Rodríguez Sebastián, León-Prieto Catalina, Rodríguez-Jaime María Fernanda, Noguera-Peña Alejandra
Facultad de Ciencias del movimiento, Programa de Fisioterapia, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.
Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025 Jun;42:1063-1072. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.03.005. Epub 2025 Mar 7.
To determine the effects of core stability training on the specific performance of swimmers.
A systematic search of trials up to August 2024 was performed in PubMed, Bireme, Scopus and WOS, following the guidelines of the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA statements. Two reviewers independently selected studies, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROB2 scale, and publication bias was addressed using funnel plots and Egger regression. In addition, study quality was assessed with checklists (SIGN/CONSORT). Data were analyzed in RevMan-Web using fixed-effects meta-analysis, assessing heterogeneity with I, χ tests and Galbraith plots. Finally, the certainty of evidence was determined employing the GRADE approach.
Out of 2328 records identified, 11 studies involving 218 swimmers (11-20 years) were selected. Core stability training improved performance in the 50-m freestyle with a decrease of -1.06 s (95% CI = -1.48, -0.63). However, the effect in the 100-m freestyle was inconclusive with a difference of -2.26 s (95% CI = -4.85, 0.33). The certainty of the evidence for the 50-m freestyle was classified as moderate, whereas for the 100-m freestyle it was considered low.
Sport scientists may consider implementing core stability training to optimize specific performance in the 50-m freestyle. However, its effect on the 100-m freestyle and other swimming distances and strokes is still unknown, which highlights the need for further research in these areas.
CRD42024579857.
