Author(s): KYSELOVICOVÁ, O., SINULINGGA, R.A.1,2, ZEMKOVÁ, E.1, Institution: COMENIUS UNIVERSITY IN BRATISLAVA, FACULTY OF PHYSICAL &EDUCATION AND SPORT, Country: SLOVAKIA, Abstract-ID: 2061

INTRODUCTION:
Aerobic gymnastics is a high-intensity sport requiring exceptional neuromuscular performance. Maintaining this throughout a competitive routine is crucial for technical execution and scoring accuracy. However, little is known about the extent to which such sport-specific exercise influences muscle power. This study investigates the effect of fatigue induced by a modeled-competitive routine on upper and lower body explosive strength in junior and youth female aerobic gymnasts.
METHODS:
Two groups, 9 juniors (age 16.2±1.1y, height 161.4±6.7 cm, body mass 53.9±7.8 kg) and 7 youth female aerobic gymnasts (age 12.9±0.7y, height 159.9±5.3 cm, body mass 49.4±6.6 kg) performed push-ups without countermovement (CM) and with CM, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and drop jump (DJ) before and after their modeled-competitive routine, and after 10 minutes of recovery. The height of the push-ups and jumps, as well as the DJ reactive strength index (RSI), were analyzed.
RESULTS:
There were no significant changes in junior aerobic gymnasts either after the modeled competitive routine or after the recovery phase, i.e., height of the push-up without CM (from 6.8±1.7 cm to 7.7±1.3 cm and 8.3±1.5 cm, p=0.141), height of the push-up with CM (from 9.6±2.3 cm to 9.6±2.4 cm and 9.9±2.1 cm, p=0.960), SJ height (from 26.6±3.5 cm to 27.3±3.5 cm and 27.3±3.5 cm, p=0.874), CMJ height (from 28.2±3.8 cm to 28.8±4.2 cm and 28.7±3.6 cm, p=0.942), and RSI (from 1.01±0.29 to 1.06±0.27 and 0.99±0.35, p=0.863). Similarly, youth aerobic gymnasts did not show any significant changes either after the modeled competitive routine or after the recovery phase, i.e., height of the push-up without CM (from 6.8±2.1 cm to 6.9±2.1 cm and 6.4±1.5 cm, p=0.875), height of the push-up with CM (from 8.7±2.4 cm to 8.3±2.2 cm and 7.9±1.8 cm, p=0.796), SJ height (from 24.0±2.1 cm to 24.4±2.6 cm and 24.8±3.1 cm, p=0.834), CMJ height (from 25.7±2.5 cm to 26.3±3.5 cm and 26.4±3.3 cm, p=0.901), and RSI (from 1.18±0.26 to 1.18±0.18 and 0.98±0.15, p=0.130). In addition, no significant between-group differences were demonstrated pre- and post-exercise or post-recovery.


CONCLUSION:
These findings indicate that the modeled-competitive routine within the final phase of the preparatory training period does not present a strenuous stimulus for either junior or youth aerobic gymnasts that would lead to a significant decrease in their neuromuscular performance. This can be attributed to the high level of physical fitness in both groups, combined with proper periodization and training modeling.
Acknowledgment: This work was supported by the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (No 1/0712/24 and No. 1/0699/26).