Improvements of Shooting Performance in Adolescent Air Rifle Athletes After 6-Week Balance and Respiration Training Programs

Abstract

Several factors, such as balance and respiration training programs, have been identified as contributing to the establishment of a shooting performance. However, little is known about the benefits of these programs on the shooting record, among adolescent air rifle athletes. To determine whether there is a gain in the shooting record, among adolescent air rifle athletes, after participation in balance and respiration training programs. Case-control study. Shooting range. Twenty-one adolescent air rifle athletes were recruited from the local school community and assigned to an experimental (n=11; EG) or control (n=10; CG) group. The EG performed respiration and balance training for 30 min, three times a week for 6 weeks, and the CG performed balance training only. Data were collected on the respiratory function, muscle activity, and shooting record, before and after the 6-week intervention. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in one second (FEV₁), FEV₁ as a percentage of FVC (FEV₁/FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) were significantly increased in the EG, and FEV₁/FVC was significantly increased in the CG (p<0.05). The FVC and PEF, post-intervention, were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05). The activity of the right internal oblique (RTIO) and left internal oblique (LTIO) muscles of the FVC were significantly different in the EG (p<0.05). Within group changes in right external oblique (EO), RTIO, and LTIO of the MVV were significantly increased in the EG (p<0.05). The RTIO and LTIO activity improved more significantly in the EG than CG (p<0.05). There was no difference between the groups with respect to the shooting records. The experiment demonstrates that the balance and respiration training programs may help improve the respiratory function and muscle activity other than the shooting record.