EFFECT OF PILATES ON AGILITY AND COORDINATION SKILLS IN ASPIRING STATE LEVEL BADMINTON PLAYERS: A PILOT STUDY
Abstract
Background: Badminton is a complex, physically enduring sport that requires a substantial amount of core strength as well as full body power, agility, good balance and coordination during rapid postural actions around the court. Badminton players need excellent court speed, agility and fitness training.Pilates incorporates the principles of trunk stability, also referred to as “core stability”.
Aim: Aim of the study is to see the effect of Pilates on agility and coordination skills in aspiring state level badminton players. Method: Ten 17-28 years male aspiring badminton players participated in the study. Players having minimum playing age of 2 years with training frequency of at least 30 minutes a day for 4 days per week were included. Players were excluded from study those had any medical conditions that would impair their playing activities. All players received Pilates for 5 weeks twice a week, with a total 10 sessions for 30 minutes. During each 30 minutes training session, subjects completed the warm up and sports specific exercises for 5 minutes and Pilates for 25 minutes which included: standing footwork, the hundred, articulating bridge, the plank, reverse plank, rolling like a ball and side plank. All players was performed each repetition in a slow, controlled manner, 5-8 repetition of all exercises for 30 minutes. Agility and Coordination skills of players were tested on 1stweek and last day of 5th week by 10m Shuttle Run Test and Hand-Eye Coordination Test. Result: Student T-test was used to analyze the result of variables. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 24 version. Agility and coordination skills showed a significant (p<0.00) improvement of 41% and 53% respectively after the intervention of 5 week. Conclusion: Pilates was found to be effective for improvement in agility and coordination skills in badminton players.
Keywords: Core, Strengthening exercises, Pilates, Badminton, Athletes.
