Training program application and its effects on Force-Velocity profile and interference on front tuck execution in elite Acrobatic gymnasts: During a special transition period ollowed by a specific preparation and a pre-competitive period

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the vertical Force-Velocity (F-V) profile behavior during the Counter Movement Jump of 1st division and elite Acrobatic gymnasts before and after the application of a training program during a special transition period and its interference in front tuck execution. 28 acrobatic gymnasts from 1st division and elite groups with ages between 11 and 25 years old were randomly divided in top gymnasts control group (CG) (n=4), top gymnasts intervention group (IG) (n=7), base gymnasts CG (n=9) and base gymnasts IG (n=8). MyJump2 was the instrument used to evaluate the F-V Imbalance (F-V Imb). A Mixed Anova for 2 evaluation moments was used for all F-V profile mechanical variables (P≤0.05). Hopkins (2004) effect size (ES) was used to calculate the magnitudes of change. Lastly, front tuck documentation and a survey were used to evaluate the influence of jump height on the front tuck execution perception after the training program (data analyzed through a repeated measures T test). There were no significant differences between all groups over time. However, some of the intra-group variables improved considerably. Base gymnasts IG improved their jump height in 1.06 (1.56) cm and their F-VImb in 23.75 (4.16) % with a ES of -1.19, indicating a 100% probability of a negative effect from the program since our goal was to decrease this value. Although top gymnasts IG F-VImb did not improved, they improved force values in 5.59 (5.47) N/kg with a ES of 1.29 and 90% chances of a positive effect from the program and their jump height in 0.86 (0.05) cm. Lastly, there were significant differences in the IG (P=0.013) in the front tuck execution perception analysis. We concluded that the 9-week training program was effective since even though there were significant differences in intervention groups weights and gymnasts were in a special transition period, the program managed to mitigate these negative effects by improving F-V profile mechanical variables, jump height and gymnasts specific jumping ability associated with this gymnastics discipline.