Influence of Sports Science Disciplines on Gymnastics - Essay Example

Influence of Biomechanics on Sports Introduction Sport biomechanics has become the most reliable method in optimizing sports technique. Through biomechanical analysis, it is easy to compare and contrast an athlete’s present technique, provides a holistic approach in understanding biological systems, and applies law of mechanics to study body movements. Biomechanical research in sports science has been an eye opener in understanding kinematic features in athletic movements. All this is aimed at finding long lasting solutions in eliminating injuries and improving athlete performance. However, it is worth noting that some surveys do not provide empirical evidence and a proper theoretical rationale in manner that is easy to understand and link to real world situations. Such contradictory results are attributed to inconsistency in performance evaluation (Ito et al, 2006). The main purpose of this essay is to provide important factors influencing gymnastics in sports as well as how biomechanics can be used in improving performance in athletes. Important factors in gymnastics Injury mechanism and prevention Athletes are exposed to lots of injuries in training and real sports action. For instance, a rotator cuff is exposed to injuries like primary and secondary impingement, tendonitis, rotate cuff tears, and degenerative anatomical changes. According to Cappozzo et al (2005), rotate cuff tears depend on the depth and degree of fiber damage as a result of reduced space between the head and shoulders. Though a small distance, it gives an allowance to these tendons to glide smoothly beneath the acromion. Therefore, reducing the distance leads to increased abrasion between rotator cuff and bicep tendons. Most research findings indicate that poor biomechanics technique applied in training are a major causative agent to such a problem commonly referred to as “reverse scapulohumeral rhythm.” Further studies indicate that acute sudden trauma, impaired sensorimotor function, and poor exercising techniques are among the leading factors that cause rotator cuff tears. Proper biomechanics techniques help in reducing or preventing injuries because they strengthen rotator cuff muscles through a combination of proper training posture (Fortier et al, 2005). Athletes have to undergo a stability program to make sure their periscapular muscles because they are work collaboratively. Musculoskeletal injuries have a mechanical etiology. Therefore, they naturally resist strenuous activity forces but only to an extent they can handle. If a body part is exposed to force that exceeds its capability to resist, there is a likelihood of getting an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Through biomechanics, athletes are in a position to apply tested and approved techniques when straining their bodies during training. A common way of avoiding such injuries is eliminating external loads and applying mental skills to conceptualize and anticipate movements and adhering to internationally recommended training programs to enable muscles adapt to mechanical environment. To understand how biomechanics can be essential in injury prevention, a study to identify ‘iliotibial band syndrome’ (Dugan & Bhat, 2005) was conducted by Hamill, Miller, Noehren, and Davis. The allegation was that most athletes are prone to lateral knee pain, which accounts for 12% of total injuries in athletes. The research findings indicated that the syndrome was as a result of pressure on hips and increased knee internal rotation, which ruptured the iliotibial band. However, researchers concluded that the strain rate exposed athletes to the syndrome more than it was with magnitude of strain. To avoid such injuries, most shoe manufacturers use biomechanics to manufacture shoes light shoes that do not exert a lot of pressure to the ankle while at the same time making sure they ensure athlete stability and motor control. Governing principles Every department in sports has governing principles. This factor is important because it determines the effectiveness and applicability of biomechanics techniques. Seagrave et al (2009, p. 23) insisted that athletes register good performance if they applied cyclic biomechanics techniques because every phase showed an interrelation to the previous phase. Its effectiveness depended on how best athletes performed in the previous or preceding phase. Therefore, qualitative biomechanical analysis aims at identifying and measuring the degree of quality on task execution and not just intensity of the action. In most cases, where there is poor coordination and execution of athlete posture, it is always impossible to execute subsequent phases in a smooth manner. Biomechanics in sports like running has to be incorporated at the very first phase; ground. Improved performance is always realized when keen preparations are made in the first phase because it ensures perfect execution of subsequent phases. Seagrave et al (2009) were of the view that for biomechanics to best apply to runners, modifications had to be made in the quality of the recovery mechanics (23). Communication It has proved to be difficult if there is frequent miscommunication between coaches and athletes. This therefore means that even if biomechanics were to be applied, either party may feel displaced. To breach the gap, biomechanics techniques employed must employ and understandable language for effective communication to occur. Coaches, most a times rely on evaluations to rate and rank athletes’ performance. It is vital for both coaches and trainers to come up with mechanisms that can ease understanding between athletes and them. This is the most effective way of ensuring performance is realized. In addition, biomechanists have been blamed for overlooking athlete needs and thus end up developing programs that are unfit of pose great risk if used. How biomechanics can be used to improve performance Corrective measures Coaches rely on biomechanics information to take corrective measures in order to streamline the athlete’s performance with set targets (Cavagna et al, 1971). This is possible where qualitative analysis is conducted to determine the efficiency and applicability of information in mechanics. Through this, coaches can apply biomechanical methods in every session they interact with an athlete as they monitor changes. When a trainer notices a gymnast struggling to perform and complete a double somersault, qualitative analysis can enable the trainer make decisions based on three suggestions. To enable a gymnast record nice performance, the trainer can request them to jumper higher than their previous attempts, tuck tighter, and be flexible enough to swing arms before jumping. The suggestions have a correlation to the biomechanical principles and effective utilization of such principles can be a sure way of improving performance. Jumping high gives gymnasts amble time to make quick rotations without the fear of crushing into objects on their way back. Swinging hands puts them into motion thus making them to rotate faster in air as well tucking tighter because of the angular momentum caused by swinging hands (Ciacci et al, 2010). From the example, it is evident that biomechanics has a direct effect on skill development and performance. However so many assumptions revolve around biomechanists with the sense that they are the imaginary minds behind every new technique, which might not always be the case (Ch et al, 2006). Discovery of new techniques Quantitative biomechanical analysis methods play a critical role in identifying new and reliable techniques that can be of help in improving athlete performance. In the ‘60s, Ronald Brown and James “Doc” Councilman conducted a series of researches to find out the correlation between lifting hands in water and movement (Cronin & Sleivert, 2005). From their findings, it is evident that when a lift force is applied on the hands of swimmers, it improved their power of propelling through water. This was a breakthrough innovation in swimming sports. Swimmers found a new way of increasing speed in water. Instead of pulling hands in a straight line backward while swimming, swimmers would generate a powerful propulsive drag force by moving hands in a sweeping motion back and forward. Breakthrough innovations by companies like Nike, Puma, and Adidas have transformed the world of sports (Catalfamo et al, 2008). New biomechanics technology used in shoe manufacture is admirable. For instance, most athletes from African countries practice and run barefoot. Using this imagination, sports shoe manufacturers have gone a step further in making sure that experience in running should remain as natural as possible. Biomechanics have enabled them to analyze friction, comfort, durability, grip, stability, and adaptability of their products in order to remain relevant in this field. Conclusion Sports are among the best paying careers in the world. Look at football, marathons, boxing, motorsport, and swimming among others. Many companies have invested in them because of the expected high returns. Therefore, for participants to produce exemplary results there needs to be measures and a welcoming environment during their training. The environment must have equipments that can be of great assistance in training for instance balls for football players, swimming pools for swimmers, and gyms for weight lifters. In those equipments, biomechanics has been employed to make sure athletes are exposed to minimal injuries. Through continuous monitoring, evaluation and trials of scientifically proven training techniques, athletes have registered better results than when they relied on traditional techniques. Using a high resolution approach, athletes have managed to understand the correlation between biomechanical standardized techniques and injury onset when training and thus helping preventing unnecessary injuries. Most epidemiological research findings indicate that runners are likely to get knee injury than in any other place because of ligament straining. The results are among major contributions that have helped biomechanists develop techniques aimed at reducing injuries while at the same time maximizing performance. References Cappozzo, A., Della Croce, U., Leardini, A., & Chiari, L. (2005). Human movement analysis using stereophotogrammetry. Part 1: theoretical background. Gait & posture, 21(2), 186- 196. Catalfamo, P., Moser, D., Ghoussayni, S., & Ewins, D. (2008). Detection of gait events using an F-Scan in-shoe pressure measurement system. Gait & Posture, 28(3), 420-426. Cavagna, G.A., Komarek, L., & Mazzoleni, S. (1971).The mechanics of sprint running. The Journal of Physiology Online, 217, 709-721. Ciacci, S., Di Michele, R., & Merni, F. (2010). Kinematic analysis of the braking and propulsion phases during the support time in sprint running. Gait & Posture, 31(2), 209-212. Čoh, M., Tomažin, K., & Štuhec, S. (2006). The biomechanical model of the sprint start and block acceleration. Physical Education and Sport, 4, 103-114. 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