MECHANICAL SIMILARITIES OF HIGH BAR PROGRESSIONS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was 10 develop a method to rank selected progressions for learning the longswing on high bar. Video recordings of four male international gymnasts performing the longswing and four associated progressions were quantified using 2D DLT techniques. Root mean square differences (RMSD) for hip and shoulder angular displacements and velocities facilitated grouping of the progressions based on overall level of agreement. The progression that was most similar to the 'target' skill was the 'chalked bar pendulum swing', whilst the least similar was the same skill without hip and shoulder 'action'. The method provided a useful means to quantify and rank progressions based on kinematic similarity to the longswing.