Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to figure out the effect of an 8-week core stability training participation on body composition and core function-related strength and flexibility parameters of female university staff. The sample whose average age is 33,92±4,371 was determined by random sample method; Control group (CG, n=17) and Exercise Group (EG, n=19). EG participated in 3-day-a-week core stability trainings for 8 weeks. Handgrip strength (HGS), back strength (BS), and leg strength (LS); trunk muscle endurance (TME), trunk stability (TS), trunk explosive strength (TES); trunk flexion (TFX), trunk extension (TEX), trunk lateral flexion (TLF), height (H), body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), basal metabolic rate (BMR), body fat percent (BFP), waist-hip ratio (WHR), total body fat mass (TBFM), total body water (TBW), visceral fat (VF) measurements were done. Parametric independent t-test and paired t-test was used for comparisons. Significance level p<.05 and confidence interval was 95%. Group comparison results showed no significant difference in body composition parameters for EG and KG (p>.05). But in-group comparisons for KG referred to significant differences in all parameters of body composition for the post-test (p<.05). The comparisons of core function-related strength parameters exposed significant differences in LS, BS, TE, TS and TES (p<.05). It is revealed in in-group comparisons that significant differences in all parameters for EG (p<.05), and in HGSright, HGSleft and in BS for CG (p <.05). Group comparisons of core function related-flexibility the post-tests put forward significant differences in all parameters (p<.05), whereas there were significant differences in in-group comparisons in TF, TE, TLFleft for EG (p <.05) and in all parameters (p<.05) for CG. It can be claimed that core stability training has a positive and direct effect on strength whereas it has conservative effect on body composition. 

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