Effect of functional training on floor exercise performance of female gymnasts

Abstract

The study was conducted to test the effect of functional training on the floor exercise, 15 sub-elite and elite female gymnasts were randomly selected as subjects for the study. In replacement of their regular conditioning exercises the subjects were asked to perform functional training exercises prepared by the researcher for a period of 16 weeks, 5 days a week, during the evening sessions for 60 to 90 minutes. A pre and post-tests were conducted to measure the performance of the female gymnasts on floor exercise using the standard evaluations prescribed by the federation international gymnastics. The data of the pre and post-tests were statistically analysed using the paired't' test, which stated that there is a significant difference in performance of gymnasts on floor exercise due to functional training. It can thus be concluded that functional training improves the performance of female gymnasts on floor exercise. Its applications can also be extended to improve the performance of gymnasts on other apparatus and can have enhanced applications to training sportsmen for other sports and games as well. Introduction Gymnastics is said to be the mother of all games and sports. It involves a number of big muscle and fine muscle coordination and skills. It is a complete compendium of health and skill related physical fitness components. In the present day a number of training methods and patterns are being developed in order to ensure maximum performance of gymnasts. All trainings have been combined or mixed in order to obtain the required results. All trainings are a combination of various exercises and no single pure form of training has been successful in training gymnasts to their full potential. Currently the fitness industry is engulfed with humongous variety of trainings the more closely related training as the functional and mobility training come into the limelight. Floor exercise is the fourth and last event in the women artistic gymnastics category of participation. Unlike the men artistic gymnastics floor exercise women floor exercise has peculiar features which distinguishes it from the rest of the apparatus. Floor exercise for the women is performed to the music with 90 seconds of tumbling, pivoting, leaping and complex choreography. Women floor exercise is packed with grace, drama, elegance, power, agility, amplitude, coordination and timing. The overall performance of a gymnast is evaluated on the bases of the scores secured by the gymnast on all four apparatus. Hence, the researcher found it essential to work on maintenance and enhancement of performance on floor exercise. The researcher induced functional training with regards to floor exercise apparatus to maintain and enhance the movements of the gymnasts with regards to this particular event. The study was conducted to find out the effect of functional training on the performance of female gymnasts on floor exercise.