A Comparison of Upper-Extremity Reaction Forces between the Yurchenko Vault and Floor Exercise

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine reaction forces transmitted to the upper extremities of high-level gymnasts during the round-off phase of the Yurchenko vault. A secondary purpose of this study was to compare reaction forces during the Yurchenko vault to reaction forces observed in a tumbling pass during the floor exercise. Ten high-level, female gymnasts volunteered to participate. Conditions of the independent variable were the Yurchenko vault and floor exercise; dependent variables were peak vertical and peak anterior-posterior reaction forces. Each participant performed three trials of both conditions with the trail hand contacting a force platform. Vertical and anterior-posterior reaction forces, normalized to body weight, were greater (p < 0.05) during the round-off phase of the Yurchenko vault (2.38) than during the floor exercise round-off (2.15). Vertical reaction forces during the round-off phase of the Yurchenko vault and floor exercise round-off are similar to reaction forces transmitted to upper extremities during other gymnastic skills and ground reaction forces transmitted to lower extremities while running and walking at various speeds. Results of this study reveal a need for further research considering methods aimed at reducing reaction forces transmitted to the upper extremities during the Yurchenko vault and floor exercise. Key PointsDespite high difficulty and increased risk, a dearth of information exists concerning reaction forces transmitted to upper-extremities of high-level gymnasts performing the Yurchenko vault.Reaction forces experienced by high-level gymnasts performing the Yurchenko vault are relatively high; aforementioned forces are comparable to forces transmitted to lower-extremities during various activities and may be responsible for upper-extremity injury.Reaction forces observed during this study will serve as a baseline in the evaluation of methods purporting to reduce forces transmitted to upper-extremities during the Yurchenko vault.

Keywords: Gymnastics injuries; biomechanics; ground reaction forces; vaulting kinetics.

Figure 1.

An illustration depicting the general motion of the initial phases of the Yurchenko vault; arrows indicate the location of the springboard and vaulting horse.

Figure 2.

A photograph showing the vaulting area; the ‘Sting’ mat is the thin, blue mat in front of the spring board. The force platform was located directly under the ‘Sting’ mat, indicated by the white rectangle in the center of the ‘Sting’ mat.

Figure 3.

A bi-modal force trace depicting vertical reaction forces (VGRF), normalized to body weight (BW), transmitted to the trail hand and the lead hand during the round-off phase of the Yurchenko vault; this exemplifies instances when the trail hand and the lead hand contacted the force platform.

Figure 4.

A force trace, containing only one peak and normalized to body weight (BW), depicting vertical reaction forces (VGRF) transmitted to the trail hand during the round-off phase of the Yurchenko vault; this exemplifies instances when only the trail hand contacted the force platform.

Figure 5.

Peak vertical reaction forces (RF), normalized to body weight (BW), transmitted to the upper extremities during the round-off phase of the Yurchenko vault and floor exercise compared to previously observed round-offs, back handsprings, and forward handsprings.

Figure 6.

Peak vertical reaction forces (RF), normalized to body weight (BW), transmitted to the upper extremities during the round-off phase of the Yurchenko vault and floor exercise round-off compared to ground reaction forces transmitted to the lower extremities while running at various speeds.

Figure 7.

A comparison of the mean axial force necessary to fracture the distal radius and Yurchenko vault vertical reaction forces observed during the present study. Note the comparable nature of values observed during the present study and values reported by Spadaro et al. (1994) and Myers et al. (1993).