Introduction: Today, different types and volumes of strength training are used to increase the performance of athletes. However, the effect of this training on dynamic balance in young soccer players is a matter of curiosity. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of core and plyometric training on dynamic balance in young male soccer players. Materials and Methods: Eighteen male soccer players between 17 and 18 years of age participated in the study voluntarily. Subjects were randomly separated into three groups: core training group (C, n=6), plyometric training group (P, n=6), and control group (Con, n=6). Group C and P subjects participated in the determined training programs, in addition to soccer training, two days a week for eight weeks. The Con group only continued their soccer training. The Y-balance test (before and after eight weeks) was applied to determine the balance performance of the subjects. Results: After eight weeks of core training, significant differences in anterior (ANT) and posteromedial (PM) balance performance on the dominant side and in ANT, PM, and posterolateral (PL) balance performance on the non-dominant side were observed in group C subjects. The PL and PM balance performance of group P subjects after plyometric training was found to be significantly different on both sides. Conclusion: As a result, it was determined that applying core and plyometric training in addition to soccer training increases dynamic balance. We recommend that trainers and coaches use core and plyometric exercises in their training, as these programs will provide a positive performance increase in balance and gains in muscle strength. Level of Evidence III; Prospective comparative study.

Background: Recent research has focused on the effects of different types of strength training on the performance and body profile of adolescent athletes. However, the effects of short-term plyometric and jump rope training on body profile and athletic performance in adolescent basketball players are a matter of curiosity. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of short-term plyometric and jump rope training on body profile and athletic performance in adolescent basketball players. Methods: Twenty-two basketball players aged 13 - 15 were randomly divided into two groups as plyometric (n = 11) and jump rope training group (n = 11). All participants regularly completed to plyometric or jump rope training as 10 units for 4-weeks in addition to basketball training. Somatotype, body composition, push-up & sit-up test, sprint, agility (Illinois & hexagon), jump (vertical, squat, horizontal, plyometric) tests were measured before and end of the study. Results: The push-up (P = 0.049 vs < 0.001), sit-up (P = 0.20 vs < 0.001), squat jump (P = 0.010 vs 0.003) and horizontal jump (P = 0.028 vs 0.014) of the players were significantly increased after 4-weeks plyometric and jump rope training. In addition, plyometric jump (P = 0.007) and hexagon performance (P = 0.001) were significantly increased in jump rope training group. At the end of 4-weeks, body mass, endomorphy and ectomorphy scores of the lower limb plyometric training group, and body mass index, endomorphy & mesomorphy scores and quadriceps circumference of the jump rope training group were significantly increased. Conclusions: Short-term plyometric and jump rope training affect the body profile and athletic performance of the adolescent basketball players, but jump rope training has a more significant effect on athletic performance than plyometric training. Therefore, jump rope training is recommended for coaches who want to gain more athletic performance in a short-term.

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between plantar pressure distribution and balance in adolescent taekwondo athletes. Twenty-three adolescent taekwondo athletes participated in the study voluntarily. Pedobarographic method was used to determine the plantar pressure and plantar force. Flamingo balance test for static balance and lower quarter Y balance test for dynamic balance were applied. Pearson correlation test was used to determine the relationship between plantar pressure distribution and balance. A moderate significant negative relationship between the non-dominant leg static balance and the plantar pressure at the forefoot of the athletes (r=-.466, p=.025), and a moderate significant positive relationship with the plantar pressure at the rearfoot (r=.466, p=.025) was determined. There was a moderate positive correlation between the dynamic balance ability and the dynamic plantar force during walking in the anterior direction (r=.552, p=.008) and a high positive correlation in the posteromedial direction (r=.656, p<.001) in the dominant leg; moderate positive correlation (r=.483, p=.020) in the posteromedial direction and moderate positive correlation in the posterolateral direction (r=.437, p=.037) was observed in the non-dominant leg of participants. As a result, plantar pressure distribution and force were associated with static and dynamic balance in adolescent taekwondo athletes. It is recommended that plantar pressure data should not be ignored during the developmental period in adolescent taekwondo athletes, possible plantar disorders should be followed and balance exercises should be added to training in order to have optimal plantar pressure distribution.

The purpose of this research is to compare the elbow isokinetic strength applied at different angular velocities on the dominant and non-dominant side in elite male volleyball players. Fifteen elite volleyball players participated in the research. Isokinetic elbow flexion and extension strength were separately obtained on concentric/concentric dominant and non-dominant side as 5 repetitions at 60˚.s-1 angular velocity, 10 repetitions at 180˚.s-1 and 15 repetitions at 300˚.s-1. In the research, the peak torque (PT), peak torque/body weight (PT/BW), flexion/extension ratio (B/T), angle of PT, work and power parameters were compared between the dominant and non-dominant elbows. No significant difference was found between the dominant and non-dominant side in the elbow isokinetic strength parameters of the subjects at three different velocities. A significant difference was found at three different velocities only in the angle of PT flexion (p < 0.05). It is thought that this difference may result from the muscle shortening that may occur on muscle length (longitudinal effect) as a result of the more concentric contraction of the muscle on the dominant side compared to the non-dominant muscle. Consequently, there is not any isokinetic strength difference between the dominant and non-dominant elbow in elite male volleyball players. Isokinetic elbow test can provide important information regarding the potential risk factors for elbow injuries. For this reason, it is recommended to include this test in the functional screening of volleyball players.