Dynamics of maximal strength and strength endurance indicators in rhythmic gymnasts

ˑ: 

E.V. Guseva1
Dr. Hab., Professor O.I. Zagrevskiy1, 2
1National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk
2Tyumen State University, Tyumen

Keywords: rhythmic gymnastics, variation, training system, maximal strength, strength endurance, speed strength, coordination skills, tests

Background. Competitive progress in beginner rhythmic gymnastics is known to depend on the physical fitness [9] on the whole and maximal strength and strength endurance in particular. Rhythmic gymnastics as a high-coordination-intensive sport discipline that gives a special priority to the relevant physical qualities [2, 5, 6]. Youth rhythmic gymnastics is a highly competitive sport and the gymnasts have to fast excel in the movement coordination qualities in every event of the all-around tournaments for success. Modern routines require from the gymnasts demonstrating top movement coordination skills with their perfect timing attained by the optimal, maximal and sub-maximal perfectly controlled efforts. The study was designed to rate the strength endurance and maximal strength versus the routine execution amplitudes, coordination skills, accuracy and artistry with the standard technical and artistry rating scores. Motor skills in the modern rhythmic gymnastics are rather diverse and multisided, with strength qualities ranked among the key competitive success factors [2, 4, 6].

Objective of the study was to profile the maximal strength and strength endurance variations with age in the 6-10 year old female rhythmic gymnasts.

Methods and structure of the study. We made, for the purposes of the study, summaries of the relevant literature and run maximal strength/ strength endurance tests of the 6-10 year old gymnasts’ sample (n=99), with the test data processed by the standard mathematical statistics tools, and with the data array variations rated by the Student's t-test.

Results and discussion. Given on Figure 1 hereunder are left/ right carpal strength test data of the sample – that were found to generally grow with age, with the peak achieved at 8-9 years of age. Thus the right carpal strength rates were tested to grow by 15.6% (p <0.001) by 9 years of age, i.e. by 2.9 kg to 13.0 kg versus the 6-year-olds right carpal strength: see Table 1 hereunder.

Figure 1. Carpal strength test rates of the sample:

. .  Left carpal strength. . . . . . . Right carpal strength

Table 1. Right carpal strength test rates of the sample, kg

Age

Rank

Absolute basic growth

Absolute relevant growth

Basic growth rate, %

Relevant growth rate, %

Basic growth, %

Relevant growth, %

р

6

10,1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7

10,6

0,5

0,5

104,8

104,8

4,8

4,8

> 0,05

8

11,3

1,1

0,6

110,9

105,9

10,9

5,9

< 0,05

9

13,0

2,9

1,8

128,3

115,7

28,3

15,7

< 0,001

10

14,8

4,7

1,8

146,0

113,8

46,0

13,8

< 0,001

Average

1,2

 

110,0

 

10,0

 
 
The left carpal strength test rates were found to vary similar to the right carpal strength: see Figure 1, with the 8-9 year-olds tested with progress in both of the tests peaking by 10 years of age. The year-to-year right and left carpal strength growth was estimated to average 115.6% and 109.5% (p <0.001), respectively, with the left carpal strength peak of 13.8 kg achieved by 10 years of age, with a significant (p <0.001) progress versus that of the 9 year-olds. The maximal basic (versus the 6 year-olds’) right and left carpal strength growth was estimated at 46.0% (4.7 kg) and 40.0% (3.9 kg) and rated significant (p <0.001).

Given on Figure 2 are the strength endurance (straight leg lifts on a gymnastic wall) test data.

Figure 2. Strength endurance test data (straight leg lifts on a gymnastic wall test) of the sample

The strength endurance test rates were found to smoothly grow in the 6-7 year period from 4.6 to 5.1 times; followed by a sag to 4.7 times by 8 years of age, with this timely regress then followed by a sharp and almost twofold growth from 4.7 to 9.9 times in the 8-9 year period; and virtually no progress (plateau) in the 9-10 year period: see Figure 2. Therefore, the strength endurance was tested to fast progress in the 8-9 year period, with the absolute basic significant (p <0.001) growth averaging 5 times.

Conclusion. The study data and analyses showed the 8-9 year period being the most sensitive for the maximal strength and strength endurance trainings in female rhythmic gymnastics. The right and left carpal strength (right and left carpal strength) were tested to grow in the 9- versus 6-year-olds by 46.0% (4.7 kg) and 40.0% (3.9 kg), respectively. Therefore, the sport community is recommended to give a special priority to the 8-9 year period in the training process. It should also be emphasized that the strength endurance was tested to plateau in the 6-8 year period; that means that rhythmic gymnasts’ coaches should make an emphasis on the strength endurance and maximal strength trainings in the most sensitive 8-9 year period.

References

  1. Verkhoshanskiy Yu.V. Fundamentals of special physical training of athletes. Moscow: Fizkultura i Sport publ.. 1988. 331 p.
  2. Wiener-Usmanova I.A., Kryuchek E.S., Medvedeva E.N. et al. Rhythmic gymnastics: history, state and development prospects. Moscow: Chelovek publ., 2014. 200 p. 16 p. vkleyka.
  3. Golovko D.E., Zagrevskaya A.I. Individual kinesiological resource mobilizing in training process. Teoriya i praktika fiz. kultury. 2019. No. 11. pp. 80-82.
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Corresponding author: o.zagrevsky@yandex.ru

Abstract

Objective of the study was to profile the maximal strength and strength endurance variations with age in the 6-10 year old female rhythmic gymnasts.

Methods and structure of the study. We made, for the purposes of the study, summaries of the relevant literature and run maximal strength/ strength endurance tests of the 6-10 year old gymnasts’ sample (n=99), with the test data processed by the standard mathematical statistics tools, and with the data array variations rated by the Student's t-test.

Results and conclusions. The study data and analyses showed the 8-9 year period being the most sensitive for the maximal strength and strength endurance trainings in female rhythmic gymnastics. The right and left carpal strength (right and left carpal strength) were tested to grow in the 9- versus 6-year-olds by 46.0% (4.7 kg) and 40.0% (3.9 kg), respectively. Therefore, the sport community is recommended to give a special priority to the 8-9 year period in the training process. It should also be emphasized that the strength endurance was tested to plateau in the 6-8 year period; that means that rhythmic gymnasts’ coaches should make an emphasis on the strength endurance and maximal strength trainings in the most sensitive 8-9 year period.