The relationship between core endurance, extremity proprioception, and dynamic balance in young adults

Background Core muscular endurance is believed to support both postural control and proprioceptive accuracy. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the relationship between core endurance, dynamic balance, and proprioceptive function of the hip and shoulder joints in healthy young adults. Methods Sixty healthy young adults (mean age: 20.9 ± 2.4 years) participated. Core endurance was evaluated using McGill tests: Trunk Anterior Flexor Test (TAFT), Trunk Posterior Extensor Test (TPET), Right and Left Lateral Plank Tests (RLPT, LLPT). Dynamic balance was assessed with the Pedalo ® platform, while shoulder and hip proprioception (flexion and abduction) was measured using the Biodex System 3 Pro. Results Significant positive correlations were observed among the McGill core endurance tests, with the strongest association between RLPT and LLPT. However, no significant bivariate correlations were found between the core endurance tests and dynamic balance or shoulder and hip proprioception (flexion and abduction). In the regression analysis, only the mean lateral plank time (LPTmean) emerged as a significant predictor of dynamic balance, whereas the Trunk Posterior Extensor Test (TPET) showed a small but significant association with shoulder flexion joint position sense error. No core endurance test significantly predicted shoulder abduction or hip proprioception. Conclusions These findings suggest that lateral core endurance may be particularly associated with dynamic balance under tasks that involve medio-lateral stability demands, and that posterior trunk endurance (TPET) may be related to shoulder flexion proprioception in healthy young adults. These associations are correlational and should be interpreted with caution.