MANUAL GUIDANCE IN GYMNASTICS: A CASE STUDY

Thomas Heinen; Pia Vinken; Patrick Ölsberg

doi:10.52165/sgj.2.3.43-56

Authors

Thomas Heinen Sport University Cologne, Germany
Pia Vinken Sport University Cologne, Germany
Patrick Ölsberg Sport University Cologne, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52165/sgj.2.3.43-56

Keywords:

sandwich-grip, iliac crest/thigh-grip, movement kinematics, back handspring, back tuck somersault

Abstract

Although the use of manual guidance in gymnastics is widely spread, little is known about the effects of this technique on movement kinematics. The goal of this case study was to evaluate the effects of two manual guidance procedures on movement kinematics of a back handspring and a back tuck somersault following a round-off on the floor. Based on assumptions of high-level coaches it was predicted that the sandwich-grip would have different effects on movement kinematics in both skills than the iliac crest/thigh-grip. We analyzed performance of n = 6 female gymnasts in the two skills with and without guidance. Manual guidance had significant effects on different kinematic parameters in both skills. From our results we concluded, that the sandwich-grip should be applied in the first instance if the coach’s interest is to optimize the angular momentum about the somersault axis and the second flight phase in the back handspring. The optimal guidance procedure in the round-off back tuck somersault routine would be a mixture of both, the sandwich-grip and the iliac crest/thigh-grip.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Arkaev, L. I., & Suchilin, N. G. (2004). How to Create Champions. The Theory and Methodology of Training Top-Class Gymnasts. Oxford: Meyer & Meyer Sport.

Brüggemann, G.-P., Cheetham, P. J., Alp, Y., & Arampatzis, D. (1994). Approach to a biomechanical profile of dismounts and release-regrasp skills of the high bar. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 10, 291-312.

Brüggemann, G.-P. (2000). Sport-related spinal injuries and their prevention. In V. Zatsiorsky (Ed.), Biomechanics in Sport: Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention (pp. 550-576). Oxford: Blackwell Science.

Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.). New York: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Davlin, C. D., Sands, W. A., & Shultz, B. B. (2004). Do gymnasts "spot" during a back tuck somersault? International Sports Journal, 8, 72-79.

Dowdell, T. (2010). Characteristics of effective gymnastics coaching. Science of Gymnastics Journal, 2(1), 15-24.

Enoka, R. M. (2002). Neuromechanics of human movement (3rd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Gerling, I.E. (2009). Teaching Children’s Gymnastics (2nd ed.). Maidenhead, UK: Meyer & Meyer Sport Ltd.

Hay, J. G., Wilson, B. D., & Dapena, J. (1977). A computational technique to determine the angular momentum of a human body. Journal of Biomechanics, 10, 269-277.

Heinen, T., Pizzera, A., & Cottyn, J. (in press). When is manual guidance effective for the acquisition of complexe skills in gymnastics? International Journal of Sport Psychology.

Knoll, K. (1999). Entwicklung von biomechanischen Messplätzen und Optimierung der Sporttechnik im Kunstturnen [Development of biomechanical measuring stations and optimization of movement technique in gymnastics]. Cologne: Sport und Buch Strauss.

Knudson, D. V., & Morrison, C. S. (2002). Qualitative Analysis of Human Movement (2nd ed.). Champaign: Human Kinetics.

Kwon, Y.-H. (1996). Effects of the method of body segment parameter estimation on airborne angular momentum. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 12, 413-430.

Lundbrook, J. (1998). Multiple comparison procedures updated. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 25, 1032 – 1037.

Mackrous, I., & Proteau, L. (2007). Specificity of practice results from differences in movement planning strategies. Experimental Brain Research, 183, 181-193.

McAuley, E. (1985). Modeling and self-efficacy: A test of Bandura's model. Journal of Sport Psychology, 7, 283-295.

McNitt-Gray, J. L. (2000). Musculoskeletal loading during landing. In V. Zatsiorsky (Ed.), Biomechanics in Sport: Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention (pp. 523-549). Oxford: Blackwell Science.

Mikromak. (2008). WINanalyze 3D (ver. 2.1.1). Berlin, Germany.

Rosamond, E. L., & Yeadon, M. R. (2009). The biomechanical design of a training aid for a backward handspring in gymnastics. Sports Engineering, 11(4), 187-193.

Proteau, L. (1992). On the specificity of learning and the role of visual information for movement control. In L. Proteau & D. Elliott (Eds.), Vision and Motor Control (pp. 67-103). Amsterdam: Elsevier B.V.

Sands, W.A. (1996). How effective is rescue spotting? Technique, 16(9). 14-16.

Schmidt, R. A., & Lee, T. D. (2005). Motor Control and Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Wulf, G., & Shea, C.H. (2002). Principles derived from the study of simple skills do not generalize to complex skill learning. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 9(2), 185-211.

Yeadon, M.R. (1990). The simulation of aerial movement. III. The determination of angular momentum of the human body. Journal of Biomechanics, 23, 75-83.

Yeadon, M. R., & King, M. A. (2002). Evaluation of a torque driven simulation model of tumbling. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 18, 195-206.

Yeadon, M. R., & Morlock, M. (1989) The appropriate use of regression equations for the estimation of segmental inertial parameters. Journal of Biomechanics, 22, 683-689.