The study investigated the effects of proprioceptive+core exercises on female swimmers' 25-meter freestyle technical swimming performance and vertical jump performance. Sixteen females aged 20-26 with at least three year of swimming experience participated in the study. Participants were divided into two groups: Proprioceptive+Core Exercise Group (PCEG) (n=8 women) and the Control Group (CG) (n=8 women). The experimental group applied proprioceptive+core exercises in addition to their swimming training twice a week for 6 weeks, while the control group continued their routine swimming training twice a week. When the pretest and posttest results were examined, the 25-meter freestyle technical swimming performance of the proprioceptive+core experimental group was measured as 23.33±2.51 in the pretest and 21.66±2.59 in the posttest. The vertical jump performance of the proprioceptive+core experimental group was 18.73±6.43 in the pretest and 23.48±7.30 in the posttest. When the pretest and posttest were compared, significant differences were found in the experimental group's 25-meter freestyle technical swimming performance (p=0.004) and vertical jump performance (p=0.001). In the control group, the 25-meter freestyle technical swimming performance was measured as 24.58±1.56 in the pretest and 24.25±1.34 in the posttest. The vertical jump performance of the control group was measured as 13.76±1.66 in the pretest and 16.07±1.74 in the posttest. Significant improvements were found in the 25-meter freestyle technical swimming performance of the proprioceptive+core experimental group (mean difference -1.67±1.13 sec; posttest 21.66±2.59 sec). The 25-meter freestyle technical swimming performance between the groups was found to be significant (p=0.020). The vertical jump performance of the proprioceptive+core group was higher (mean difference: 4.75±2.19 cm; posttest: 24.25±1.34 cm), while the vertical jump performance of the control group (mean difference: 2.31±1.37 cm; posttest: 16.07±1.74 cm) was lower. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.018). Six weeks of proprioceptive+core exercises were found to have positive effects on the 25-meter freestyle technical swimming times and the vertical jump performance test in female swimmers. The findings suggest integrating proprioceptive+core exercises into swimming training would improve performance.
Ceviz et al. (Tue,) studied this question.