Estimation of Back Strength, Hip Circumference and Buttock Knee Length and its Correlation with Explosive Power in Indian State and National Level Gymnasts
Abstract
Background: Gymnastics is a skillfull sport. A variety of jumps were undertaken by gymnasts during their daily practice on balance beam, floor exercise and vault. Jumping ability of gymnasts is considered as an overall indicator of gymnastics proficiency. Muscle strength and flexibility as well as body type are contributing factors for successful performance in gymnastics.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted on purposively selected 306 (134 males and 172 females) state and national level gymnasts aged 15-25 years from Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab, India. The subjects were assessed for 3 anthropometric variables, such as, back strength, hip circumference, buttock knee length and two explosive power tests, viz. vertical jump height and standing broad jump.
Results: It was observed that national level gymnasts had significantly (p<0.012<0.001) higher mean values in back strength, hip circumference, buttock knee length, and vertical jump height than their state level counterparts. One way ANOVA analysis showed a significant (p<0.001)between group differences in back strength, hip circumference, buttock knee length, standing broad jump and vertical jump height. The results of inter-correlation matrix of studied variables showed a significant (p<0.045-0.001) correlation of the back strength with all selected traits except standing broad jump in state level gymnasts and vertical jump height in combined group (p<0.020-0.001) and only significant correlation (p<0.001) with standing broad jump in national level gymnasts. However, no correlation of hip circumference is seen with performance tests (explosive power). Also buttock knee length showed positive correlation with performance tests (p<0.021-0.001) in all groups except with standing broad jump in national level gymnasts group.
Conclusion:Anthropometric traits have been linked to performance scores in all apparatuses suggesting marked impact on overall performance and final standing. Motor performance skill tests such as jumps are commonly used to assess the changes in muscle strength and power.
