities of female elite taekwondo athletes. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2023 Oct 20;15(1):139. doi: 10.1186/s13102-023-00754-9. PMID: 37864229; PMCID: PMC10589965.
16. Jaque-Gallardo C, Véliz-Campillay P, Cancino-López J. Efecto de un entrenamiento con ejercicios de autocarga a alta velocidad en el equilibrio dinámico y estático en mujeres adultas mayores [Effect of a high-speed bodyweight resistance training on timed up and go and one leg stance in older women]. Rev Med Chil. 2019 Sep;147(9):1136-1143. Spanish. doi: 10.4067/s0034-98872019000901136. PMID: 33625447.
17. Stanghelle, B., Bentzen, H., Giangregorio, L., Pripp, A. H., Skelton, D. A., & Bergland, A. (2020). Effects of a resistance and balance exercise programme on physical fitness, health-related quality of life and fear of falling in older women with osteoporosis and vertebral fracture: a randomized controlled trial. Osteoporosis international, 31, 1069-1078.
18. Rutkowski, S., Wrzeciono, A., Czech, O., Rutkowska, A., & Szczegielniak, J. (2022). Effects of a Short-Term Slackline Training Program on Energy Expenditure and Balance in Healthy Young Adults: A Preliminary Report of a Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4830.
19. Chatzopoulos, D., Doganis, G., & Kollias, I. (2018). Effects of creative dance on proprioception, rhythm and balance of preschool children. Early Child Development and Care.
20. Alam, F., Raza, S., Moiz, J. A., Bhati, P., Anwer, S., & Alghadir, A. (2019). Effects of selective strengthening of tibialis posterior and stretching of iliopsoas on navicular drop, dynamic balance, and lower limb muscle activity in pronated feet: A randomized clinical trial. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 47(3), 301-311.
21. Andrieieva, O., Kashuba, V., Yarmak, O., Cheverda, A., Dobrodub, E., & Zakharina, A. (2021). Efficiency of children's fitness training program with elements of sport dances in improving balance, strength and posture. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 21, 2872-2879.
22. Haghighi, A. H., Mohammadtaghipoor, F., Hamedinia, M., & Harati, J. (2019). Effect of a combined exercise program (aerobic and rebound therapy) with two different ratios on some physical and motor fitness indices in intellectually disabled girl. Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity, 11(1), 3.