Keywords
proprioception
corrective exercises
sports rehabilitation
injury prevention
How to Cite
Abstract
In press
Background. The asymmetrical nature of the loads in pole acrobatics leads to the
formation of persistent muscle imbalances and postural deviations, which are risk factors for overuse injuries. This creates a need for the development and evaluation of targeted physical therapy programs to correct these dysfunctions in healthy female athletes.
Aim. To conduct a pilot evaluation of a developed 8-week complex of corrective exercises and to assess its impact on the subjective indicators of functional status in female athletes practicing pole acrobatics.
Materials and Methods. A single-group quasi-experimental pilot study with assessment of indicators before and after the intervention was conducted with 20 experienced female athletes (age 23–40 years, experience >18 months). The intervention consisted of integrating the developed complex of corrective exercises into their training process over eight weeks. To quantify the changes, a validated 50-item questionnaire was used, which was specially developed and validated by comparing its results with instrumental methods in previous research stages. Statistical analysis of the changes in scores was performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The study was carried out within the framework of the topic "Restoration of functional capabilities, activities and participation of persons of different nosologic, professional and age groups" (state registration number 0121U107926).
Research Ethics. All participants in the study signed an informed consent. The study was conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (1964–2024).
Results. After the 8-week program's completion, a significant positive trend was recorded in the athletes' subjective assessment of their functional status, and a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05) was found in 33 out of 50 (66 %) responses of female athletes. The most pronounced changes were observed in indicators of shoulder girdle stability and muscle control: the number of participants reporting "sinking" in one arm (when one arm reacts slower during strength movements) decreased from 70 % to 15 %. However, indicators related to the performance of complex elements on the non-dominant side showed no significant changes (p>0.05).
Conclusions. The developed complex of corrective exercises demonstrated its potential
effectiveness as a tool for correcting functional asymmetries and improving the subjective condition of female pole athletes. The program helps restore muscle balance, improve proprioception, and enhance trunk stabilization, which justifies the need for its further investigation in larger-scale controlled studies.
Keywords: muscle imbalance, proprioception, corrective exercises, sports rehabilitation, injury prevention.
References
Nicholas JC, McDonald KA, Peeling P, Jackson B, Dimmock JA, Alderson JA, Donnelly CJ. Pole Dancing for Fitness: The Physiological and Metabolic Demand of a 60-Minute Class. J Strength Cond Res. 2019;33(10):2704-10. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002889. PMID: 30507730.
Zharova IO, Antonova HP. Questionnaire-based assessment for monitoring the condition of female pole-acrobatics athletes: cluster and correlation analyses. Inter Collegas. 2025;12(2):6-20. DOI: 10.35339/ic.2025.12.2.zan.
Salamh P, Bullock G, Chester R, Daniell H, Cook C, DeLang M, et al. Risk Factors Associated with New Onset of Shoulder Pain and Injury Among the Athletic Population: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2025;20(3):315-32. DOI: 10.26603/001c.129462. PMID: 40041538.
Pozzi F, Plummer HA, Shanley E, Thigpen CA, Bauer C, Wilson ML, Michener LA. Preseason shoulder range of motion screening and in-season risk of shoulder and elbow injuries in overhead athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2020;54(17):1019-27. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-100698. PMID: 31937577.
Cools AM, Dewitte V, Lanszweert F, Notebaert D, Roets A, Soetens B, et al. Rehabilitation of scapular muscle balance: which exercises to prescribe? Am J Sports Med. 2007;35(10):1744-51. DOI: 10.1177/0363546507303560. PMID: 17606671.
Asker M, Brooke HL, Waldén M, Tranaeus U, Johansson F, Skillgate E, Holm LW. Risk factors for, and prevention of, shoulder injuries in overhead sports: a systematic review with best-evidence synthesis. Br J Sports Med. 2018;52(20):1312-9. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2017-098254. PMID: 29581141.
McGill SM, McDermott A, Fenwick CM. Comparison of different strongman events: trunk muscle activation and lumbar spine motion, load, and stiffness. J Strength Cond Res. 2009;23(4):1148-61. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318198f8f7. PMID: 19528856.
McGill S. Core Training: Evidence Translating to Better Performance and Injury Prevention. Strength and Conditioning Journal. 2010;32(3):33-46. DOI: 10.1519/SSC.0b013e3181df4521.
Kibler WB, Press J, Sciascia A. The role of core stability in athletic function. Sports Med. 2006;36(3):189-98. DOI: 10.2165/00007256-200636030-00001. PMID: 16526831.
Hrysomallis C, McLaughlin P, Goodman C. Balance and injury in elite Australian footballers. Int J Sports Med. 2007;28(10):844-7. DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-964897. PMID: 17373597.
Chapelle L, Bishop C, D'Hondt J, D'Hondt E, Clarys P. Morphological and functional asymmetry in elite youth tennis players compared to sex- and age-matched controls. J Sports Sci. 2022;40(14):1618-28. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2022.2096769. PMID: 35830516.
Hannah DC, Scibek JS, Carcia CR, Phelps AL. Bilateral Asymmetries of Humeral Retroversion in Junior and Collegiate Tennis Players. J Athl Train. 2021;56(12):1321-26. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0686.20. PMID: 33848357.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.