Evolution of Body Position in Uneven Bars Routines - Influence of “in bar” elements

Abstract

As a consequence of changes in apparatus structure and Code of Points, gymnasts are using the straight body position more and more in Uneven Bars routines. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the influence of “in bar” elements on body position during Uneven Bars routines. Observational methodology was used to construct and validate two observation categories comprising eleven variables considered as indicators of the external load in uneven bars. 83 uneven bars routines were analyzed from world championship and Olympic Games finals between 1989 and 2004. The principal results we observed were significant increases in the execution of “in bar” elements, with and without longitudinal rotations, as well as in respective difficulty. Straight body position elements increased from 6.45 to 9.71 up to 2001 and decreased to 7.88 by 2004.Close body position elements ranged from 8.15 to 8.21 until 2001 and then increased to 10.94 by 2004. We may conclude that compulsory use of “in bar” elements and their execution beyond Code requirements contradicted the trends towards increased use of straight body positions.