Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

5-3-1973

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discover kinematic relationships (including paths of the centers of gravity, positions of the rings, angular relationships between body segments, velocities and accelerations) between the bent and straight arm giant swings on the still rings, utilizing cinematographical analysis. Motion picture analysis of one subject performing both skills was the procedural methodology. The subject was the alternate to the 1972 Olympic Gymnastics Team and was competent in executing both giant swings. All filming was done by a professional photographer in The University of New Mexico workout gymnasium. A two­camera approach, both front and side views, was utilized in filming the skills, and both lenses were set at ring height to avoid distortion. Body markings were made on the subject denoting hip, knee, and ankle joints. Many estimations had to be made by the investigator, especially of the shoulder joint, due to the great range of motion involved. Previous to filming, body measurements were taken of the head, upper arm, forearm, trunk, thigh, and lower leg segments. A timer was constructed making use of a variable speed turntable and an inverted bucket marked so that, as each point passed separate reference lines visible by both cameras, .1 of a second elapsed. After warming up, the subject executed four trials of the bent arm and three trials of the straight arm giant swing. From the film, three judges determined that the fourth trial of the bent arm and second trial of the straight arm were equally high in performance. After the filming, gross body tracings with segmental connections were made from the projected film on a Recordak Model P-40, every .1 of a second which was every sixth frame. Results were figured on a comparative basis between the bent and straight arm giant swings. Kinematic elements previously outlined were graphed, and those graphs were analyzed on an interrelated basis where appropriate. The following conclusions were found:

1. The path of the center of gravity in both skills traveled in a clockwise direction, but the body swing was in a counter-clockwise direction.

2. The descents of the two giant swings were almost identical.

3. The paths of the rings indicated a delay in ring movement during the first part of the straight arm ascent.

4. In the last half of the ascent, the rings went farther to the sides in the straight arm, but not farther behind the vertical.

5. In both skills the rings were turned outward (supination of the forearm and outward rotation of the humerus), then inward (pronation of the forearm and inward rotation of the humerus) until the completion of the descent. On the ascent the rings were again rotated outward, then inward as the shoulders reached ring height until the final handstand position was attained.

6. In the bent arm ascent the subject decreased body radius to increase angular velocity by elevating the chest and stomach, piking at the hip, bending the knees slightly, and bending the arms.

7. In the straight arm ascent the subject decreased body radius to increase angular velocity by attaining a longer and deeper pike at the hip. This occurrence was accompanied by a delayed elevation of the trunk and rounding of the shoulders at the bottom of the swing.

8. Head position did not appear to be a critical difference between the two skills.

9. Velocities and accelerations indicated a slight delay of the legs before the tap at the bottom of the straight arm swing.

10. At the beginning of both ascents a great amount of deceleration was evident, indicating that a tremendous amount of resistance had to be overcome by the gymnast.

11. From the time the shoulders reached ring height in both skills, the velocities and accelerations in all joints were greater in the straight arm giant swing.

12. Based on the kinematic data in this study, given minimal velocity parameters not estimated in this research, if a gymnast can execute a bent arm giant swing, he can perform a straight arm giant swing with a few technical adjustments.

Sponsors

The Student Research Allocations Committee of The University of New Mexico

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Science

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

Armond Harold Seidler

Second Committee Member

David Herbert Hunt

Third Committee Member

Martin Burlingame

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