The Effect of an 8-Week Selected Theraband Training on Balance and Motor Performance in Young Wrestlers

Abstract

Objective Due to the recurrent and relatively high frequency of injuries in wrestling, identifying preventing strategies for such damages is of significant importance. The present study investigated the effect of 8 weeks of selected Thera-band exercises on the balance and functional movement of adolescent wrestlers. Methods The study subjects included 30 athlete male wrestlers form Baft City, Iran, who were selected randomly and divided into two groups of exercise (age: 17.27 y, height: 1.72 m, weight: 71.53 kg, & body mass index: 24.01 kg/m 2) and control (age: 17.07 y, height: 1.74 m, weight: 72.46 kg, and body mass index: 23.88 kg/m2). A questionnaire was used to collect the study samples' demographic information and the history of sports. Moreover, to measure static and dynamic balance and functional movement, the stork test, Y balance test, and functional movement screen test were used, respectively. Independent Samples t-test, Paired Samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Wilcoxon test were used to compare the mean score differences at P<0.05. Results The present study results suggested a significant difference in the static balance (P<0.001) and the total dynamic balance (P<0.001) between the two study groups. Conclusion The collected data revealed that running a low-cost program could effectively improve balance and performance in the study samples. Furthermore, sports athletes, professional wrestlers, and freestyle wrestlers could use Thera-band training to enhance the motor pattern; such a measure could help to reduce the severity of damage and improve their movement patterns.