Pre-post changes in agility, balance, and functional movement during short-term functional strength and balance training in national-level Kho-Kho players

Kho-Kho is a high-intensity traditional sport characterized by rapid directional changes, relay-based movement patterns, and sustained postural demands, requiring well-developed agility, balance, and functional movement capacity. This study examined pre-post changes in functional movement, postural stability, and agility during a short-term camp-based functional strength and balance training period in male and female national-level Kho-Kho players. This single-arm, pre-post interventional trial included 60 national-level Kho-Kho players (30 males, 30 females) who participated in a two-week intensive functional strength and balance training program conducted during a training camp. No concurrent control group was included. Pre- and post-training assessments included the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), static balance under open- and closed-eye conditions, dynamic balance on both and single limbs, and agility performance using SEMO and Illinois tests. Linear sprint speed was assessed using a 40 m run test. Sex-based differences were examined using independent t tests, and two-factor ANOVA was used to examine differences according to time point, sex, and their interaction for selected performance outcomes. Significant pre-post changes were observed in FMS composite scores for both sexes ( p ≤ 0.001, η 2 p = 0.66). Static balance scores changed favorably under both visual conditions (open eyes: p ≤ 0.001, η 2 p = 0.82; closed eyes: p ≤ 0.001, η 2 p = 0.76). Dynamic balance showed significant time-related changes in overall analysis for both-feet and single-limb conditions ( p ≤ 0.001, η 2 p = 0.25 and 0.35, respectively), although within-sex analysis showed that the female single-foot condition did not change significantly. Agility test times showed significant pre-post reductions in SEMO and Illinois tests ( p ≤ 0.001, η 2 p = 0.66 and 0.68), whereas the 40 m run test showed no significant changes ( p = 0.28). Significant overall differences between male and female players were identified for dynamic balance on both feet ( p = 0.007, η 2 p = 0.12) and agility outcomes (SEMO: p ≤ 0.001, η 2 p = 0.37; Illinois: p ≤ 0.001, η 2 p = 0.38). During the short-term structured camp-based functional strength and balance training period, favorable pre-post changes were observed in functional movement, postural stability, and agility among national-level Kho-Kho players. Because of the single-arm pre-post design, the absence of a concurrent control group, and possible agility-test familiarization effects, the findings describe changes observed over time and do not establish that the training program caused the observed changes. Controlled studies are required to determine the independent contribution of the training program. Trial registration : ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06602895; retrospectively registered on 17 September 2024, after participant enrolment and commencement of the study.