The acute effect of cor-stabilisation exercises on balance and upper limb functional performance in archers

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of core Stabilization exercises added to standard warm-up exercises on balance and performance in archers. A total of 42 athletes aged 9–18 years who had been actively practising archery for at least one year were included in the study. The athletes were randomly divided into two groups: an intervention group (n=21) and a control group (n=21). The intervention group performed core Stabilization exercises in addition to standard warm-up exercises, while the control group performed only standard warm-up exercises. A single-session exercise protocol was applied to both groups. Upper and lower extremity dynamic balance performance was assessed using the Y Balance Test. Handgrip strength was measured using a Camry digital hand dynamometer, and shoulder isometric muscle strength was measured using a MicroFET 2 dynamometer. Hand reaction time and reaction performance were assessed using the BlazePod™ device. According to the findings, acute core Stabilization exercises added to the standard warm-up did not provide a statistically significant advantage over the control group in terms of isometric shoulder muscle strength and upper and lower extremity dynamic balance parameters (p>0.05). Significant improvements were observed in reaction time and reaction performance parameters in both groups between pre-test and post-test measurements; however, these changes were not found to be significantly different between groups (p>0.05). In handgrip strength assessments, statistically significant decreases were determined between pre-test and post-test measurements in both the intervention and control groups for the dominant and non-dominant hands (p>0.05). This suggests that the acute exercise protocols applied did not provide performance improvement after short-term application. In conclusion, adding core Stabilization exercises to standard warm-up routines during the acute phase did not provide any additional benefit on balance and performance parameters in archers; the observed changes may be related to time and the exercise process applied.