KINEMATICS OF GIANT SWINGS ON THE PARALLEL BARS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematics of giant swings on the parallel bars. A secondary purpose was to compare giants executed from a cast to the giants following, and to compare skilled vs. unskilled performances. A total of eight giants were studied. Results showed that, with few exceptions, giant swings performed on the parallel bars exhibit similar motion patterns to giants performed on other apparatuses. Between-apparatus differences in motion patterns at the knee (quantified), elbow and radioulnar (not quantified due to substantial out-at-plane components) joints were attributed to limitations mostly imposed by apparatus design. Skilled vs. unskilled differences-most pronounced at the shoulder joint-were related to both timing and ROM issues.