NCT07005739

Turkish Folk Dance Exercises in Core Stabilization, Balance, and Agility Training for U14 Football Players

Effectiveness of Turkish Folk Dance Exercises on Core Stabilization, Balance, and Agility in U14 Football Players

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: Marmara University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 12 Years – 14 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of integrating Turkish folk dance exercises into the training routines of U14 football players on their kinesthetic sense, balance, agility, core stabilization, and flexibility. The study includes 15 young male football players actively participating in league matches in Istanbul, randomly assigned to either control or intervention groups. The intervention group participates in an additional Turkish folk dance training program for eight weeks alongside their regular football practice, while the control group continues with regular training only. Both groups undergo assessments on agility, flexibility, core stabilization, balance, and kinesthetic sense using standardized field tests. The study seeks to explore whether Turkish folk dance training can provide added value to conventional youth football training programs.

Detailed description

This randomized controlled study investigates the potential impact of Turkish folk dance-based exercises on core region stabilization, balance, and agility among U14 male football players in Istanbul. Fifteen participants are divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group participates in an eight-week Turkish folk dance exercise program in addition to their regular football training. Pre- and post-intervention assessments include the Illinois Agility Test, Y-Balance Test, joint position sense measurements, flexibility assessments, and the Core Stabilization Test (CST). Statistical analysis methods planned for evaluating the outcomes include normality analysis, independent samples t-tests for group comparisons, and paired samples t-tests for within-group differences, with a significance level set at p\<0.05. The study aims to assess whether incorporating Turkish folk dance movements into youth football training programs may contribute to improvements in motor skills relevant to athletic performance and injury prevention.

Conditions

• Physical Performance Enhancement
• Motor Skills Development
• Agility, Balance, and Core Stabilization in Youth Athletes

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Turkish Folk Dance-Based Exercise Program	Participants in the intervention group received a structured Turkish folk dance-based exercise program in addition to their regular football training. The dance-based intervention consisted of two 45-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks, including traditional Turkish folk dance movements aimed at improving balance, agility, and core stability.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-01
• Primary completion: 2023-11-30
• Completion: 2023-11-30
• First posted: 2025-06-05
• Last updated: 2025-06-11

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)