Outreach

ACT! Program Research

The UCSF Department of Sports Medicine teamed up with the UCSF Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science to conduct a research pilot study called "The Effects of the Adolescent Core Training (ACT) Program on Lumbar Stability, Dynamic Postural Balance, and Lower Limb Control."

The ACT program, developed by UCSF athletic trainers, incorporates multi-planar movements designed to strengthen the core of the body while increasing neuromuscular control and balance to prevent future injury and improve performance.

The program was conducted on students from International Studies Academy. These students participated in this 6-week core training program, which involved progressive exercises using only the students' body weight as resistance. The students' core strength, balance, and lower limb control were measured before and after the 6-week training sessions.

The results of the study showed trends for improvement in all the outcomes that were measured:

 

  • There was a non-significant trend that suggested a decrease in body fat and body mass index overall.
  • The results also showed a non-significant trend to suggest improvements in core strength and lower limb control in males.
  • Additionally, improvements in core strength, lower limb control, and dynamic balance in female subjects were also recorded.

Overall the research study was a successful and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. It is our hope that this study will lay the groundwork to enable the creation and conduction of future training, injury prevention, and educational programs.