Effect of Core Muscle Training on Balance and Agility in Athletes: A Systematic Review

The objective of this review was to systematically summarize the existing literature on the effect of core muscle training on measures of balance and agility in athletes. A search was conducted to identify the eligible articles on core muscle training, balance, agility, and athletes in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database that were published from inception to April 15, 2022. The literature search retrieved 3,299 articles, of which 17 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria of the review. Two reviewers independently performed study selection and assessed the quality of included studies using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, and a third reviewer was consulted in case of disagreements. The quality of the studies was mixed. Core muscle training can be used to target balance and agility in athletes. Furthermore, core training of variable frequency, intensity, and type can be incorporated in athletic programs to improve balance and agility.