A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14

Selnur Narin Aral; Merve Tuncay

A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine flexibility, balance, and strength, which are physical fitness parameters, among girls who play volleyball and those who are sedentary. Methods: This study included 40 volunteer girls aged 7-14, consisting of 20 who play volleyball and 20 who are sedentary. Flexibility was assessed using the Sit and Reach Test; balance was evaluated with the Flamingo Balance Test and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT); and strength was measured using the Handgrip Strength Test, Standing Long Jump Test, Vertical Jump Test, and Overhead Medicine Ball Throw Test. Results: No significant difference was found in flexibility between the volleyball-playing and sedentary groups (p>0.05). Regarding static balance assessed by the Flamingo Balance Test, no significant intergroup difference was observed (p>0.05). In the dynamic balance assessed by the SEBT, no significant difference was found for the right posterolateral and lateral directions, or for the left lateral and anterolateral directions (p>0.05). However, the volleyball-playing group performed significantly better in the other directions (p<0.05). In strength assessments, the volleyball-playing group showed superior performance in static strength (Handgrip Strength, p<0.05) and explosive power (Standing Long Jump, p<0.05; Vertical Jump, p<0.001; Overhead Medicine Ball Throw, p<0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that more active children who play volleyball generally have better physical fitness parameters compared to their sedentary peers. This highlights the importance of encouraging sports participation and establishing healthy habits from an early age.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No Supporting

Ethical Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee of the Dokuz Eylül University (decision number 2019/06-41 and date of approval 13 March 2019).

Thanks

We thank all participants who participated in the study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physiotherapy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Selnur Narin Aral ^*
0009-0000-3502-9637
Türkiye

Merve Tuncay
0000-0003-1099-9658
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

March 30, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 25, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 2 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Narin Aral, S., & Tuncay, M. (2026). A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research, 2(1), 25-34. https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA

AMA

1.Narin Aral S, Tuncay M. A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research. 2026;2(1):25-34. https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA

Chicago

Narin Aral, Selnur, and Merve Tuncay. 2026. “A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14”. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research 2 (1): 25-34. https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA.

EndNote

Narin Aral S, Tuncay M (June 1, 2026) A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research 2 1 25–34.

IEEE

[1]S. Narin Aral and M. Tuncay, “A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14”, Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 25–34, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA

ISNAD

Narin Aral, Selnur - Tuncay, Merve. “A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14”. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research 2/1 (June 1, 2026): 25-34. https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA.

JAMA

1.Narin Aral S, Tuncay M. A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research. 2026;2:25–34.

MLA

Narin Aral, Selnur, and Merve Tuncay. “A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14”. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research, vol. 2, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 25-34, https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA.

Vancouver

1.Selnur Narin Aral, Merve Tuncay. A Comparative Study of Flexibility, Balance, and Strength Between Volleyball-Playing and Non-Athletic Girls Aged 7-14. Clinical Physiotherapy and Related Research [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;2(1):25-34. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA79DP35NA