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NCT Number: NCT07387029

Core Stability Training With Balloon Breathing on Balance and Performance in Football Players

Football players require good core strength and balance to perform well and reduce the risk of injury. The muscles of the trunk and diaphragm play an important role in maintaining stability, posture, and movement control during sports activities.

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises on dynamic balance, hop performance, and core endurance in professional football players. Balloon breathing exercises are designed to improve diaphragmatic breathing and trunk muscle activation.

Eligible football players will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive core stability training combined with balloon breathing exercises along with regular football training, while the other group will receive core stability training with regular football training only. The intervention will be performed three times per week for eight weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

Outcome measures, including dynamic balance, hop performances, core endurance, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), will be assessed at baseline, during the intervention, at the end of the program, and at a three-month follow-up. The findings of this study may help improve training strategies aimed at enhancing performance and reducing injury risk in football players.

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Key information

Conditions

Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) in Professional Football Players

Age range

18 year–28 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Gulf medical University

Ajman, Al Jurf, United Arab Emirates

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male professional football players aged 18 to 35 years
  • Currently playing at club level
  • Free from musculoskeletal injury for at least 6 months prior to enrollment
  • Willing to participate and provide written informed consent
  • Able to participate in regular football training and exercise programs

Exclusion criteria

  • Current musculoskeletal injury or pain affecting training or performance
  • History of lower limb or spinal surgery within the past year
  • Any neurological, cardiovascular, or respiratory condition that limits physical activity
  • Participation in any structured core stability or breathing training program within the past 3 months
  • Female players

Treatment and study plan

Core stability training

Other

McGill's Big Three core stability exercises including curl-up, side bridge, and bird-dog exercises performed three times per week for eight weeks, with progression to unstable surfaces as tolerated.

Balloon Breathing Exercise

Other

Diaphragmatic breathing exercise involving controlled inhalation through the nose and prolonged exhalation into a balloon while maintaining trunk engagement, performed alongside core exercises for eight weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Dynamic Balance (Y-Balance Test)

    Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-intervention

    Dynamic balance will be assessed using the Y-Balance Test. Reach distances in the anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions will be measured and normalized to leg length.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Core Muscle Endurance

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    Core endurance will be assessed using McGill's trunk endurance tests, including trunk flexor hold, trunk extensor hold, and side bridge hold tests. The duration (in seconds) each position is maintained will be recorded.

  2. Lower Limb Hop Performance

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    Hop performance will be evaluated using single-leg hop, triple hop, and crossover hop tests. The distance hopped will be measured in centimeters.

  3. Vertical Jump Height

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    Vertical jump height will be measured using a validated smartphone application (My Jump 2). The average of the best two out of three trials will be recorded.

  4. maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV)

    Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks

    Inspiratory muscle strength will be assessed using a portable respiratory pressure meter. The highest value from three maximal inspiratory efforts will be recorded.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Rajaskar Sannasi

CONTACT

[email protected]

+971508365724

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Gulf Medical University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Core Stability Training With Ball and Balloon Exercise on Dynamic Balance, Hop Performance, and Core Endurance in Professional Football Players - A Randomized Clinical Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Feb 4, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.