The effect of core stabilization training on trunk kinematics and serve performance during serve in tennis

Tennis is a sports that include multi-directional movement patterns.Tennis players need core stabilizationin order to perform upper and lower limb movements effectively and to protect spinal cord at the same time. For this reason, determining the effect of core stabilization training on trunk and tennis serve with objective assesment methods may be usefull. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how core stabilization training effects kinematics of trunk which has important role in the kinetic chain and serve performance through kinematic analysis during tennis serve, thus determining the importance of core stabilization and the effect on the performance objectively. This study included 24 tennis players from the Ankara region of Turkey Tennis Federation. These tennis players were divided into two groups as 12 control and 12 training. Strength and power components of athletes were evaluated with front abdominal power test and side abdominal power test. In addition, trunk and racquetkinemetics of them were assessedwith 3 dimensional kinematic analysis. After first evaluations, the athletes were rondomly divided into control and training groups. While control group was continuing their routine tennis training program, Jeffrey's progressive core stability program was applied to training group for five weeks in addition to their routine tennis training program. At the end of the core stability training, power tests and kinematic analaysis were repeated in both groups. Acording to obtained datafront and side abdominal power and upper trunk extention angle significantlyincreased in training group(p=0,01). Middle trunk right lateral flexion, left rotation, upper trunk left lateral flexion and racquet velocity at impact increased in training group (p<0,05), but there was no change in other trunk kinematics between two groups(p>0,05). On the other hand, front abdominal power decreased in male athlets in control group after training period (p<0,05), but there was no difference between other parameters of these athletes before and after training period (p>0,05).In trained male athletes front and side abdominal power, middle trunk right lateral flexion, upper trunk right rotation angles improved (p<0,05) andupper trunk extension angle improved significantly(p=0,01).There was no change in the measured variables of the untrained female athletes (p>0,05), whereas there was an increase in the values of front abdominal power test, middle trunk extension angle (p<0,05),and significant increase inthe values of side abdominal power tests in trained female tennis players(p=0,01).In conclusion, core stabilization training program in addition to routine tennis training program can positively affect the core stability, trunk kinematics and serve performance in tennis players.