STRENGTH TRAINING UNDER STABLE AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS ON MUSCLE STRENGTH AND BALANCE IN CANOE SPRINT ATHLETES OF THAILAND NATIONAL SPORTS UNIVERSITY, NORTH CAMPUS
Keywords:
Unstable, Resistance, Muscle strength, Balance, Canoe sprintAbstract
Canoe sprint is characterized by straight-course, time-trial racing in which outcomes are determined by the paddler who reaches the finish line first. The paddling technique requires the athlete to kneel on one knee and use a single-bladed paddle, distinguishing it from other paddling disciplines. This study aimed to examine and compare the effects of strength training under stable and unstable conditions on muscle strength and balance among canoe sprint athletes from the Thailand National Sports University, North Campus, aged 18–23 years (n = 28). Participants were purposively sampled and allocated into two groups:a control group (regular training combined with resistance training on stable surfaces) and an experimental group (regular training combined with resistance training on unstable surfaces) over an 8-week period.Assessments evaluated the strength of the arm, leg, and core muscles, as well as balance. Using repeatedmeasures ANOVA. Results indicated that arm muscle strength significantly increased in both the control and experimental groups after 8 weeks of training (p < 0.05). While the experimental group demonstrated improved balance performance after the 8th week of training, core muscle strength showed a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) beginning after the 4th week of training. Moreover, post-training comparisons revealed significant differences between the control and experimental groups in core muscle strength and balance after the 8-week program (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that resistance training under unstable conditions significantly improved core muscle strength and balance compared with conventional resistance training on stable surfaces.
References
Szanto C. Racing Canoeing, 2nd ed. Lausanne: International Canoe Federation; 2004.
Senakham N, Punthipayanon S, Senakham T, Sriyabhaya P, Sriramatr S, Kuo CH. Physiological stress against simulated 200-m and 500-m sprints in world-class boat paddlers. Chin J Physiol 2020;63(1):15–20.
Chansem W. Comparison of the effects of anaerobic endurance training program on performance of energy and muscular system development in traditional long boat oarsmen. J Sports Sci Technol 2020;20(2):81-95.
Nakashima M, Ito S, Nakagaki K. Simulation of sprint canoe paddling. Sports Eng 2019;22(1):1-8.
Krabuanrat C. Principles and techniques in athletic trainning. 2nd ed. Bangkok: Kasetsart university publisher; 2005.
Gao J, Gong Z, Samsudin S, Abdullah BBO, Dev RDO. The effects of instability core training on balance ability and paddling performance among young male Chinese flatwater sprint kayakers: A randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2025;17:191.
Samokham N, Sitilertpisan P. Effect of dynamic core stability exercise on physical performance in male dragon boat paddlers. J Assoc Med Sci 2016;49(1):87-96.
Sánchez-Sánchez J, Raya-González J, Ramírez-Campillo R, Chaabene H, et al. The increased effectiveness of resistance training on unstable versus stable surfaces on selected measures of physical performance in young male soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 2020;34(11):3175–83.
Zemkova E. Instability resistance training for health and performance. JTCM 2017;7(2):245-50.
Willardson JM. Core stability training: Applications to sports conditioning program. J Strength Cond Res 2007;21(3):979-85.
Krejcie RV, Morgan DW. Determining sample size for research activities. Educ. Psychol. Meas 1970;30(3):607-10.
Hamano S, Ochi E, Tsuchiya Y, Muramatsu E, Suzukawa K, Igawa S. Relationship between performance test and body composition/physical strength characteristic in sprint canoe and kayak paddlers. J Sports Med 2015;6:191–9.
Zahalka F, Maly T, Mala L, Doktor M, Vetrovsky J. Kinematic analysis of canoe stroke and its changes during different types of paddling pace – Case Study. J Hum Kinet 2011;4(29):25–33.
Hamacher D, Krebs T, Meyer G, Zech A. Does local dynamic stability of kayak paddling technique affect the sports performance? A pilot study. Eur J Sport Sci 2018;18(4):491-496.
Aguilera-Castells J, Buscà B, Morales J, Pena J, Solana-Tramunt M, Fort-Vanmeerhaeghe A, Guisado AN.Effects of suspension training and unstable surface on the lower limb muscle activity. Res Sports Med.2019;27(4):453-65.
Ozuak A, Erdem K. An Investigation of the effects of exercises applied on unstable surfaces on high school students. J Educ Train Stud 2019;7(6):77-83.
Hrysomallis C. Balance ability and athletic performance. Sports Med 2011;41(3):221-32.
Anderson K, Behm DG. The Impact of Instability resistance training on balance and stability. Sports Med 2005;35(1):43-53.
Lubetzky-Vilnai A, McCoy SW, Price R, Ciol MA. Young adults largely depend on vision for postural control when standing on a BOSU ball but not on foam. J Strength Cond Res 2015;29(10):2907-18.
Shaheen RM. The effect of training programs with elastic resistance bands and Bosu ball techniques on physical and skillful levels in ballet. ISJPES 2016;3(1):21-31.
Fisek T, Agopyan A. Effects of six weeks of stable versus unstable multi-dimensional surfaces balance training on passing skills and balance performance in young male basketball players. JOMH 2021;17(4),264–77.
Behm DG, Anderson KG. The role of instability with resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 2006;20(3):716-22.
Maior AS, Simao R, Salles BF, Miranda H, Costa PB. Neuromuscular activity during thesquat exercise on an unstable platform. Braz J Biomotricity 2009;3(2):121-9.
Batista GA, Beltrán SP, Dos Passos MHP, Calixtre LB, Santos LRH, Araújo RC. Comparison of the electromyography activity during exercises with stable and unstable surfaces: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports 2024;12(4):111.
Zemková E, Jelen M, Cepková A, Uvacek M. There is no cross effect of unstable resistance training on power produced during stable conditions. Appl Sci 2021;11(8):3401.
Ishan RS, Ryan K. Developing a strength and conditioning technical framework: An example from a canoe slalom national performance program. Strength Cond J 2021;43(1):1-11.
