Student engagement is an essential indicator of educational quality and an instability behavior influenced by teachers. However, research on how teacher support influences this behavioral outcome in physical education has started late compared to academic settings. Hence, this systematic review aims to examine the empirical literature regarding the relationship between perceived teacher support and student engagement in physical education. This review complied with the PRISMA statement and ultimately found 11 eligible studies through the literature utilizing several databases, namely, Web of Science, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, ERIC, and SPORTDiscus. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between perceived teacher support and multiple dimensions of student engagement in physical education, especially in behavioral and emotional engagement. Mediating effects were found in five studies, and autonomous motivation and psychological need satisfaction were the crucial mediators. Teacher support plays a vital role in positive student–teacher interactions and students demonstrate enhanced engagement in physical education learning when teachers provide autonomy, competence, and emotional support. This study has great significance for developing instructional strategies to improve the sustainability of student engagement in physical education and also provides insight for researchers exploring options for optimizing motivational teaching styles to promote the development of sustainable teaching practices.

Background: Instability resistance training (IRT) has been the focus of extensive research because of its proven benefits to balance ability, core stability, and sports performance for athletes. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews explicitly evaluating IRT’s impact on athletes’ balance ability. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of the effects of IRT on balance ability among athletes.Method: This study used guidelines for the systematic review and meta-analysis of PRISMA, Web of Science, EBSCOhost (SPORTDiscus), PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to collect original references in electronic databases. The PICOS method was selected for the inclusion criteria. The physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the scoring for articles’ risk range of bias. The scoring of 20 studies ranges from 4–8, and study quality is moderate to high.Results: Out of 285 identified studies, only 20 articles fulfilled all the eligibility criteria after screening. IRT could significantly improve reciprocal, static, and dynamic balance ability among judo athletes, basketball players, weightlifters, archery athletes, soccer players, rhythmic gymnasts, badminton players, track and field athletes, handball players, volleyball players, and gymnasts using unstable surfaces or environments (i.e., BOSU, Swiss, Wobble boards, Suspension trainer, Sissel pillows, Inflated disc and foam surface, Airex balance pad, Togu power ball, Thera-Band, Elastic band strap, Sand surface and so on).Conclusion: The finding suggests that different types of IRT benefit athletes as this training method can effectively enhance reciprocal, static, and dynamic balance ability in athletes. Therefore, this review suggests that IRT should be considered in athletes’ daily training routines for the physical fitness of reciprocal, static, and dynamic balance ability.

Background: Instability core training (ICT) has been the focus of extensive research because of its proven benefits to athletes’ core muscle strength and sprint performance. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews explicitly evaluating the impact of instability core training (ICT) vs traditional core training (TCT) on athletes’ trunk strength and sprint performance. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of ICT vs TCT on trunk strength and sprint performance among athletes. Method: This study used guidelines for the systematic review and meta-analysis of PRISMA, Web of Science, EBSCOhost (SPORTDiscus), PubMed, Scopus, CNKI, and Google Scholar to collect original references in electronic databases. The Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study Design (PICOS) method was selected for the inclusion criteria. The physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the scoring for articles’ risk of bias. The scoring of 12 studies ranges from 5–7 (out of 11 points), and study quality is moderate to high. Results: Out of 285 identified studies, only 12 articles fulfilled all the eligibility criteria after screening. ICT could significantly improve trunk strength and sprint performance among various athlete populations using unstable surfaces or environments ( i.e ., BOSU ball, Swiss ball, wobble boards, suspension trainer, Sissel pillows, inflated disc, foam surface, Airex balance pad, Togu power ball, thera-band, elastic band and so on) than TCT using stable surfaces or environments ( i.e ., floor and bench). In addition, the ICT vs TCT intervention showed a moderate to large effect size (ES = −0.40–1.86; all p < 0.05) in improving trunk muscle strength and sprint performance. Conclusion: The finding suggests that different types of ICT benefit athletes, as this training method can effectively enhance trunk strength and sprint performance in athletes than TCT. Therefore, this study suggests that ICT should be considered in athletes’ daily training routines for trunk strength and sprint performance.

