The Effect of a Novel Training Program to Improve Trunk Stability Push Up Performance in Active Females: A Pilot Study.
Kate Schwartzkopf-Phifer, Suzanne Leach, Katie Whetstone and 2 others
PMID 34631256WHAT IT FOUND
Six weeks of a novel trunk stability exercise program did not significantly improve Trunk Stability Push Up pass rates in active females.
Nine of 20 passed after training, and the hypothesis was 60%.
Key findings
01The study hypothesized that at least 60% of participants would improve their Trunk Stability Push Up scores, but 9 of 20 (45%) passed at posttest (p=0.171).
02The Trunk Stability Push Up score showed a significant change in secondary analysis (p=0.013), but no significant differences were observed in breath hold time (p=0.217), YBT-LQ or YBT-UQ reaches (p=0.56-0.89), or FMS scores (p=0.180-1.0).
03Only 12 participants had completed posttest data for the planned secondary analyses, and only 8 participants returned exercise logs, none from the spring cohort.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study enrolled 20 female participants, which is a small pilot sample. The authors state that the study was underpowered for the secondary outcome measures. The sample age range was 20 to 25 years, although the target range was 18 to 45 years. COVID-19 disrupted posttesting and instruction. Only 12 participants had complete posttest data for secondary analyses, only 8 participants returned exercise logs, and none of the logs were from the spring cohort. The study describes a single intervention group and no comparison group, so it cannot separate changes caused by the program from normal variation or other factors.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the six-week program improved trunk stability. The primary outcome, the proportion passing the Trunk Stability Push Up, was not significant (p=0.171), and the significant Trunk Stability Push Up score change was reported in secondary analyses. The study was also underpowered and affected by missing posttest data.