CHANGE IN THE HEIGHT OF VERTICAL JUMP AS A RESULT OF TARGETED TRAINING IN YOUNG GYMNASTS
Keywords:
artistic gymnastics, adolescent gymnasts, Sergeant test, maximum power, lower limb straightAbstract
Strength, flexibility, and muscular endurance are required in gymnastics, combined with speed and coordination. The results of the studies show that modern gymnasts must have significantly greater strength and power due to the ever-increasing technical difficulties. Explosive muscular strength, that is, the ability to generate muscular work in a short time, and the speed of force production are the basic of gymnastics movement. Tests involving vertical jumps are usually used to assess changes in muscular strength and power. Gymnasts perform various types of jumps in their daily lives, especially on the beam, floor exercises, and vaults. Gymnasts' jumping ability is often associated with successful performance and is sometimes considered a general indicator of gymnastic skill. During training, they perform 1000 to 2000 jumps per week, as part of various acrobatic elements. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of one year of training on the height of the vertical jump in gymnasts. The study involved nine gymnasts from the Pirin-2011 Gymnastics Sports Club, aged 12.4 ± 4.3 years, height 144.6 ± 15.1 cmq and weight 38.7 ± 11.1 kg at the beginning of the study. Measurements were performed twice over a period of one year. Anthropometric measurements and Sergeant test were performed. GraphPad Prism (Ver 3.0) was used for data processing and analysis. Athletes trained twice a day, 5 times week. In the non- competitive period, gymnasts mainly performed strength training (General physical preparation and Special physical preparation), 45 days before the competition, work routines with light difficulty are performed, and thirty days of routines with full difficulty. Height and weight were measured, as well as the height of the vertical jump (Sergeant test) and the maximum power was calculated using the Sayers formula. The results obtained show statistically significant changes in the height and weight of the study group (P value 0.039 and 0.0078, respectively, Wilcoxon signed rank test), as the subjects are at an age of rapid growth and development. There is also a change in the height of the vertical jump and maximum power (P value 0.0156 and 0.0039, respectively, Wilcoxon signed rank test). The conducted research shows that properly structured training leads to an increase in the strength and power of the lower limbs, which is reflected in the results shown in the vertical jump test (Sergeant test). One-year training in gymnastics contributes to a statistically significant increase in the height of the vertical jump, as well as the power calculated with the Sayers formula.
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