Background: Instability core training (ICT) has been widely used in various sports as a training method to enhance athletes' balance ability and athletic performance. The study aimed to examine the impact of ICT performed on unstable surfaces (BOSU balls, Swiss balls, and Wobble boards) versus traditional core training (TCT) performed on stable surfaces (floor and bench) on balance ability and paddling performance among young male Chinese kayakers. Method: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) recruited 63 eligible kayakers aged 16–19 years from the Nanchang Yao Lake kayaking training base in Jiangxi province, China. Participants were randomly assigned to the ICT group and the TCT group. Both groups completed a 12-week core training program consisting of 1-h sessions, 3 times/week. Static balance ability was assessed using the Flamingo Balance Test (FBT), while dynamic balance ability was measured using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Paddling parameters were evaluated using the average stroke power and stroke rate for the men’s K-1 200 m land dynamometer/ergometer sprint tests. Statistical analyses were conducted via multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), with the significance level set at P < 0.05. Results: The analysis for within-group effects demonstrated statistically significant improvements in static balance ability, dynamic balance ability, average stroke power, and stroke rate variables between the pre-test and post-test in both the ICT and TCT groups (p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the pre-test (p > 0.05) for between-group effects. In contrast, statistically significant differences were found between the ICT and TCT groups in the post-test for all balance ability and paddling parameter variables (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that while TCT significantly improves balance ability and paddling performance, ICT is more effective than TCT over a 12-week intervention among young male Chinese kayakers. Therefore, it can replace TCT, as it promotes better improvement in balance ability and paddling parameters for young male Chinese kayakers. Trial registration. The full name of the registry: Effect of instability resistance training on balance, core muscle strength, and athletic performance. The trial registration number is NCT06432595. The date of registration is 07/01/2024. The trial registration platform is ClinicalTrials.gov PRS (https://clinicaltrials.gov/).

Background: Unstable core training (UCT), widely used in various sports to enhance trunk muscle strength and sprint performance, results in significantly greater gains in both outcomes compared to traditional core training (TCT). The study aimed to examine the impact of UCT performed on unstable surfaces (Both Side Up (BOSU) balls, Swiss balls and Wobble boards) versus TCT performed on stable surfaces (floor and bench) on trunk muscle strength and sprint performance among flatwater sprint kayakers. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted, recruiting 60 eligible kayakers aged 14–19 years from the Ganzhou training base, China. Participants were randomly assigned to the UTC group and the TCT group. Both groups completed an 8-week core training program consisting of 1-hour sessions, 3 times/week. The difference is that the core training exercises of the UTC group were performed on unstable surfaces, while the TCT group was performed on stable surfaces. Trunk stability strength was assessed using the abdomen, back, and side bridge tests, while trunk dynamic strength was measured using the 1-minute sit-up, 1-minute back extension, and 1-minute trunk rotation tests. Sprint performance was evaluated using the 200 m single flatwater sprint time test. Statistical analyses were conducted via Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Both the UTC and TCT groups demonstrated significant improvements from pre- to post-intervention across all dependent variables. However, the analysis of between-group effects revealed statistically significant greater improvements in the UTC group compared with the TCT group at post-test. These differences included These differences included trunk stability strength in terms of abdomen ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.228), back ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.285), left side ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.280), and right side ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.291); trunk dynamic strength in terms of flexion ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.243), extension ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.212), left rotation ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.182), and right rotation ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.303); as well as sprint performance in terms of 200m single flatwater sprint time ( p < 0.001, η ² = 0.739). Conclusion: The findings suggest that UTC may lead to greater improvements in trunk muscle strength and sprint performance compared with TCT over an 8-week intervention among young male Chinese kayakers. However, given methodological limitations (field-based strength tests and manual timing), results should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation with more precise measurement methods in future research.