The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a core stability exercise program can improve core endurance, hand grip strength, pinch strength, and manual dexterity in dental students. The study will include adult dental students who are enrolled at a university and do not have any musculoskeletal or neurological conditions. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a 6-week core stability exercise program improve core endurance in dental students? Does the exercise program improve hand grip strength, pinch strength, and manual dexterity compared to usual daily activities? Researchers will compare a core stability exercise group to a control group to determine whether the exercise program is more effective than routine daily activities. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a control group Participate in a supervised core stability exercise program three times per week for 6 weeks (exercise group only) Continue their usual daily activities without additional exercise (control group) Undergo assessments of core endurance, hand grip strength, pinch strength, and manual dexterity before and after the intervention period
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
44
A structured and progressive core stability exercise program will be conducted over 6 weeks, with three supervised sessions per week. Each session will last 30-45 minutes and include warm-up, core stabilization exercises, and cool-down. The program consists of three progressive phases: Weeks 1-2 focus on core activation and static exercises on a stable surface (e.g., abdominal draw-in, bridge, plank); Weeks 3-4 include dynamic exercises on a stable surface (e.g., bird-dog, curl-up, superman); Weeks 5-6 involve resistance and unstable surface training (e.g., Swiss ball exercises, rotational movements, resisted exercises). All sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist. Exercise intensity and progression will be individualized based on participant performance, and safety will be monitored throughout.
Core Endurance
Core endurance will be assessed using the McGill core endurance test battery, including trunk flexor endurance, trunk extensor endurance, and side bridge tests. The duration (in seconds) that participants can maintain each position will be recorded.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Hand Grip Strength
Hand grip strength will be measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer. Three measurements will be taken for each participant, and the average value will be used for analysis.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Pinch Strength
Pinch strength will be measured using a pinch meter, including tip-to-tip, lateral (key pinch), and palmar (three-point pinch) grip types. Three measurements will be taken and averaged.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
Manual Dexterity
Manual dexterity will be assessed using the Purdue Pegboard Test, including dominant hand, non-dominant hand, both hands, and assembly tasks. Scores will be recorded as the number of items completed within specified time periods.
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks
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