OBJECTIVES: The aim of our work was to compare the effectiveness of the Totalbody Resistance Exercise (TRX) and Physioball in a 6-week core training program for primary school children.

METHODS: Examination time: February - May 2019. The sample size: 40 persons (20-20 persons in each group). Participants: 8th grade primary school children (14 years old). The core stabilizing training: twice a week, each time for 45 minutes for 6 weeks. The part between warm-up and relaxation was exclusively performed using TRX and Physioball. Test methods: 1) trunk stability test (modified plank test); 2) dynamic balance test (upper limb Y-balance test, lower limb star balance test); 3) Lumbar motor control assay (Stabilizer Pressure Biofeedback instrument).

RESULTS: Core muscle strength improved significantly (TRX before 138sec, then 176sec; p<0.001, Physioball before 110sec, then 160sec; p<0.001). Upper limb stability: significant improvement (p<0.05) was observed in all 3 directions (medial, inferolateral, superolateral) on both right and left sides of Physioball and on the right side of the TRX. Except for one direction on the left side of the TRX (p=0.59) improvement was also significant (p<0.05). Dynamic balance: there was a significant improvement (p<0.05) in all 8 directions (anterior, anterolateral, lateral, posterolateral, posterior, posteromedial, medial, anteromedial) in the lower right extremity of TRX and in the lower left limb of Physioball. There was also a significant improvement (p<0.05) on the left side of TRX except for two directions (medial:p=0.08; anteromedial:p=0.15) and on the right side of Physioball except for two directions (anterior:p=0.05; posteromedial:p=0.09). Lumbar motor control was significantly improved in both cases (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Core training had a positive effect on the children's back muscles, joint stability in the upper and lower limbs, and lumbar motor control, but there was no significant difference in the developmental effects of the two devices.