The Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises on Upper Extremity Motor Skills in Overweight and Obese Children: Quasi-Experimental Controlled Study

Abstract

Objective: This study was planned to investigate the effect of core stabilization exercises on upper extremity motor skills in overweight and obese children. Material and Methods: The study, which included obese, overweight and normal weight children, was designed as a quasi-experimental controlled study. An eight-week core stabilization exercise program was implemented to the children. In the first two-weeks of the eight-weeks exercise training, the children were taught how to stabilize the core region. Upper extremity motor skills were evaluated before-after the exercise program. The push-up test, grip strength measurement, Modified Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (M-CKCUEST), Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 Short Form (BOT-2 SF), was used to evaluate upper extremity motor skills. SPSS 25.0 program was used for statistical analysis of the data. Significance level was determined as p<0.05. The normality distribution of continuous variables was evaluated with the Shapiro-Wilk test. When comparing the pre-test and post-test values, the dependent sample t-test was used if the data showed normal distribution, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used if it did not show normal distribution. Results: The study was completed with 46 children, 12 obese, 18 overweight, and 16 normal weight. Statistically significant improvement was obtained in the M-CKCUEST and BOT-2 SF subtests in obese children (p<0.05). In the overweight and normal weight children, there was a significant improvement in the push-up test, M-CKCUEST and BOT-2 SF subtests (p<0.05). No significant results were found in the inter-group analysis of all tests (p>0.05). Conclusion: Core stabilization exercises in overweight and obese children can improve upper extremity motor skills.