THE PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF GYMNASTIC-STYLE LANDINGS: UNDERSTANDING AND ALLEVIATING INHERENT PREDISPOSITION

Abstract

T he research aims to develop insight into inherent mechanisms and regulatory strategies contributing to the physical demands of gymnastic-style landings. The use of a modelling approach to examine the interaction of: 1. a performer’s physical profile and self-selected landing strategy and 2: local mass distribution and mass tuning effects on impact loading is presented. Strategy adjustments accommodating inherent physical profiles were found to be essential in ensuring effective load attenuation but were acknowledged as potentially incompatible with current constraints in gymnastic scoring systems. Mass tuning partially alleviated the loading effects of inherent local mass profiles and was considered achievable without substantial alterations in the regulatory movement patterns.