The backward tucked somersault dismount from the high bar, also known as a 'fly-away', is a basic gymnastic skill. While it is a common practice for gymnasts to practice high-difficulty dismounts upon stable execution of basic skills, there is little evidence to support this practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematic differences of the fly-away dismount performed by elite and non-elite gymnasts. Four elite gymnasts (18±3 y; 166.7±4.3 cm, 61.4±10.4 kg) and four non-elite gymnasts (10±1 y; 137±2 cm, 34.6±8.7 kg) volunteered for the study. The sagittal plane of the release action up to the peak of the flight and the landing were recorded by two cameras at 50Hz. Simi Motion was used to digitize 7 markers placed on the gymnast's body. The angular position of the release measured from the handstand, the flexion-extension angles of hip and knee joints at the instants of release and landing, the vertical peak of the flight and the horizontal distance of the hip from the bar at the peak of flight were analysed. The differences in the variables were rank-ordered and a Mann Whitney test was used to compare the ranks for the elite and non-elite gymnasts. The angles of hip and knee joints at the instant of release for the elite gymnasts (Hip=mdn (range)=142°(49); Knee=69°(61)) were different from the non-elite gymnasts (Hip=161°(54); Knee=109° (87)). Vertical and horizontal distances at the peak of the flight were different between elite (Vert Peak=1.4 m (0.8); Hor distance=1.7 m (0.9) and non-elite gymnasts (Vert Peak=0.7 m (0.9); Hor distance=1.2 m (0.3)). To improve the performance of the fly away dismount, non-elite gymnasts should focus on their ability to rotate in a full tucked position stressing flexion of hip and knee joints; and control the increased angular momentum. It is assumed that by employing these strategies, a double rotation fly-away will be mastered more quickly. of 17Br J Sports Med 2013;47:e4

The straight jump is performed by gymnasts of all levels in warm-up routines on the floor and on the beam. Refining this basic skill serves gymnasts when learning high-difficulty jumps. It is common practice for gymnasts to master skills on floor before transferring them onto the beam. The aim of this study was to investigate the kinematic differences of the straight jump on the floor and on the beam performed by county and national level gymnasts. Four county (9±1 y; 133.5±7.6 cm; 29.8±1.9 Kg) and four junior national (13±1 y; 148.5±8.2 cm; 42.8±5.6 Kg) gymnasts volunteered to participate. The straight jump performances were video recorded (80Hz). Simi Motion was used to track nine markers on the gymnast's body. The floor and beam apparatus were instrumented with a pressure mat connected to a digital timer. A 2x2 factorial ANOVA (apparatus x expertise) analysed the following variables: relative angles of shoulder, hip, knee and ankle joints at take-off, peak of the flight and at the minimum vertical displacement of the centre of mass during landing. There was no interaction between apparatus and expertise. There was a main effect of apparatus for shoulder angle at the take-off (fl=132±12°; bm=119±12°), shoulder (fl=154±18°; bm=143±16°) and hip (fl=180±7°; 175±10°) joint angles at the peak of the flight. Expertise showed an effect on the hip joint angle at the take-off (c=164±9°; n= 179±6°) and jump height (c=25.0±7.8 cm; 33.5±4.2 cm). The present study showed that kinematic differences occurred at the instant of take-off between floor and beam and between county and national gymnasts when performing the straight jump, thus some caution should be used in transferring jumping skills from the floor to the beam. Apparatus-specific drills should be used with young gymnast to master these jumping abilities.

Trampolines remain the single best apparatus for the training of aerial acrobatics skills.  Trampoline use has led to catastrophic injuries from poor landings.  Passive injury prevention countermeasures such as specialized matting have been largely ineffective.  Active injury countermeasures such as hand spotting, “throw-in” mats, and overhead spotting rigs provide the most effective methods.  The recent addition of several bungee cords between the ropes and the gymnast’s spotting harness has resulted in altered teaching and coaching of trampoline-related acrobatics.  Bungee cords have eliminated the need for a coach/spotter to manage the ropes during skill learning.  The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the addition of bungee cords with a traditional rope-based overhead spotting rig.  There is a paucity of any research involving trampoline injury countermeasures.  Ten experienced trampoline acrobatic athletes (5 males, 5 females) from the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Aerials National Team performed 10 bounces as high as they could control.  A triaxial accelerometer (200 Hz) characterized 10 bungee cord aided bounces and 10 free-bounces on a trampoline from each athlete.  Bed contact times, peak accelerations, and average accelerations were obtained.  The results supported our hypotheses that the bungee-aided bounces achieved only 40% (average) to 70% (peak) of the free-bouncing accelerations (all ρ < 0.001 and all ƞ2partial >0.092).  The bed contact time was approximately 65% longer during the bungee-aided bounces (ρ < 0.001).  Bungee cords may reduce the harshness of landings on trampoline.

Despite information from world media, worldwide interest in artistic gymnastics has never been assessed. Memberships, equipment and apparel purchases, subscriptions, and other data have been used as indirect substitutes for gauging interest and participation in gymnastics. A readily available tool for assessing gymnastics interest could be of use in uncovering myriad trends. Aim of Study: This study sought to use a relatively new internet search tool called Google TrendsTM (GT) to assess gymnastics interest by records of search terms used in GoogleTM. Methods: GoogleTM searches involve the use of search terms that are recorded and then accessible by GT. As GoogleTM searches provide access to topics of interest nearly anywhere in the world, by anyone with internet access, then using Google TrendsTM, then GT could be used to harvest the number and types of searches involving the search-terms “men’s gymnastics” and “women’s gymnastics.” The tally of the search terms was obtained using filters such as country, region, and others. GT reports the search-term trends by calculating a relative percentage based on a sample of the largest number of specific search-term use during a particular time. Although the relative percentage approach is somewhat awkward, processing large amounts of data may be considered valuable and otherwise unattainable. Results and Conclusions: Results should be interpreted cautiously. However, the analysis revealed a litany of important trends in the worldwide interest in gymnastics.

Nearly every modern Olympic Games has brought astonished comments and criticism of the body sizes of female gymnasts. The comments from laypersons, scientists, journalists, and physicians too often imply that these diminutive athletes are unusually small and possibly unhealthy. Purpose: An extended and updated analysis of the sizes of U.S. female Olympic gymnasts including the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Methods: Official public records from the US Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics of Olympic team members were assessed including height, mass, age, body-mass index (BMI) and team performance rankings. Sixteen Olympic teams with a total of 123 team positions including the alternates were assessed. Trend analyses were conducted using linear and polynomial models. Results: Analyses indicated that since 1956, height, mass, age, and BMI declined at first and then increased, with the exceptions of height and rank. Best regression fits were obtained via 2nd order polynomial equations. Height and rank showed a downward trend throughout the historical period. Conclusion: Female Olympic gymnasts were getting smaller through approximately the 1980s and early 1990s. An upward trend in size variables was then observed through 2008. The addition of the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games data showed that height shifted to a decline from a slight upward trend, and rank continued to decline throughout the historical period.