Table 2 Core training interventions and outcome measures

Arslan et al. (2021) [47]

Core strength training combined with small-sided games

6 weeks, 3 sessions/week (60–70 min each)

YYIRTL- 1, 20 m sprint, CMJ, Y-balance test

Significant improvements in speed, strength, and balance in the SSGcore group

Core training with small-sided games improves soccer performance

Brull-Muria & Beltran-Garrido (2021) [48]

Sport-specific core stability exercises vs. general core stability exercises

8 weeks, 3 sessions/week (20 min/session)

Sprint, Change-of-Direction Manoeuvrability

Both groups improved sprint and agility with no significant differences

General and core stability training enhance performance equally in youth soccer players

Bulak & Özdal (2021) [49]

Static and dynamic core training

6 weeks, 3 sessions/week (60 min/session)

Bandal-Tchagui kick fatigue & Kick impact pressure

No significant effects on kick fatigue

Dynamic and static core training does not affect kick fatigue in taekwondo athletes

Chandrakumar & Ramesh (2016) [50]

Core functional training vs. football practices

8 weeks, 3 sessions/week (One hour/session)

Leg strength, flexibility

Improved leg strength and flexibility in the experimental group

Core functional training enhances strength and flexibility in high school soccer players

Dehnou et al. (2020) [51]

Core-specific training vs. regular wrestling training

4 weeks, 4 sessions/week

Medicine Ball Throw, Suplexes, Bridges

Core training improved performance in wrestling-specific tasks

Core-specific training improves strength and endurance in wrestlers

Dongaz et al. (2023) [52]

Core stability exercises vs. classic gymnastics training

8 weeks, 3 sessions/week

Balance, endurance, strength, agility, flexibility, Jump performance

Experimental group had better improvements in strength and flexibility

Core stability training enhances fitness parameters in gymnasts

Ferri-Caruana et al. (2022) [53]

Core strength training vs. routine training

8 weeks, 2 sessions/week

Bilateral and unilateral jump height, balance

Significant improvements in jump height, reactive strength, and balance

Core strength training improves jump performance in handball players

Hessam et al. (2023) [54]

McGill core stability training vs. routine training

12 weeks, 3 sessions/week (45 min/session)

Functional movement screen (FMS), shooting

Experimental group showed greater improvements in movement patterns and shooting

McGill core training improves movement and shooting in basketball players

Jha et al. (2022) [55]

Core stability training vs. routine training

5 weeks, 3 sessions/week (45 min/session)

Upper quarter Y-balance test, Functional Throwing

Significant improvements in balance and upper extremity performance

Core stability training enhances upper extremity performance

Jia et al. (2022) [56]

Core training vs. regular swimming training

6 months, 3 sessions/week

Freestyle time (400 m, 800 m)

Greater improvements in freestyle times for core training group

Supplemental core training enhances performance in young swimmers

Kabadayı et al. (2022) [57]

Core strength training vs. regular karate training

8 weeks, 3 sessions/week (30–35 min/session)

Flexor endurance, back strength, karate kick, flexibility, change of direction, sprint test

Core strength training improved endurance and karate kick performance

Core strength training is effective for karate performance but limited for other fitness measures

Kiss et al. (2019) [58]

Trunk prevention training vs. regular training

6 months, 3 sessions/week

Core strength, flexibility, lumbar control

Significant improvements in core strength and flexibility

Trunk prevention training improves core strength and flexibility in kayak-canoe athletes

Kuhn et al. (2019) [59]

Core stability training vs. handball training

6 weeks, 2 sessions/week (45 min/session)

Throwing velocity, isometric strength, core endurance

Improved core muscle strength but no significant enhancement in throwing velocity

Core stability training improves strength but not throwing performance in handball players

Li (2022) [60]

Core strengthening vs. traditional strength training

6 weeks, 3 sessions/week

Fast dribbling passes, shooting

Experimental group showed higher fast dribbling passes and shots

Core strengthening training improves fitness and technical skills in basketball players

Lum, Barbosa, Joseph, et al. (2021) [61]

Rapid isometric squat (RIST) vs. sustained isometric (SIST) vs regular training

6 weeks, 2 sessions per week

Countermovement jump, 30 m sprint, isometric squat

SIST resulted in better jump height and sprint times compared to RIST

Sustained isometric squat training is more effective for strength and performance

