How does artistic gymnastics and trampoline gymnastics training affect dynamic balance, abdominal strength, jump performance, and flexibility in adult females?

Abstract

Background: Artistic gymnastics and trampoline gymnastics are an enormously popular group of sports that develops many biomo-tor skills, however, their effect on various aspects of fitness is not sufficiently observed. Objective: The study aimed to determine the effects of artistic gymnastics and trampoline gymnastics training on body composition, balance, jump performance, abdominal strength, and flexibility in adult females. Methods: Fifty-one adult female non-gymnasts (age 19.59 ± 1.58 years, height 160.69 ± 4.74 cm) were randomly assigned to three groups: the artistic gymnastics group ( n = 19), the mini-trampoline gymnastics group ( n = 16), and the control group ( n = 16). The training groups performed either artistic gymnastics or mini-trampoline training twice a week for 12 weeks. The control group only did warm-up exercises twice a week during the study. The measurements to determine the effects of different gymnastics training on body composition, dynamic balance, jump performance, abdominal strength, and flexibility were performed before and after the exercise programs. The pre-test and post-test of the variables of groups were compared using paired sample t -test. A one-way analysis of variance was used for between-group comparisons. Results: Both artistic gymnastics and trampoline gymnastics trainings significantly improved the dynamic balance, vertical and standing long jump, abdominal strength, and flexibility compared to the control group ( p < .05). There were significant differences between the artistic and trampoline gymnastics groups for almost all performance tests ( p < .05), but no significant difference in flexibility tests. Trampoline gymnastics training provided more improvement than artistic gymnastics training in all performance variables except flexibility ( p < .05). Conclusions: The findings of the study indicated that both gymnastics trainings improved all performance variables. However, mini trampoline training seems to be more effective than artistic gymnastics training in all performance variables except flexibility.