https://doi.org/10.4081/ejtm.2021.9663
Comparison between gymnasts and non-gymnasts in isometric strength of the lower limbs
Submitted: 6 February 2021
Accepted: 5 March 2021
Published: 9 March 2021
Accepted: 5 March 2021
Abstract Views: 1032
PDF: 595
HTML: 8
HTML: 8
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Muscle asymmetries in gymnasts are common and can lead to injury. We aimed to determine differences in hip, knee, and ankle strength between female gymnasts and non-gymnasts, and secondly, to determine the effect of strength training intervention. Fifteen gymnasts (aged 11.19 ± 1.89 years) and 15 non-gymnasts (aged 10.92 ± 1.96 years) performed unilateral isometric maximal voluntary contractions of the hip (extensor, flexor, abductor, adductor, internal and external rotator), knee and ankle flexors and extensors on a dynamometer. Inter-limb asymmetries (ILAs) were compared across strength outcomes (MVC torque) and groups. ILAs was calculated based on the strength measurements. The gymnasts were retested after 8 weeks, during which the participants performed 5 weeks of regular training and 3 weeks of targeted strength training intervention. We found significant differences between groups in most observed hip strength parameters, but not in knee and ankle strength. The intervention did not significantly affect any parameter of ILAs. Gymnasts and non-gymnasts differ in hip strength parameters. A longer intervention program may decrease ILA parameters.
Buckner SB, Bacon NT, Bishop PA. Recovery in level 7-10 Women`s USA Artistic Gymnastics. Int J Exerc Sci. 2017 Sep 1;10(5):734-742. eCollection 2017.
Dwek JR, Cardoso F, Chung CB. MR imaging of overuse injuries in the skeletally immature gymnast: spectrum of soft-tissue and osseous lesions on the hand and wrist. Pediatr Radiol. 2009 Dec;39(12):1310-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-009-1428-x
Root H, Marshall AN, Thatcher A, Valier ARS, Valovich McLeod TC, Bay RC. Sport Specialization and Fitness and Functional Task Performance Among Youth Competitive Gymnasts. J Athl Training. 2019 Oct;54(10):1095-1104.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-397-18
Caine DJ, Knutzen K, Howe W, Keeler L, Sheppard L, Henrichs D, Fast J. A three-year epidemiological study of injuries affecting young female gymnasts. Physical Therapy in Sport 2003; 4: 10–23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1466-853X(02)00070-6
Caine D, Maffulli N, Caine C. Epidemiology of Injury in Children and Adolescent Sports: Injury Rates, Risk, Factors, and Prevention. Clin Sports Med. 2008 Jan;27(1):19-50, vii.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csm.2007.10.008
Frutuoso AS, Diefenthaeler F, Vaz MA, de la Rocha Freitas C. Lower Limb Asymmetries in Rhythmic Gymnastics Athletes. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016; 11: 34–43.
Hart E, Meehan WP, Bae DS, d'Hemecourt P, Stracciolini A. The Young Injured Gymnast: A Literature Review and Discussion. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2018 Nov;17(11):366-375.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000536
Richards JE, Ackland TR, Elliott BC. The Effect of Training Volume and Growth on Gymnastic Performance in Young Women. Pediatric Exercise Science 1999; 11: 349–63.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.11.4.349
Sands WA, McNeal JR, Penitente G, Murray SR, Nassar L, Jemni M, Mizuguchi S, Stone MH. Stretching the Spines of Gymnasts: A Review. Sports Med. 2016 Mar;46(3):315-27.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-015-0424-6
Amaral L, Claessens AL, Ferreirinha J, Dos Santos PRJ. Ulnar variance related to biological and training characteristics, pain and handgrip strength in Portuguese skeletally immature male gymnasts. Journal of Sport Health Science 2013; 4: 174–81.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2013.04.004
Han J, Anson J, Waddington G, Adams R, Liu Y. The Role of Ankle Proprioception for Balance Control in relation to Sports Performance and Injury. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:842804.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/842804
Deley G, Cometti C, Fatnassi A, Paizis C, Babault N. Effects of Combined Electromyostimulation and Gymnastics Training in Prepubertal Girls. J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Feb;25(2):520-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bac451
Hewett TE, Ford KR, Hoogenboom BJ, Myer GD. Understanding and preventing ACL injuries: current biomechanical and epidemiologic considerations - update 2010. N Am J Sports Phys Ther. 2010 Dec;5(4):234-51.