Lum, Barbosa, & Balasekaran (2021) [62]

Isometric strength training (IST) vs traditional strength training

6 weeks, 2 sessions per week

200 mTT performance, Isometric squat test, Isometric bench press, Isometric prone bench pull, peak force (PF) and rate of force development (RFD)

IST group showed greater improvements in 200 mTT performance, peak force in most isometric tests and rate of force development

Inclusion of isometric strength training, either consecutively or periodically, can lead to greater improvements in sprint performance compared to control

Ozmen & Aydogmus (2016) [63]

Core strength training vs. regular badminton training

6 weeks, 2 sessions/week

Balance, agility, core endurance

Improved balance and core endurance but not agility

Core strength training enhances balance but may not improve agility in adolescent badminton players

Ozmen et al. (2020) [64]

Core strength training vs routine handball training

6 weeks, 2 sessions/week

Dynamic balance (SEBT), Vertical jump height, Throwing velocity

Significant improvements in dynamic balance and vertical jump height in the CST group, but no significant difference in throwing velocity between groups

Core strength training did not improve dynamic balance, vertical jump height and throwing velocity in adolescent male handball players

Palmer et al. (2015) [65]

Power-stability training vs. traditional endurance training

7 weeks, 2 sessions/week (30 min/session)

Throwing velocity, chop/lift power

Power-stability training showed greater improvements in throwing velocity

Power-stability training is more effective than traditional endurance training for throwing

Prieske et al. (2016) [66]

Core training on stable vs. unstable surfaces

9 weeks, 2–3 sessions/week (~ 30 min/session)

Trunk strength, sprint, agility, kicking

Both groups improved in trunk strength and kicking, with no significant differences between surfaces

Core training, whether on stable or unstable surfaces, improves trunk strength and performance

Shahin (2016) [67]

Core strengthening vs. regular volleyball training

10 weeks, 3 sessions/week (90 min/session)

Vertical jump, spike performance, balance

Significant improvements in vertical jump and balance

Core strengthening improves volleyball-specific skills and physical abilities in female players

Soflaei et al. (2022) [68]

Pilates exercises vs. regular snooker training

6 weeks, 3 sessions/week

Break score, balance, foul number

Pilates improved balance and break scores

Pilates exercises improve balance and performance in snooker players

Srivastav (2016) [69]

Core stability training vs. regular training

12 weeks, 2 sessions/week

Muscular strength, back strength, flexibility

Significant improvements in strength and flexibility

Core strength training enhances physical and physiological parameters in recreational athletes

Subramanian (2014) [70]

Core strength training vs. No specialized training

8 weeks, 3 sessions/week (90 min/session)

Muscular strength, Back strength, Flexibility

Experimental group showed significant improvements in all outcome measures compared to the control group

Core strength training can produce significant changes in the physical and physiological parameters of cricket players

Sung et al. (2016) [71]

Core and non-dominant arm training vs. core training alone

8 weeks, 2 sessions/week (60 min/session)

Drive distance, isokinetic strength

Non-dominant arm + core training showed the greatest improvements in drive distance and strength

Combining core and non-dominant arm training is more effective for improving drive distance in golfers

Suryanarayana & Kumar (2024) [72]

Staircase training, Core Strength Training vs. core training

12 weeks, 3 sessions/week

Endurance, reaction time

Both training methods improved endurance and reaction time; staircase training was more effective

Both staircase and core training are effective, but staircase training provides superior endurance benefits

Taskin (2016) [73]

Core training vs. regular training

8 weeks, 3 sessions/week

Speed, acceleration, vertical jump

Core training improved speed, acceleration, and jumping

Core training enhances functional performance in female soccer players

Vitale et al. (2018) [74]

Neuromuscular training vs. standard warm-up

8 weeks, 2 sessions/week

Y-Balance Test, Countermovement jump, Drop jump

Core training improves dynamic balance

The neuromuscular warm-up program improved dynamic balance ability but not vertical jump performance in elite junior skiers

Wang et al. (2022) [75]

Core strength training vs Traditional strength training

9 weeks, 3 sessions/week (30 min/session)

Core strength (leg lift, back extension, bridge tests, abdominal fatigue), Serve speed

Core strength training improved core strength measures and tennis technical skills (serve speed, accuracy)

Core strength training was more effective than traditional strength training for developing core strength and enhancing technical skills in female university tennis players