For many years, young athletes were not expected to incorporate weight training into their overall training programs, and coaches did not put an emphasis on this type of preparation. Retrospective reviews found that weight training can be a safe and effective method of conditioning (Faigenbaum et al., 1996). The aim of this study was to assess if a single session of strength conditioning using weight belts could have a positive influence on leaping ability in young rhythmic gymnasts. Methods Twenty pre-puberal rhythmic gymnasts (age 12±1.6 years) were recruited for this study. The sample was divided into 13 cadets (age 11±0.9 years), and 7 juniors (age 13.7±0.8 years) competing at regional and national level. The gymnasts underwent two testing sessions in which three vertical jumps (Squat Jump, Counter Movement Jump, and Hopping Test) and three technical leaps (Split Leap with Leg Stretched - SL, Split Leap with Ring - R, Split Leap with Back Bend of the Trunk - BBT) were assessed in two conditions: after 15-minute of rhythmic specific strength exercises with and without weight belts at 6% of body mass (Faigenbaum et al., 2006). Leap performances in each of the two types of conditioning exercises were simultaneously evaluated through the Optojump System (focusing on flight time and ground contact time parameters) and by three rhythmic gymnastics judges (score). Results The main effects of categories (cadet and junior) and strength conditioning session (with and without weight belts) on dependent variables (vertical jump and technical leap ground contact time and flight time) were examined by a MANOVA with repeated measures on the second factor (p=0.05). Two factors ANOVA assessed the effect of conditioning and categories on leaping performance evaluated by judge scores (p=0.05). The analyses revealed no significant main effect on jumping performance of strength conditioning session. Significant differences between categories were found for flight time in R after strength exercises with weight belts (cadet 425±40.4ms; junior 464±17.2ms; p<0.05); in BBT after exercises with and without weight belts (cadet 429±26.7ms; junior 459±11ms; p<0.01; 427±32.8ms; junior 457±16.8ms; p<0.05, respectively). No differences were found in vertical jump performance. The judge evaluation was not affected by the protocols of the single session strength conditioning. Discussion A single session of conditioning with weight belts did not modify the jumping and leaping performance in young rhythmic gymnasts, likelihood because the eventual positive effect was counterbalanced by the negative effect of fatigue due to the exposure to unusual dynamic preloads exercises (Duthie et al. 2002). References 1.Faigenbaum AD, Kraemer W, Cahill B. (1996). Strength Cond, 18, 62-75. 2. Faigenbaum AD, McFarland JE, Schwerdtman JA, Ratamess NA, Kang J, Hoffman JR (2006). J Athl Train, 41, 357-363. 3.Duthie GM, Young WB, Aitken DA. (2002). J Strength Cond Res, 16, 530-538.
© Copyright 2009 14th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, Oslo/Norway, June 24-27, 2009, Book of Abstracts. Julkaistu Tekijä The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään. / Kääntänyt https://www.DeepL.com/Translator