Core Stability Training and Breaststroke Performance in University Students Learning to Swim

The purpose of this study was to find out whether adding core stability exercises to regular swimming lessons could improve breaststroke performance in university students learning to swim. These exercises involve holding the body in set positions to train muscles that help maintain posture and stability. The study included 136 university students aged 18 to 20 years. Participants were assigned by chance to one of two groups. Both groups attended the same 90-minute breaststroke lesson each week. After each lesson, one group completed 30 minutes of core stability exercises, while the other group completed 30 minutes of low-intensity stretching and relaxation activities. These additional sessions took place once a week for 14 weeks. The main comparison was the time needed to swim 25 meters using breaststroke after the training period. Other assessments measured kicking performance, the number of swimming strokes, distance traveled per stroke, and muscle endurance during exercises performed on land.