HIP AND SHOULDER COORDINATION DURING THE HANDSPRING FRONT SOMERSAULT ON THE VAULTING "HORSE" AND "TABLE"

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish inter-segmental co-ordination (ISC) during a handspring front somersault performed on the old vaulting horse and new table. Four male international level gymnasts were filmed in 3D performing five trials on separate occasions. ISC of the hip and shoulder joint in three phases (board contact; flight; vault contact) was assessed using continuous relative phase (CRP). CRP variability (CRPsd) and root mean square difference (RMSD) between the old and new vault CRP profiles were also calculated. Small differences existed at key moments (e.g. both board touch downs=155), but the RMSD in the CRP profiles were large (e.g. board contact phase= 27 ). Larger variability on the table than the horse (e.g. CRPsd during vault contact 26% greater) suggests a less stable co-ordination pattern requiring further investigations into devising learning drills for the table.