Abstract

Female gymnasts (N=237) grouped by age (7, 10, 13 yrs) representing three levels of intensity of gymnastics training were compared on body size, strength and flexibility. The physical education group represented limited training (approximately 20 hours) prior to testing, the recreational gymnastic group moderate training (approximately 75 hours), and the competitive gymnastic group intensive training (up to 175 hours). The flexomeasure was used to obtain hipflexion scores in a front-to-rear splits test which allowed scoring beyond the 90 deg level. The arm strength test consisted of the overhead pull test with use a spring scale rig. The response of hip-flexibility, relative arm strength and absolute arm strength to increasing gymnastics training was essentially linear across groups with the competitive group having the highest degree of each, the recreation group second, and the physical education group least. Significant differences were also found for body weight with the physical education group heaviest, the recreation group next and the competitive gymnasts the lightest. The results indicate that competitive gymnasts are more flexible, more slender, weigh less and are stronger than recreational and physical education gymnasts. Moreover, the competitive gymnasts were significantly lighter in body weight. This can probably be atributed to the specificity of practice factor for the competitive gymnasts. Competitive gymnasts also experience increased hip flexion extension beyond 90 deg (90 deg being equivalent to a perfect floor splits) with a remarkable 152 deg average being achieved by 13 year old competitive gymnasts. Verf.-Referat