The Relationship Between Upper Extremity Performance, Core Endurance, and Balance in Adolescent Football Players

Upper extremity performance is a key component of the kinetic chain, facilitating force transfer and postural control during football-specific tasks. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between upper extremity stability, core muscle endurance, and dynamic balance in adolescent football players to clarify how upper body performance relates to overall athletic capacity. It was hypothesized that upper extremity performance, core muscle endurance, and dynamic balance would be positively associated.

This observational study evaluated 52 male adolescent football players (13.25±1.08 years) who regularly trained for at least 60 minutes on two or more days per week and had participated in organized team football for at least one year. Assessments included the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), Upper Quarter Y-Balance Test (UQYBT), core muscle endurance tests, and Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (LQYBT), and the relationships among these measures were analyzed.

No significant differences were observed between dominant and non-dominant sides in LQYBT and most UQYBT directions (p>0.05), except for lower superolateral reach on the dominant side (p=0.036). CKCUEST performance was positively correlated with UQYBT (r=0.371-0.433, p<0.05) and core muscle endurance (r=0.580-0.695, p<0.001). UQYBT performance was also associated with the LQYBT composite scores (r=0.506-0.529, p<0.001) and core muscle endurance (r=0.285-0.569, p<0.05), while LQYBT performance correlated with core flexion and extension endurance (r=0.280-0.576, p<0.05).

Upper extremity performance plays an important role in the athletic performance of adolescent football players and is associated with core muscle endurance and lower extremity dynamic balance, supporting the concept of balance as an integrated bodily function. The findings suggest that integrated stability and balance training may enhance athletic performance and support injury prevention.