The Relationship between Core Stability and Time of Sprint Swimming in Female Trained Swimmers

Core stability is essential for proper load balance in the spine and pelvis. The so-called core is the group of trunk muscles that surround the spine and abdominal viscera. Core stability and its motor control have been shown to be imperative to initiate functional limb movements in athletes. The aim of this research was to study the relationship between core stability and time of speed swimming in female trained swimmers. 23 swimmers (mean age 10.91±1.59 yr, weight 40.26±9.21 kg and height 145.30±11.83 cm) who were undergoing training at least three years and were provincial members of swimming team were selected by purposive sampling method. Core stability was measured by McGill protocol that included right and left side bridges, trunk flexion and back extension tests. Swimming was assessed using the records of 50m and 100m front crawl, breaststroke and butterfly stroke and 50m backstroke. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test. The results showed a significant and negative relationship only between trunk flexion and record of 50m backstroke (r = -0.42, P=0.02). The results of the present study showed that as different factors influence athletic performance and swimmer's achievements, core stability may not be a proper variable for swimmers to achieve success.