Effects of Integrative Neuromuscular Training Combined with Yoga and Stretching Exercises on Abdominal Strength Endurance of Primary School Children.

Abstract

Background: Abdominal strength endurance is used to stabilizing the core muscles. Poor core muscle
strength leads to the poor posture. It affects to the motor skills in children. The integrative neuromuscular
training can enhance the abdominal muscle strength and used to avoid bad posture in children. This is a
training to improve the physical fitness in children and lead them to live healthy life style.
Purpose: To know the sixteen weeks of training effects of integrative neuromuscular training combined
with yoga and stretching exercises on abdominal strength endurance of primary school children.
Method: Sixty primary school children with the age of seven to ten years were selected as subjects from
Alagappa Fitness Foundation, Karaikudi, Tamilnadu, India. They were randomly allocated to integrative
neuromusculartraining (n=15, INT), integrative neuromuscular training combined with yoga (n=15, INT-Y),
integrative neuromuscular training combined with stretching exercises (n=15, INT-S) and control participants
(n=15, CP). The subjects performed their scheduled training for the period of 16 weeks, three alternative
days in a week. The three selected trainings were chosen as independent variables and abdominal strength
endurance was chosen as a dependent variable. It was tested by sit up test, performance recorded in numbers.
Results: After the sixteen weeks training, the experimental groups showed that significant differences
(p<0.05) on abdominal strength endurance. The control participants did not show any significant difference
(p>0.01) on abdominal strength endurance.
Conclusion: The integrative neuromuscular training combined with yoga group produced greater
improvement on abdominal strength endurance than the other trainings.