Article: Athletes’ perception of the causes of injury in gymnastics - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2017 May;57(5):703-10 - Minerva Medica - Journals

The main objective of this paper was to determine the relationship between biomechanical parameters of vault flights with respect to new models of initial vault difficulty values in men’s artistic gymnastic. The study sample included vaults (n=64) and models (n=5) from the 2009 Code of Points (CoP) of the Federation International of Gymnastics (FIG). The dependent variable included all difficulty values ranging from 2-7.2 points, while the sample of independent variables included twelve biomechanical parameters. After implementing the regression analysis, it could be established that the best model derived only the second flight phase with 95% of explained variance.

On a sample of 176 male gymnasts, we analyzed the score of judges from the World Championship in men’s artistic gymnastics, held 2009 in London. The subject of the analysis was the final scores competitors got for the exercises shown in the qualifying competition (C I). Analysis problem was determination of the differences on individual apparatus between judges E1 to E6 and apparatus. The main objective of this study was to determine the reliability of evaluation of judges and whether the current Code of Points (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique, 2009b) should be revised in terms of equalizing score on apparatus. Equality was tested for the achieved D, E and all-around scores on the disciplines of floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar. Vault has the highest D and E scores, while pommel horse the lowest D and E scores. T-tests showed that those two disciplines significantly differ from other disciplines. Reliability were calculated (intraclass correlation coefficient ICR, Cronbach’s alpha, differences in mean E1 to E6 between judges were tested using factor analyses with method first major component. All data was analyzed using SPSS Statistics 17.0. Results show very high reliability (e.g. Cronbach’s alpha range from .94 up to .98)

Background: It is crucial to evaluate children’s motor coordination and strength to identify possible motor deficits on the right or left side of the body. However, whether a distinction exists in children aged 3–6 must be clarified. The goal of the current research was to investigate the differences in motor skills between preschool boys and girls, dominant and non-dominant hands or legs, in children of preschool age. (2) Methods: The present study was conducted on a sample of children (boys, n = 52; girls, n = 52; age range, 3–6 years). Three motor tests evaluated on both sides of the body served as the sample of factors used to measure athletic performance. Leg tapping (15 s), hand tapping (15 s), and a maximal hand grip strength (HGS) test kg. (3) Results: The study’s findings show no statistically significant variations in preschool boys’ and girls’ motor skills. Preschool girls had better results in the right leg tapping than preschool boys t (98) = 2.08; p ≤ 0.04. We found a significant difference between genders aged 3–4, 4–5, and 5–6 years. No correlation was found between the girls’ three variables and age. A small but significant positive correlation was found between dominant hand tapping and age r² (52) = 0.21; p ≤ 0.01, dominant leg tapping and age r² (52) = 0.20; p ≤ 0.01 and dominant HGS and age r² (52) = 0.17; p ≤ 0.01. No noticeable differences were identified when comparing the dominant side with the non-dominant side in each group. The results show that most children prefer to use their right hand and right leg as their dominant sides. (4) Conclusion: The authors of this study focus on the functional (frequency of movements) and dynamic (differences in muscle strength between body sides) elements of asymmetry. Future studies should examine the influence of morphology on performance with the dominant or non-dominant body side.