Effect of core muscle exercises on subcutaneous fat percentage of Badminton players

Abstract

Badminton involves jumping to reach a shuttle at the highest possible point when descending for a better stroke as in a smash and drop shot. Hence the body weight has to be lifted repeatedly against gravity, where the extra mass in the form of fat would be disadvantage. Moreover the fat tends to be localized in the trunk and lower body segments. Core stability is defined in athletic setting as the optimum production, which can transfer and control the force from the centre of the body to the limbs, through stabilization of the position and motion of torso. Core stability exercises are an essential fitness component of badminton players during smashing the shuttlecock through the game.The present study was conducted to assess the impact of core muscle exercises on subcutaneous fat percentage of badminton players. To achieve this purpose Twenty five badminton players were included in the study, whose age ranged from 17-21 years. During training ten core muscle exercises were performed with one minute each exercise and twenty seconds break in between the exercise. This is performed for three sets. This training is continued for 6 days in a week with one session per day for four weeks. The subcutaneous fat percentage at Arms, Trunk, Legs and Whole body was measured using the Omron HBF 375 Karada Scan before and after the training. The obtained pre and post test data were statistically analyzed using the ‘t’ test. Results shows that there is significant difference in the subcutaneous fat percentage at Arms, Trunk, Legs and Whole body of the badminton players.