Correlation between Core Stability and Upper-Extremity Performance in Male Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

<i>Background:</i> The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of core stability, as measured by the McGill and double-leg lowering (DLL) test, with upper-extremity performance, as measured by the upper-quarter Y-balance test (UQYBT), medicine ball throw test (MBTT) and functional throwing performance index (FTPI) test, in collegiate athletes. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A sample of 61 collegiate athletes from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University participated in the study. Their core stability was assessed through their McGill and DLL test scores. Their upper-extremity performance was assessed through their UQYBT, MBTT and FTPI test scores. <i>Results</i>: The McGill test score had a significant strong positive correlation with the MBTT score (<i>p</i> = 0.02, r = 0.67) and a significant moderate positive correlation with the UQYBT score (<i>p</i> = 0.01, r = 0.46). There was no significant correlation between the McGill and FTPI test scores (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.05). The DLL test score was positively correlated with the MBTT score (<i>p</i> = 0.02, r = 0.25) but had no significant correlation with the other sports performance variables (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.05). <i>Conclusion</i>: The study results suggest that core stability measures are positively correlated with most of the upper-extremity athletic-performance measures in collegiate athletes. The MBTT score was found to be the most significantly correlated with the scores in both core stability tests among all the upper-extremity athletic-performance tests in this study. However, due to the nature of this study, a cause-effect relationship cannot be established on the basis of the study's findings, and the study results should be interpreted with caution.