Evaluation and relation between jump and landing capacity of high level rhythmic gymnasts

Abstract

Jump capacity (Di Cagno et al., 2008; Ferro, 1998; Ferro et al., 1999; Grande et al, 2009; Hutchinson et al., 1998; Kums et al., 2005; Miletíc, Sekulic & Wolf-Cvitak, 2004; Pérez-Gómez at al., 2006; Yi & Kwon, 2005) and landing capacity (Sabick et al., 2006; Mills et al., 2008; Mills et  al., 2009) of gymnasts has been previously measured. The Spanish national rhythmic gymnastics team (n=8) have been evaluated for two times during the 2009 World Championship Preparation Period. The tests were performed on a Kistler piezoelectric force platform (1000 Hz). Gymnasts performed the squat jump test (SJ) and the counter-movement jump test (CMJ) attending Bosco et al (1994) protocols. Ground reaction forces during landing of jump test were measured and also an specific landing test (LT) were performed. The LT consist in a vertical falling down from a height of 45 cm without jump. It was shown an improvement of the jump height (SJ: 11.41%; CMJ: 9.15%) and the Peak Power (SJ: 4.15%; CMJ: 9.67%) from the jump test results. These improvements were greater than those achieved during the 2007 World Championship Preparation Period (Grande et al., 2009). The LT initial evaluation was useful to identify gymnasts with problems in their landing pattern and, after that, to begin with the intervention phase. Eccentric and propioceptive exercises were included in the physical preparation during the intervention phase. After that the second peak vertical force value (F2) characteristic of landing movements has decreased in all the applied tests (SJ: 5.50%, CMJ: 10.75%; LT: 67.06%). To explain the F2 decrease of the LT it must be taken into account the learning process of the test protocol and the awareness process develop with gymnasts.