title: Sport-specific endurance plank test for evaluation of global core muscle function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the validity and reliability of a sports-specific endurance plank test for the evaluation of global core muscle function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated-measures study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight male and eight female young athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surface electromyography (sEMG) of selected trunk flexors and extensors, and an intervention of pre-fatigue core workout were applied for test validation. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), and the measurement bias ratio */÷ ratio limits of agreement (LOA) were calculated to assess reliability and measurement error.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test validity was shown by the sEMG of selected core muscles, which indicated >50% increase in muscle activation during the test; and the definite discrimination of the ∼30% reduction in global core muscle endurance subsequent to a pre-fatigue core workout. For test-retest reliability, when the first attempt of three repeated trials was considered as familiarisation, the ICC was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-0.99), CV was 2.0 ± 1.56% and the measurement bias ratio */÷ ratio LOA was 0.99 */÷ 1.07.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the sport-specific endurance plank test is a valid, reliable and practical method for assessing global core muscle endurance in athletes given that at least one familiarisation trial takes place prior to measurement.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness, Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: tongkk@hkbu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Tom K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Dr. Stephen Hui Research Centre for Physical Recreation and Wellness, Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Shing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sports, Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao, China.
authors.forename: Jinlei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nie
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology; D001415:Back / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Core muscle; Plank test; Sport