Comparison of Back Handspring Technique Performed by Advanced Artistic Gymnasts – A Case Study

Introduction. The aim of this case study was to compare selected kinematic parameters that characterise the back handspring technique performed by advanced artistic gymnasts. Material and methods. Three elite gymnasts with varied training experience were examined in the study. The athletes performed back handsprings video-recorded at a frequency of 120 Hz. The values of selected kinematic parameters were determined using SkillSpector v.1.3.2 computer software. Results. The most substantial differences between athletes were found in the values of the horizontal velocity of the centre of mass (CoM) at the end of the back handspring. The athlete with the longest training experience achieved values which were three times higher (1.04 m/s) than those obtained by the other two athletes with shorter experience (Gymnast 2: 0.36 m/s; Gymnast 3: 0.37 m/s). The horizontal CoM velocity at the end of the back handspring declined for all the gymnasts, with the smallest decrease observed for the athlete with the longest training experience (two-fold decrease from 1.95 to 1.04 m/s) and the biggest one found for the athlete with the shortest training experience (six-fold decrease from 2.18 to 0.37 m/s). The vertical CoM velocity increased in all the athletes in the consecutive phases of the back handspring; this increase was the biggest for the athlete with the longest training experience (five-fold increase from 0.71 to 3.42 m/s) and the lowest for the athlete with the shortest training experience (three-fold increase from 1.08 to 3.24 m/s). Conclusions. The results obtained in this study demonstrated both similarities and substantial differences in the technique of performing the back handspring in artistic gymnasts with many years of training experience. In most cases, the directions of linear CoM velocities and angular velocities were similar in the joints analysed. Very similar values of angular positions were also obtained. Furthermore, the values which turned out to be the most varied were those recorded for angular velocity.