TRAINING EFFECTS OF RAPID ROTATIONS IN A ”SOMERSAULT SIMULATOR”

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to analyze training effects in a new training device. State-of-the-art analyses in diving and gymnastics showed an increasing of angular velocity in somersault rotations. Subjects of different ages and performance levels took part in several experiments with the ”somersault simulator”. The investigation was divided in two parts. The differences between the movement in the training device and real situation of competition were analyzed. In the ”somersault simulator” the athletes reached an angular velocity of approximately 700 deg/s. This is similar to a 2 ½ somersault in diving or a double somersault in gymnastics. The experiments demonstrated that with the use of the simulator, the athletes significantly improved the level of vestibular adaptation and visual perception by performing rapid somersault rotations.