The effect of an eight-week dance training program on coordination and balance performance in taekwondo athletes

Creative Commons License

Uçar H., Ozan M., Buzdağlı Y.

Journal of Applied Sports Sciences, cilt.10, sa.1, ss.137-153, 2026 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the eff ects of an eight-week structured dance training program on static balance, dynamic balance, and coordination performance in taekwondo athletes. Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial using a two-group pre-test–post-test parallel design. Thirty-four licensed male taekwondo athletes (18–24 years) who regularly participated in competitive taekwondo training were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (dance training plus taekwondo) or a control group (taekwondo training only). The intervention consisted of an eight-week structured dance training program performed twice weekly (45–60 min/session) in addition to regular taekwondo training. Static balance, dynamic balance, and coordination were assessed using the Flamingo Balance Test, Y-Balance Test, and Hexagon Test, respectively. Data were analyzed using a 2 × 2 mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: No signifi cant time × group interaction was observed for static balance performance (p > .05). However, signifi cant time × group interactions were found for dynamic balance in both the right (F(1, 32) = 63.34, p < .001, ηp² = .66) and left (F(1, 32) = 24.68, p < .001, ηp² = .44) lower extremities, indicating greater improvements in the experimental group. Similarly, coordination performance assessed by the Hexagon Test showed a signifi cant time × group interaction (F(1, 32) = 34.43, p < .001, ηp² = .52), favoring the experimental group. Conclusion: An eight-week dance-based training program signifi cantly improves dynamic balance and coordination performance in taekwondo athletes, but does not provide additional benefi ts for static balance. Dance-based training may be considered an eff ective complementary training strategy for improving dynamic balance and coordination in trained taekwondo athletes. From a practical perspective, incorporating structured dance sessions into regular taekwondo training may support neuromotor performance components relevant to combat sport athletes.