Musculoskeletal loading during the round-off in female gymnastics: the effect of hand position

Abstract

Chronic elbow injuries from tumbling in female gymnastics present a serious problem for performers. This research examined how the biomechanical characteristics of impact loading and elbow kinematics and kinetics change as a function of technique selection. Seven international-level female gymnasts performed 10 trials of the round-off from a hurdle step to flic-flac with 'parallel' and 'T-shape' hand positions. Synchronized kinematic (3D-automated motion analysis system; 247 Hz) and kinetic (two force plates; 1,235 Hz) data were collected for each trial. Wilcoxon non-parametric test and effect-size statistics determined differences between the hand positions examined in this study. Significant differences (p < 0.05) and large effect sizes (ES > 0.8) were observed for peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF), anterior-posterior GRF, resultant GRF, loading rates of these forces and elbow joint angles, and internal moments of force in sagittal, transverse, and frontal planes. In conclusion, the T-shape hand position reduces vertical, anterior-posterior, and resultant contact forces and has a decreased loading rate indicating a safer technique for the round-off. Significant differences observed in joint elbow moments highlighted that the T-shape position may prevent overloading of the joint complex and consequently reduce the potential for elbow injury.

The influence of hand positions on biomechanical injury risk factors at the wrist joint during the round-off skills in female gymnastics

“…Farana et al (2014) stated that in the more fundamental skills of gymnastics, the high frequency of performance repetition may have a significant influence on injury potential.…”

“…Previous studies investigated upper limb loading and risk factors during the performance of floor fundamental gymnastics skills e.g., back handspring (Davidson et al, 2005;Koh, Grabiner, & Weiker, 1992), front handspring (Exell, Irwin, Godden, & Kerwin, 2012;Exell, Robinson, & Irwin, in press) and round-off (Seeley & Bressel, 2005;Farana et al, 2014).…”

Biomechanical analysis of cross on training and competition

“…Recent investigations on gymnastics have advanced on movement techniques and upper limbs loads reduction, in order to avoid potential injury mechanisms due to repeated forces (FARANA et al, 2015). Observations from a study (FARANA et al, 2014) reduced variability in the parallel hand position, with the combined increased ground reaction forces.…”

“…Other gymnastics studies concerned about measuring and diminish shoulder loads on rings (BREWIN; YEADON; KERWIN, 2000), or analysed the combined kinetics with inverse dynamics analysis on floor exercise movements (FARANA; JANDACKA; IRWIN, 2013;FARANA et al, 2014;FARANA et al, 2015).…”

“…The videos were digitised and data were filtered with a low-pass Butterworth filter, with appropriate cut-off frequency (5. adopted in other specific gymnastic tasks (FARANA et al, 2014;FARANA et al, 2015). Rings cables were defined by a vector from the gymnast's hands to the pivot attachment of the cables, and they were considered undeformable.…”