Investigation of the Relationship Between Core Endurance and Awareness of Injury Prevention in Adolescent Basketball Players

Injuries occurring during adolescence can lead to serious long-term problems. Such injuries can cause athletes to take breaks from their sports and physically strain themselves. Since athletes are in their adolescent period, the physiological development of the musculoskeletal system is ongoing. Awareness of injury prevention during this period is crucial. The Injury Prevention Awareness Scale for Athletes is a valid and reliable measure developed for the Turkish population. It assesses individuals' awareness of health status, environmental factors, equipment usage, and exercise programs.

In overhead athletes (those engaged in sports requiring frequent and repetitive use of the upper extremities), although movement primarily occurs in the upper extremities, the transfer of force through the kinetic chain from proximal to distal is critically important. Particularly, good core endurance is fundamental for distal mobility. This is because strong proximal endurance affects the stability and movement development of distal joints. The core region, often referred to as the body's core, is considered the starting point for movements. For athletes, the active and efficient use of both the lower and upper extremities is essential. The core region facilitates force transfer between these two extremities. By controlling the position and movements of the trunk during sports activities, it allows for the optimal transfer of energy from the trunk to the extremities. Inadequate or insufficient core stabilization can lead to wear and tear in the body, problems with static and dynamic balance, failure in kinetic chain transfer, and an increased risk of sports injuries. Emphasizing the endurance and stability of the core region in athletes can help reduce the risk of injury. Athletes may not always be aware of how serious injuries and their consequences can be. The Injury Prevention Awareness Scale evaluates athletes' awareness of situations that can lead to injuries.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between core endurance and awareness of injury prevention in athletes. Objectively determining this relationship is important for providing support to protect athletes from injuries.

Hypotheses:

H0: There is no relationship between awareness of injury prevention and core endurance.