Effect of a six-week core conditioning as a warm-up exercise in physical education classes on physical fitness, movement capability, and balance in school-aged children

Abstract

Whether the implementation of feasible, equipment-free, and simple core exercises in warm-up routines in physical education classes for school-aged children is beneficial remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of a core conditioning in the warm-up routine of physical education classes on trunk muscular endurance, movement capability, and flexibility in this population. In these pre-and post-test control group experiments, 52 healthy, school-aged children (aged 10–11 years) were cluster randomized allocated to either the dynamic core exercise (DCE) group or general physical education (GPE) group. The DCE group performed a 10-min core exercise routine twice per week for six consecutive weeks; the GPE group performed traditional physical education warm-up exercises regularly. The children were assessed by conducting the trunk muscular endurance test (i.e., dynamic curl-up, static curl-up, plank, and lateral plank), functional movement screen (FMS), and single-leg balance test before and after the intervention. At the end of the intervention, the DCE group demonstrated a significant effect on trunk muscular endurance, movement capability (i.e., FMS scores), flexibility, and balance (each p < 0.001, effect size: 0.38–1.3). Furthermore, the DCE group showed significant improvements in all outcome measurements compared with the GPE group (p < 0.05, effect size: 0.29–1.68). These data may provide a reference for incorporating additional core stability exercises in the warm-up routine of physical education classes in school-aged children in the future.