Effect of Dead Bug Exercises on Dynamic Balance and Agility Among Adolescent Badminton Players at the End of Four Weeks – An Experimental Study

Introduction: Badminton is one of the most popular racquet sports in the world. The game of badminton is characterized by repetitive actions of short resting time with high speed and intensity. Therefore, badminton players require good balance and agility during rapid postural actions around the court. Badminton is a dynamic equilibrium process that involves loss of balance in the air to restore balance after landing. Thus, players need body coordination and dynamic balance. Dynamic balance is a crucial fitness component to prevent lower limb injuries that can result because of poor balance. Agility is the ability to move and change the direction and position of the body quickly and effectively while under control. Dead bug is a bodyweight exercise that targets the abdominal muscles and increases core strength. The dead bug is one such isometric exercise that challenges the anterior core of an athlete from the supine position, targeting the rectus abdominis and external obliques in particular. Methods: This pre-post experimental study aimed to assess the impact of a specific exercise intervention on dynamic balance and agility in badminton players aged 18-25 years. A total of 30 badminton players were selected using purposive sampling. The inclusion criteria required participants to be between the ages of 18 and 25, actively training in badminton, and willing to participate in the study. Group A (experimental group) received a structured exercise intervention, while Group B (control group) continued with their regular fitness badminton training. Dynamic balance was assessed using the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). Agility was measured using the Illinois Agility Test (IAT). Results: For the SEBT, Group A (experimental) demonstrated a mean pre-intervention score of 6.23 (SD = 5.25), which significantly improved post-intervention with a t-value of -6.51 and a p-value of <0.001, indicating significant enhancement in dynamic balance. In contrast, Group B (control) showed a mean pre-intervention score of 1.50 (SD = 4.98), with a post-intervention t-value of -1.65 and a p-value of 0.11, showing no significant improvement Conclusion: The structured four-week intervention, conducted three times per week, led to substantial improvements in the SEBT and IAT scores among the experimental group compared to the control group. These findings highlight the efficacy of Dead Bug exercises in strengthening core muscles, which play a critical role in maintaining lumbopelvic stability and improving athletic performance. Key words: Dead bug exercises, dynamic balance, agility, badminton, athletes