title: 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.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farana
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jandacka
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uchytil
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zahradnik
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000502:physiology*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult