Core Training to Improve Abdominal Strength Strength and Ankle Proprioception in Basketball Players

The Star excursion balance test will be used to measure ankle proprioception. It begins with a star drawn on the ground, while the subject will remain in a static position, placing his or her bare foot in the center of the star. During the execution of the test the subject will be asked to touch the farthest point possible with the tip of the first finger. The contact of the finger has to be clean, without supporting the weight or imbalance of the other foot, returning each time to the initial monopodal position. At each attempt the contact point will be recorded on the ground line. This exercise will be repeated three times and the average of the evaluations will be taken into account to obtain the value of the measurement in each one of the directions to be studied, with the final result being the average distance of all the attempts in each of the directions. The unit of measurement is the centimeter (the greater distance in centimeters, the better ankle proprioception).

The Trunk Flexor Test will be used to measure the strength of the flexor muscles of the abdomen. The subject will be sitting on a bench, with knees and hips bent at 90 degrees and feet tied to the stretcher. The arms should be crossed over the chest and trunk in a flared position at 60 degrees. The subject must maintain that position as long as possible. The test is terminated when the participant can not sustain the initial position. The unit of measure is temporary (seconds). The greater the amount of time, the greater the strength of the flexor muscles of the abdomen.

Researchers will use the Trunk Extender Test to evaluate the strength of the extensor muscles of the abdomen. The athlete will be placed in prone position, with the pelvis and ankles fixed to the stretcher with a strap, with the navel on the edge of the stretcher. A chair should be placed at the same height as the stretcher to support the trunk and upper extremity. Then the chair will be removed and the subject should maintain a horizontal position with arms crossed to the trunk as long as possible. The test ends when the subject can not hold the initial position anymore and touch the chair in front of them with their hands. The unit of measure is temporary (seconds). The greater the amount of time, the greater the strength of the extensor muscles of the abdomen.

The Side Bridge Test will be used to measure the strength of the lateral flexor muscles of the abdomen. The subject will be placed in the lateral decubitus with the knees extended on the stretcher being asked to lift the hip of the stretcher using only the feet and the elbow as support. The test will end when the hip falls. The unit of measure is temporary (seconds). The greater the amount of time, the greater the strength of the lateral flexor muscles of the abdomen.

The Romberg test will be used to measure proprioception. The athlete will be asked to stand with their feet together, their arms loose on their sides and their eyes open. In this position any imbalance will be recorded and subsequently you will be asked to close your eyes. The stability will be observed and it will be compared with the one presented with the eyes open. The degree of oscillation and the direction of hips, knees and the entire body should be evaluated. The test is considered positive if there is an imbalance or if the oscillation worsens significantly with the closing of the eyes (score 1). Otherwise, it will be negative (score 0).