The effect of combined exercise program applied to adolescent volleyball players on balance, coordination, flexibility and motor performance

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of combined exercise programs to applied adolescent volleyball players on balance, coordination, flexibility and motor performance. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four participants (12 girls and 12 boys) between the ages of 12-18 years, who were practicing volleyball in Gölhisar district of Burdur were included in the study. The training group was given exercise training for 5 min warm-up, 60 min training phase (15 min plyometric, 15 min balance, 15 min resistance exercise, 15 coordination), 5 min cool down phase. The control group continued with normal volleyball exercises. The training was given for 8 weeks, 2 days a week, and then the evaluations were repeated. Assessments were performed with manual muscle strength assessment, BOT-2 short form and sit-reach flexibility tests. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the training and control groups in muscle strength evaluation in hip flexion-extension, hip abduction-adduction, knee flexion-extension, shoulder flexion-extension, shoulder abduction-adduction, BOT-2 sub-parameters; fine motor precision, fine motor integration, dexterity, upper extremity coordination and sit-reach flexibility test measurements (p>0,05). Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in muscle strength evaluations in elbow flexion and extension, BOT-2 total scores, BOT-2 sub-parameters; bilateral coordination, running speed and agility, balance and power scores (p<0,05). Conclusion: Although there were increases in general muscle strength values and flexibility measurements in adolescent volleyball players who underwent a combined exercise program, these increases were not significant. The 8-week exercise training program significantly increased elbow flexion and extension muscle strength and BOT-2 motor competence total test scores and BOT-2 sub-parameters; balance, power, bilateral coordination, running speed and agility scores. Key words: BOT-2; Balance; Exercise; Flexibility; Muscle Strength; Volleyball