Assessment of the influence of core stability training on selected functional and structural parameters

ISRCTN	ISRCTN82706323
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN82706323
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT)	Nil known
Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS)	Nil known
Protocol serial number	KNW/0022/KB1/12/15
Sponsor	The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education
Funder	The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice

Submission date: 22/06/2020
Registration date: 30/07/2020
Last edited: 03/10/2022

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Musculoskeletal Diseases

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Trunk rotations are important functional movements which form the foundations of the human motion pattern, especially in the functions of walking and running. The aim of this study is to assess how different kinds of core training improve abdominal muscle thickness, spinal range of motion, muscle power and muscle stiffness.

Who can participate?
Healthy people aged 18 - 45 years

What does the study involve?
The whole experiment will last for about 6-7 weeks. Every participant will go through a specific examination, including an interview, warm-up, functional tests, and self-made questionnaires. It will take up to 90 minutes. After that, patients will be randomly assigned to one out of three groups: two experimental groups provided with a specific training programme (local and global movement patterns), and one control group (without any training). The examination will be done at three times: on the first day (before training starts), after 4 weeks, and 2 weeks after the last training session. The study will include and assess two training concepts that develop central stabilization. The first group will focus on isolated transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle work and are taught how to do it. As soon as patients from the first group learn how to contract TrA (lying on their back), they will perform a specific training, including gentle breathing and moving upper and lower limbs. The same procedure will be repeated when sitting, standing, dynamic movements and walking. Training will be carried under the control of two physiotherapists. One of them will focus on providing cues, so the patient will perform movements properly, while the second therapist will perform feedback. Every patient will be treated individually. Training will last for 45-60 minutes. Patients from the second experimental group will also perform central stabilization training, but it will be based on global movements without isolated contraction of the so-called "core muscles". Patients will train under the control of two physiotherapists. One of them will be a strength and conditioning coach. Patients will perform a back-bridge, side-bridge, plank, quadruped, and torso rotations lying on their back. All exercises will be modified to increase or decrease difficulty and breathing will be underlined. Patients will train in a room with mirrors, so they will be able to visually control their movements. Training will last for 45-60 minutes. Patients from both groups will train four times a week for 4 weeks.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may have better stability. The researchers think that there is no risk of participating.

Where is the study run from?
Medical University of Silesia (Poland)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2015 to September 2020

Who is funding the study?
The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education (Poland)

Who is the main contact?
Dr n. o zdr. Katarzyna Szuścik-Niewiadomy
kszuscik@sum.edu.pl

Contact information

Dr Katarzyna Szuścik-Niewiadomy
Public

Zakład Adaptowanej Aktywności Fizycznej i Sportu Katedry Fizjoterapii
Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach
ul. Medyków 12
Katowice
40-752
Poland

ORCID ID	0000-0002-2260-2614
Phone	+48 (0)32 20 88 749
Email	kszuscik@sum.edu.pl

Dr Katarzyna Szuścik-Niewiadomy
Scientific

Zakład Adaptowanej Aktywności Fizycznej i Sportu Katedry Fizjoterapii
Śląski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach
ul. Medyków 12
Katowice
40-752
Poland

Phone	+48 (0)32 20 88 749
Email	kszuscik@sum.edu.pl

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Double-blinded randomized control trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	Assessment of the influence of core stability training on selected functional and structural parameters among young healthy people
Study objectives	Do different stability trainings improve muscle thickness, spinal range of motion, muscle power, muscle stiffness?
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 10/02/2015, Ethics Committee of Medical University of Silesia (Poniatowskiego 15, 40-055 Katowice; +48 (0)32 208 35 46; kombioet@sum.edu.pl), ref: KNW/0022/KB1/12/15
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Effects of core muscle training in healthy adults
Intervention	The whole experiment will last for about 6-7 weeks. Every participant will go through a specific examination, including an interview, warm-up, functional tests, and self-made questionnaires. It will take up to 90 minutes. After that, patients will be randomly assigned to one out of three groups: two experimental groups provided with a specific training programme (local and global movement patterns), and one control group (without any training). The examination will be done at three times: on the 1st day (before training starts), after 4 weeks, and 2 weeks after the last training session. The study will include and assess two training concepts that develop central stabilization. The first group will focus on isolated transversus abdominis muscle work and are taught (using palpation and USG-feedback method) how to do it. As soon as patients from the first group learn how to contract TrA (laying on their back), they will perform a specific training, including gentle breathing and moving upper and lower limbs. The same procedure will be repeated in sitting, standing, dynamic movements and walking. Training will be carried under the control of two physiotherapists. One of them will focus on providing cues, so the patient will perform movements properly, while the second therapist will perform a USG-feedback. Every patient will be treated individually. Training will last for 45-60 minutes. Patients from the second experimental group will also perform a central stabilization training, but it will be based on global movements without isolated contraction of the so-called "core muscles". Patients will train under the control of two physiotherapists. One of them will be a strength and conditioning coach. Patients will perform a back-bridge, side-bridge, plank, quadruped, and torso rotations lying on their back. All exercises will be modified to increase or decrease difficulty and breathing will be underlined. Patients will train in room with mirrors, so they will be able to visually control their movements. Training will last for 45-60 minutes. Patients from both groups will train four times a week for 4 weeks.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Measured on the 1st day (before training starts), after 4 weeks, and 2 weeks after the last training session (6 weeks after starting the experiment): 1. Muscle thickness measured using USG - Edan DUS 60 with linear transducer 2. Range of motion measured using inclinometer 3. Force applied during passive muscle stiffness testing measured using electronic dynamometer 4. Pain levels from last 7 days measured using McGill Pain Questionnaire Short-Form SF-MPQ
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Measured on the 1st day (before training starts), after 4 weeks, and 2 weeks after the last training session (6 weeks after starting the experiment): 1. Body composition measured using Tanita body composition analyzer 2. Body fat measured using mechanical caliper 3. Distance in Thomayer’s test measured using self-made platform 4. Distance in modified Thomayer’s test (heel added) measured using FMS platform 5. Pain levels at a given moment, its change and its influence on the ability to perform daily activities, measured using Revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Scale 6. Level of physical activity measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
Completion date	01/10/2020

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Healthy volunteer
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	120
Key inclusion criteria	1. Age 18 - 45 years 2. BMI less than 30 kg/m²
Key exclusion criteria	1. Pain in the spine higher than 7/10 VAS 2. Neurologic symptoms 3. Abdominal surgery interventions in the past 4. Pregnancy 5. Chronic diseases 6. Pharmacotherapy
Date of first enrolment	31/07/2020
Date of final enrolment	15/08/2020

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Poland

Study participating centre

Medical University of Silesia

Medyków 12
Katowice
40-752
Poland

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	Yes
IPD sharing plan summary	Available on request
IPD sharing plan	The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Results article		01/01/2021	03/10/2022	Yes	No
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

Editorial Notes

03/10/2022: Publication reference added.
30/06/2020: Trial's existence confirmed by Ethics Committee of Medical University of Silesia.