PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - L Hayes
AU  - S Araujo
AU  - D Cohen
TI  - SIX WEEKS OF CORE STABILITY TRAINING REDUCES PEAK LANDING FORCE AMONG FEMALE CAPOEIRA ATHLETES
AID  - 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.124
DP  - 2014 Apr 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 605--606
VI  - 48
IP  - 7
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/7/605.3.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/48/7/605.3.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2014 Apr 01; 48
AB  - Background Core stability training (CST) has increased in popularity among athletes and the general fitness population and is promoted as a means to reduce injury risk. In female athletes, an intervention combining CST and balance training reduced peak landing forces, a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Less is known about the isolated effect on landing forces of a CST program comprised of a substantial proportion of static exercises. Objective To evaluate changes in peak landing force in a drop box jump test following a six week CST intervention. Design Intervention study. Setting Well trained Capoeira athletes. Participants 16 female athletes aged 27.3±3.7 years. Interventions Three isometric and three dynamic core stability exercises completed 3 times/week for 6 weeks. Main Outcome Measurements Peak landing forces during a drop jump pre- versus post-intervention. Results Peak landing force significantly decreased from pre- to post-intervention (2943±552 N vs. 1714±235 N respectively [P<.001]). There was no significant change in body mass or jump height during the intervention (P=.528 and P=.877 respectively). Conclusions This study shows that in well-trained female athletes, the addition of a core stability training program that includes a substantial proportion of isometric exercises can reduce landing forces. High landing forces are associated with increased risk of ACL injuries and CST may therefore contribute to injury risk reduction in high risk athletes.