Seegmiller JG, McCaw ST. Ground reaction forces among gymnasts and recreational athletes in drop landings. J Athl Train. 2003 Dec;38(4):311-314.
Slater A, Campbell A, Smith A, Straker L. Greater lower limb flexion in gymnastic landings is associated with reduced landing force: a repeated measures study. Sports Biomech. 2015; 14: 45–56.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2015.1029514
Wade M, Campbell A, Smith A, Norcott J, O'Sullivan P. Investigation of spinal posture signatures and ground reaction forces during landing in elite female gymnasts. J Appl Biomech. 2012 Dec;28(6):677-86.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.28.6.677
Bučar Pajek M, Hedbávný P, Kalichová M, Čuk I. The asymmetry of lower limb load in balance beam routines. Science of gymnastics journal 2016; 8: 5–13.
Čuk I, Marinšek M. Landing quality in artistic gymnastics is related to landing symmetry. Biol Sport. 2013 Mar;30(1):29-33.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1029818
Moresi M, Bradshaw EJ, Thomas K, et al. Intra-limb variability and inter-limb asymmetry in gymnastics jump tests. In: Shiang TY, Ho WH, Huang PC, Tsaj CL, eds. Coaching and sport activities 2013: 31st International conference on biomechanics in sports, 2013 July 7-11, Taipei, Taiwan.
Barber SD, Noyes FR, Mangine RE, McCloskey JW, Hartman W. Quantitative Assessment of Functional Limitations in Normal and Anterior Cruciate Ligament-Deficient Knees. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1990 Jun;(255):204-14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00003086-199006000-00028
Grindem H, Logerstedt D, Eitzen I, Moksnes H, Axe MJ, Snyder-Mackler L, Engebretsen L, Risberg MA. Single-legged hop tests as predictors of self-reported knee function in nonoperatively treated individuals with ACL injury. Am J Sports Med. 2011 Nov;39(11):2347-54.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546511417085
Impellizzeri FM, Rampinini E, Maffiuletti N, Marcora SM. A vertical jump force test for assessing bilateral strength asymmetry in athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Nov;39(11):2044-50.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e31814fb55c
Šarabon N, Kozinc Ž. Telesne asimetrije športnikov in tveganje za poškodbe. Šport 2019; 66: 5–8.
Exell TA, Robinson G, Irwin G. Asymmetry analysis of the arm segments during forward handspring on floor. Eur J Sport Sci. 2016 Aug;16(5):545-52.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2015.1115558
Wu CL, Hao WY, He W, Xiao XF, Li XH, Sun W. Biomechanical and neuromuscular strategies on backward somersault landing in artistic gymnastics: A case study. Math Biosci Eng. 2019 Jun 24;16(5):5862-5876.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3934/mbe.2019293
Maloney SJ. The Relationship Between Asymmetry and Athletic Performance: A Critical Review. J Strength Cond Res. 2019 Sep;33(9):2579-2593.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000002608
Bishop C, Turner A, Read P. Effects of inter-limb asymmetries on physical and sports performance: a systematic review. J Sports Sci. 2018 May;36(10):1135-1144.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1361894
Kabacinski J, Murawa M, Mackala K, Dworak LB. Knee strength ratios in competitive female athletes. PLoS One. 2018; 13: e0191077.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191077
McGrath TM, Waddington G, Scarvell JM, Ball NB, Creer R, Woods K, Smith D. The effect of limb dominance on lower limb functional performance--a systematic review. J Sports Sci. 2016;34(4):289-302.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2015.1050601
Koo TK, Li MY. A Guideline of Selecting and Reporting Intraclass Correlation Coefficients for Reliability Research. J Chiropr Med. 2016 Jun;15(2):155-63.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.02.012
Scattone Silva R, Nakagawa TH, Ferreira AL, Garcia LC, Santos JE, Serrão FV. Lower limb strength and flexibility in athletes with and without patellar tendinopathy. Phys Ther Sport. 2016 Jul;20:19-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2015.12.001
Ujaković F, Šarabon N. Change of Direction Performance Is Influenced by Asymmetries in Jumping Ability and Hip and Trunk Strength in Elite Basketball Players. Appl. Sci. 2020; 10: 6984.
