Effectiveness of Total Resistance Exercise on Flexibility and Core Strength in College-Level Cricket Players with Lower Crossed Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
K.R. Ranga Vittal, Shenbaga Sundaram Subramanian, Praveenkumar Rajendran, G. Subramanya Gandhi, G. Yasmeen Imtiaz, Praveen Vasanthan Murugan et al. · Journal of Pioneering Medical Science · 2026
Background: Lower Crossed Syndrome (LCS) is a widespread postural impairment among athletes, marked by tightness of the hip flexors and lumbar extensors alongside weakness of the gluteal and abdominal muscles. Total Resistance Exercise (TRX), a suspension-based training
Method: , had not previously been compared directly with Conventional Exercise (CE) in cricketers affected by LCS. This trial set out to determine which approach more effectively improves flexibility and core strength among college-level cricket players with LCS.
Methods: Thirty-six male cricket players aged 18-25 years with a clinical diagnosis of LCS were randomized into two equal groups of 18: A TRX group (Group 1) and a conventional exercise group (Group 2), using a computer-generated randomization sequence with allocation concealed in sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes. Sample size was calculated a priori with G*Power 3.1 (large effect size, α = 0.05, power = 80%), indicating a minimum of 18 participants per group. Both groups trained three times weekly for six weeks, roughly 50 minutes per session. Flexibility and core strength were evaluated with the Sit and Reach Test (SRT), Double Leg Lowering Test (DLLT) and Single Leg Glute Bridge Test (SLGBT) at baseline, Week 3 and Week 6.
Results: Both groups improved significantly at every time point (p<0.001). The TRX group achieved significantly greater improvement than the CE group on all three outcomes at Week 6: SRT flexibility (mean difference 4.32 cm, 95% CI 3.24-5.39, Cohen’s d = 2.72, p<0.001), DLLT lumbopelvic stability (-6.96°, 95% CI -8.23 to -5.69, d = -3.71, p<0.001) and SLGBT gluteal endurance (14.60 s, 95% CI 12.63-16.55, d = 5.01, p<0.001), showing a consistent TRX advantage across all outcomes rather than the split pattern originally hypothesized. As only male college-level cricketers were enrolled, these
Findings: should be interpreted with this population restriction in mind when considering external validity.
Conclusions: TRX produced significantly greater improvement than conventional exercise across all three outcomes-flexibility, lumbopelvic stability and gluteal endurance-in cricket players with LCS. While CE also produced meaningful within-group gains, TRX was the superior intervention on every outcome measured, indicating that TRX should be considered the preferred rehabilitation approach for this population, with CE potentially serving as an adjunct pending further study of combined protocols.