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Ebrahim Ebrahimi *1 
, Fateme Soltani2 , Seyed Alihossein Nourbakhsh3 , Faezeh Masoumi1 , Saeid Bahiraei3 , Mojtaba Khosravi1
, Fateme Soltani2 , Seyed Alihossein Nourbakhsh3 , Faezeh Masoumi1 , Saeid Bahiraei3 , Mojtaba Khosravi1
1- Department of Sport Injuries and Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Health, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Corrective Exercise & Sport Injury, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
2- Department of Corrective Exercise & Sport Injury, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
3- Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Abstract: (29 Views)
Purpose: Agility underpins performance in youth sports requiring rapid directional changes, yet inconsistencies in primary studies leave the effects of core stability exercises (CSE) on agility performance in young athletes unresolved. Here, we quantify the effects of CSE on agility performance in young athletes through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods: This PRISMA-compliant review (PROSPERO: CRD420261295923) searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception to January 2026. Randomized and quasi-experimental trials evaluating CSE versus controls in athletes aged 10-24 years were included. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists; random-effects meta-analysis was performed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, evaluating heterogeneity (I², Q-test) and publication bias (Egger’s test).
Results: After searching the mentioned databases, 204 articles (n=731 partcipants) were found, predominantly quasi-experimental with moderate-to-high quality. CSE significantly improved agility versus controls (standardized mean difference = -0.878, 95% CI -1.120 to -0.636, P < 0.001). Heterogeneity was moderate (I²=59.83%, P < 0.001); sensitivity analysis excluding two low-quality studies reduced heterogeneity (I²=30.97%, P=0.072) without altering significance (95% CI -0.950 to -0.577, P < 0.001). Egger’s test indicated publication bias (P=0.001), but trim-and-fill adjustment (imputing 6 studies) confirmed robustness.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that CSE enhances agility performance in young athletes, addressing prior inconsistent findings in the literature, where studies have reported small, non-significant, or variable effects on agility and change-of-direction performance.
Methods: This PRISMA-compliant review (PROSPERO: CRD420261295923) searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception to January 2026. Randomized and quasi-experimental trials evaluating CSE versus controls in athletes aged 10-24 years were included. Study quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklists; random-effects meta-analysis was performed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, evaluating heterogeneity (I², Q-test) and publication bias (Egger’s test).
Results: After searching the mentioned databases, 204 articles (n=731 partcipants) were found, predominantly quasi-experimental with moderate-to-high quality. CSE significantly improved agility versus controls (standardized mean difference = -0.878, 95% CI -1.120 to -0.636, P < 0.001). Heterogeneity was moderate (I²=59.83%, P < 0.001); sensitivity analysis excluding two low-quality studies reduced heterogeneity (I²=30.97%, P=0.072) without altering significance (95% CI -0.950 to -0.577, P < 0.001). Egger’s test indicated publication bias (P=0.001), but trim-and-fill adjustment (imputing 6 studies) confirmed robustness.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that CSE enhances agility performance in young athletes, addressing prior inconsistent findings in the literature, where studies have reported small, non-significant, or variable effects on agility and change-of-direction performance.
Type of Study: Systematic Review |
Subject:
Sport injury and corrective exercises
Received: 2026/03/31 | Accepted: 2026/05/19
Received: 2026/03/31 | Accepted: 2026/05/19
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