The effect of implementing centering as an intervention for improved management of the plank, a core strengthening exercise
Loading...
Authors
Pickering, Will
Issue Date
2011
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The present study explored the effects of the technique of centering on the core strengthening exercise known as the plank. Eighty-six community college students in the San Francisco Bay Area (62% female and 38% male; mean age = 28) participated in a two-test trial; during both they held the plank for as long as they could. In the second trial, half of the participants implemented centering with the plank, while the other half performed the plank without using centering. The intervention group held the plank for an average of 124.74 seconds on the first attempt and 124.89 seconds on their second attempt when combined with centering. The control group held the plank for an average of 122.6 seconds on the first test and 131.98 seconds on their second attempt. A split-plot ANOVA revealed that centering did not increase the amount of time the participants were able to hold the plank. The control group had a mean increase of 9.72 seconds, while the intervention group had a mean increase of .13 seconds from the baseline test to the post-test. These results are discussed with reference to previous research on centering and improved performance.