Trunk muscle endurance tests: reliability, and gender differences in athletes

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Trunk muscle endurance is vital for athletic performance and injury prevention.
• Reliability and normative data for common isometric trunk muscle endurance tests in athletes are lacking.
• Previous research has not consistently reported sex-based differences in trunk muscle endurance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the side bridge and trunk flexor endurance tests in non-athletes.
• To measure the trunk muscle endurance performance of elite athletes using common clinical tests.
• To identify sex-based differences in trunk muscle endurance among elite athletes.

Main Methods:

• The study involved non-athletes for reliability testing and elite athletes for performance measurement.
• Standardized protocols were used for the side bridge endurance test and the trunk flexor endurance test.
• The Biering-Sørensen trunk extensor endurance test was also administered to elite athletes.

Main Results:

• The side bridge and trunk flexor endurance tests demonstrated high intra-rater and inter-rater reliability.
• Elite male and female athletes showed similar holding times on the Biering-Sørensen test.
• Female athletes exhibited significantly lower holding times on the side bridge test compared to male athletes.

Conclusions:

• Isometric trunk muscle endurance tests, including the side bridge and trunk flexor tests, are reliable for athletes.
• While trunk extensor endurance may be similar between sexes, side bridge endurance differs, suggesting sex-specific considerations.
• Multidirectional testing and training of trunk muscle endurance are recommended for all athletes to enhance performance and minimize injury risk.