Synchronized breathing with pelvic floor contractions increase the lower limb power in young football players

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find out the most significant exercise training in improving lower limb power in young male football players. Sixty non-smoking young male football players with the mean age of 14.18 (0.79) years, were randomly allotted to four groups (Group A, B, C, D) of 15 players in each group. Lower limb power was assessed at baseline by vertical jump test. The Group A athletes were instructed to perform diaphragmatic breathing exercise with conventional sports training. Group B athletes instructed to do pelvic floor muscle exercise with conventional sports training. Group C athletes advised to do synchronized diaphragmatic breathing with pelvic floor contraction with conventional sports training and Group D (Control group) players received conventional sports training alone. The training regimen was scheduled for 15-minute length 5 times per week for 8 weeks, along with their 60-minute conventional sports training. Mid and post intervention assessment were carried out at the fourth week and the eighth week with similar baseline assessment regimen. The repeated measures of ANOVA exposed that, noticeable development in lower limb power was obvious amongst all of intervention groups, however post hoc analyses implicated that synchronized diaphragmatic breathing with pelvic floor contraction was advantageous in enhancing lower limb power than the pelvic floor exercise, diaphragmatic breathing exercise and conventional sports training (P