Effects of integrated postural stability and strength-endurance training on special physical fitness and shooting performance in trained archers

Background. Competitive archery requires repeated reproduction of a stable shooting posture under static muscular tension and progressive fatigue. Postural control, upper-limb strength endurance and trunk–shoulder stabilization may therefore represent important determinants of shooting consistency. Purpose. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated special physical training method focused on postural stability and strength endurance and to determine its effects on special physical fitness and shooting performance in trained archers. Materials and methods. Twenty-four trained archers participated in a controlled pedagogical experiment and were divided into a control group (CG, n=12) and an experimental group (EG, n=12). Both groups followed regular archery training, whereas the EG additionally performed an integrated programme consisting of four components: postural-stability training, strength-endurance training for the upper limbs and shoulder girdle, trunk and scapular stabilization, and transfer exercises linking physical preparation with the shooting action. Special physical fitness was evaluated using full-draw bow-hold time, repeated bow draws, hand strength, a 3-kg extended-arm hold, push-ups, single-leg balance with eyes closed and the Genchi test. Shooting performance was assessed using a 10-arrow score at 18 m, number of 10-point hits, mean score per arrow, a six-arrow series following physical loading, shot duration, grouping dispersion and percentage of hits in scoring zones 9–10. Results. Before the intervention, no statistically significant between-group differences were identified (p>0.05). After the intervention, the EG demonstrated significantly better results than the CG across the assessed special physical fitness variables (p<0.05). In the EG, full-draw holding time increased from 29.1±3.8 to 38.4±2.8 s, single-leg balance from 20.2±2.8 to 27.2±2.3 s and the 3-kg arm-hold time from 24.1±3.6 to 33.6±2.4 s. The 10-arrow score increased from 83.1±4.0 to 90.6±3.2 points, while hits in zones 9–10 increased from 36.0±4.8% to 49.7±5.1%. Grouping dispersion decreased from 47.8±6.0 to 36.1±4.9 mm. Conclusions. Integrated development of postural stability and strength endurance was associated with meaningful improvements in special physical fitness, shooting accuracy and performance stability under fatigue. The findings support the inclusion of posture-specific stabilization, upper-limb endurance and transfer exercises in the special physical preparation of trained archers.