Balance performance in elite wrestlers shows stronger associations with core endurance and isometric strength than with isoinertial rotational power

This study aimed to examine the associations of core endurance, isometric core strength, and rotational core power with static, platform-based dynamic, and reach-based dynamic balance performance in elite wrestlers. Twenty-one male elite freestyle wrestlers participated in this cross-sectional study. Balance performance was assessed using the SportKAT 4000 TS to evaluate static and platform-based dynamic balance under both single-leg and bilateral conditions, and the Star Excursion Balance Test to assess functional reach-based dynamic balance. Core endurance was evaluated using the Bunkie test battery; isometric core strength (trunk flexion, extension, and lateral flexion), and isoinertial standing rotational core power were measured using the Desmotec V12 flywheel device, with all strength and power outputs normalized to fat-free mass measured with air-displacement plethysmography. Pearson correlation analyses were performed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Core endurance showed moderate associations with static balance performance ( r = − 0.44 to − 0.48), particularly across multiple Bunkie test myofascial lines, with lower balance scores indicating better balance performance. Isometric trunk strength, especially trunk flexion and lateral flexion, demonstrated moderate-to-large associations with static and bilateral dynamic balance performance ( r = − 0.48 to − 0.71). In contrast, rotational core power exhibited no meaningful relationship with balance performance, except for a single moderate association in which greater dominant-side rotational power corresponded to poorer static dominant balance ( r = 0.43). Notably, SEBT measures showed no significant associations with any of the core measurements. Overall, the findings suggest that, in this sample of elite wrestlers, static and bilateral dynamic balance, as assessed with the SportKAT, were more consistently associated with Bunkie core endurance scores and isometric trunk strength than with rotational power outputs. However, these findings should be interpreted as exploratory, given the small sample size and cross-sectional design.