Althorpe T, Beales D, Skinner A, Caputi N, Mullings G, Stockden M, Boyle. Isometric hip strength and s J. trength ratios in elite adolescent and senior Australian Rules Football players: an initial exploration using fixed-point dynamometry. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 2018; 21: S81.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.09.185
Šarabon N, Kozinc Ž, Bishop C, Maffiuletti NA. Factors influencing bilateral deficit and inter limb asymmetry of maximal and explosive strength: motor task, outcome measure and muscle group. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2020 Jul;120(7):1681-1688.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04399-1
Šarabon N, Smajla D, Maffiuletti NA, Bishop C. Strength, Jumping and Change of Direction Speed Asymmetries in Soccer, Basketball and Tennis Players. Symmetry 2020; 12: 1664.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sym12101664
Thompson BJ, Cazier CS, Bressel E, Dolny DG. A lower extremity strength-based profile of NCAA Division I women’s basketball and gymnastics athletes: implications for knee joint injury risk assessment. J Sports Sci. 2017; 36: 1749–56.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2017.1412245
Markström JL, Grip H, Schelin L, Häger CK. Dynamic knee control and movement strategies in athletes and non‐athletes in side hops: implications for knee injury. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2019; 29: 1181–89.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13432
Saeki J, Nakamura M, Nakao S, Fujita K, Yanase K, Morishita K, Ichihashi N. Ankle and toe muscle strength characteristics in runners with a history of medial tibial stress syndrome. J Foot Ankle Res. 2017 Apr 11;10:16.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-017-0197-2
Forkin DM, Koczur C, Battle R, Newton RA. Evaluation of Kinesthetic Deficits Indicative of Balance Control in Gymnasts with Unilateral Chronic Ankle Sprains. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1996; 23: 245–50.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1996.23.4.245
Powers CM, Ghoddosi N, Straub RK, Khayambashi K. Hip Strength as a Predictor of Ankle Sprains in Male Soccer Players: A Prospective Study. J Athl Train. 2017; 52: 1048–55.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-52.11.18
Colclough A, Munro MG, Herington LC, McMahon JJ, Comfort P. The effects of a four week jump-training program on frontal plane projection angle in female gymnasts. Phys Ther Sport. 2018 Mar;30:29-33.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2017.11.003
Piazza M, Battaglia C, Fiorilli G, Innocenti G, Iuliano E, Aquino G, Calcagno G, Giombini A, Di Cagno A. Effects of resistance training on jumping performance in pre-adolescent rhythmic gymnasts: a randomized controlled study. Ital J Anat Embryol. 2014; 119: 10–19.
Ferri-Caruana A, Roig-Ballester N, Romagnoli M. Effect of dynamic range of motion and static stretching techniques on flexibility, strength and jump performance in female gymnasts. Sci Gymnast J. 2020; 12(1), 87-106.
Bogdanis GC, Donti O, Papia A, Donti A, Apostolidis N, Sands WA. Effect of Plyometric Training on Jumping, Sprinting and Change of Direction Speed in Child female Athletes. Sports (Basel.) 2019 May 17;7(5):116.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7050116
Moeskops S, Read PJ, Oliver JL, Lloyd RS. Individual Responses to an 8-Week Neuromuscular Training Intervention in Trained Pre-Pubescent Female Artistic Gymnasts. Sports (Basel.) 2018 Oct 24;6(4):128.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6040128
How to Cite
Čeklić, U., & Šarabon, N. (2021). Comparison between gymnasts and non-gymnasts in isometric strength of the lower limbs. European Journal of Translational Myology, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ejtm.2021.9663
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.