Dynamometric instrumentation of the rings for analysis of gymnastic movements.

A. method for measuring directly the force developed on the still rings by gymnasts during gymnastics movements is presented. A load cell is connected in series with one of the ring cables. A motion picture camera filmed, simultaneously, the gymnasts' performances with a front lens and the screen of an oscilloscope, displaying the load cell signal, with a back lens. The system was applied to an analysis of the shoot-to-handstand. Analysis revealed that peak forces of 5 times body weight were generated during performance. Successful performance required large impulse development through the bottom of the downswing. Better performances were associated with greater impulse development during the shoulder extension-hip flexion phase through the bottom of the downswing and the hip extension phase on the upward swing. The large forces developed during performance help explain occasions where the gymnast's hands "peel off" the rings. The resulting fall from the apparatus could cause serious head or neck injuries. When rings movements involving large swings are being learned, the placement of thick "crash" mats under the rings is recommended. (C)1974The American College of Sports Medicine