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The margin for error when releasing the asymmetric bars for dismounts

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journal contribution
posted on 2010-03-26, 15:22 authored by Michael HileyMichael Hiley, Fred YeadonFred Yeadon
It has previously been shown that male gymnasts using the “scooped” giant circling technique were able to flatten the path followed by their mass centre resulting in a larger margin for error when releasing the high bar (Hiley and Yeadon, 2003a). The circling technique prior to performing double layout somersault dismounts from the asymmetric bars in Women’s Artistic Gymnastics appears to be similar to the “traditional” technique used by some male gymnasts on the high bar. It was speculated that as a result the female gymnasts would have margins for error similar to those of male gymnasts who use the traditional technique. However, it is unclear how the technique of the female gymnasts is affected by the need to avoid the lower bar. A four segment planar simulation model of the gymnast and upper bar was used to determine the margins for error when releasing the bar for nine double layout somersault dismounts at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The elastic properties of the gymnast and bar were modelled using damped linear springs. Model parameters, primarily the inertia and spring parameters, were optimised to obtain a close match between simulated and actual performances in terms of rotation angle (1.2°), bar displacement (0.011 m) and release velocities (< 1%). Each matching simulation was used to determine the time window around the actual point of release for which the model had appropriate release parameters to complete the dismount successfully. The margins for error of the nine female gymnasts (release window 43 - 102 ms) were comparable with those of the three male gymnasts using the traditional technique (release window 79 - 84 ms).

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Citation

HILEY, M.J. and YEADON, M.R., 2005. The margin for error when releasing the asymmetric bars for dismounts. Journal of Applied Biomechanics, 21 (3), pp.223-235.

Publisher

© Human Kinetics, Inc.

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publication date

2005

Notes

This article was accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics [© Human Kinetics, Inc.] and the definitive version is at: http://hk.humankinetics.com/JAB/toc.cfm?iss=643

ISSN

1065-8483;1543-2688

Language

  • en