THE INFLUENCE OF STRENGTH ON THE GYMNASTS' SUCCESS IN PERFORMING VAULT

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of absolute and relative strength of the muscles of the legs, upper arms and shoulder girdle on the success of performing vault with gymnasts aged 13 to 16 who have been training gymnastics from five to 12 years. The Japanese digital dynamometer IMADAZ2H-1100 with WinWedge 3.4 software was used to estimate the absolute strength of the leg, upper arm and shoulder girdle muscles. The values shown on the digital meter represented the absolute value of the maximum force, and when the absolute value of the force was divided by the weight of the participant, the value of the relative force was obtained. Regression analysis was used to determine the influence of absolute and relative strength of leg muscles, upper arm and shoulder girdle on the success of performing vault. The results showed that although there is an influence of the above muscles, it is not statistically significant. Specifically, for a successful performance on the vault, the muscles of the shoulder girdle have the greatest influence (without statistical significance). The reason for the results obtained in this way lies in the fact that the phase of flight and landing depends on the support phase and the repulsion from the vault. As there are few research studies on the subject of this paper, regardless of the obtained results, this research represents a good foundation and basis for some future research of absolute and relative strength in artistic gymnastics.

Full text

Paunović M. et al.: THE INFLUENCE OF STRENGTH ON THE GYMNASTS' SUCCESS… Vol. 14, Issue 2: 173 - 183
Science of Gymnastics Journal 173 Science of Gymnastics Journal
THE INFLUENCE OF STRENGTH ON THE GYMNASTS’
SUCCESS IN PERFORMING VAULT
Miloš Paunović, Saša Veličković, Tomislav Okičić, Stefan Jović and Dušan
Đorđević
Faculty of Sport and Physical education, University of Niš, Serbia
Original article DOI:10.52165/sgj.14.2.173-183
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the influence of absolute and relative strength of the
muscles of the legs, upper arms and shoulder girdle on the success of performing vault with
gymnasts aged 13 to 16 who have been training gymnastics from five to 12 years. The Japanese
digital dynamometer IMADAZ2H-1100 with WinWedge 3.4 software was used to estimate the
absolute strength of the leg, upper arm and shoulder girdle muscles. The values shown on the
digital meter represented the absolute value of the maximum force, and when the absolute value
of the force was divided by the weight of the participant, the value of the relative force was
obtained. Regression analysis was used to determine the influence of absolute and relative
strength of leg muscles, upper arm and shoulder girdle on the success of performing vault. The
results showed that although there is an influence of the above muscles, it is not statistically
significant. Specifically, for a successful performance on the vault, the muscles of the shoulder
girdle have the greatest influence (without statistical significance). The reason for the results
obtained in this way lies in the fact that the phase of flight and landing depends on the support
phase and the repulsion from the vault. As there are few research studies on the subject of this
paper, regardless of the obtained results, this research represents a good foundation and basis
for some future research of absolute and relative strength in artistic gymnastics.
Keywords: vault, gymnasts, absolute strength, relative stregnth.
INTRODUCTION
In addition to swimming and athletics,
artistic gymnastics is one of the basic sports
and represents a type of sports competition
that reaches the highest level of artistic
achievement (Petkovic, Velickovic,
Petkovic, Hadzi – Ilic, i Mekic, 2013).
Under the generic name "gymnastics", FIG
(Federation International Gymnastics) with
regulations regulate a large part of activities
based on training, education and activities
that will emphasize the physical and
mental characteristics of the athlete
regardless of race, religion, age, his or her
social status.
Due to the existence of several types
of gymnastics, gymnastics today must be
used with a prefix in order for the term to be
clearly defined (Petkovic, 2011). "Under
artistic gymnastics, the widest audience
experiences sports, conceptually defined as
a competitive discipline, with polystructural
content (exercises are performed in all three
planes of movement and around all three
axes of rotation) of acyclic type and strictly
defined rules as a convention in practice".
These exercises are usually performed in
anaerobic conditions, with the aim of
showing the form of movement and making
a visual impression (Petkovic, Velickovic,
Petkovic, Hadzi – Ilic, i Mekic, 2013, pg.
12).

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The vault, present in both men and
women gymnastics, is one of the more
attractive apparatuses. Gymnasts start
vaulting from a calm position, with their
legs joined at a maximum distance of 25
meters from the apparatus, where the first
step or jump is counted as the beginning of
performing a vault. It consists of two
phases: the first phase is the flight from the
springboard to the support on the vault, and
the second phase includes the flight phase,
from pushing from the vault to landing on
both feet (FIG, 2017). The gymnast is
obliged to perform one vault. But in
qualifications for finals and in the finals on
the vault, two vaults are performed from
two different groups and with a different
second phase of the flight. Each vault can
have one or more rotations around both axes
of the body, or it can be performed without
rotation (Petkovic, Velickovic, Petkovic,
Hadzi – Ilic, i Mekic, 2013).
There are a number of definitions of
motor abilities. Findak (1999) and Prskalo
(2004) similarly defined motor abilities as
latent motor structures responsible for an
infinite number of manifest reactions,
which can be measured and described.
Milanovic (2009) defined motor abilities as
the ability of the body to realise all types of
movements. Malacko and Popovic (2001,
pg. 26) state that "motor abilities are latent,
they cannot be measured directly but
indirectly, which means that only motor
reactions, i.e., manifestations of different
units of measurement, can be measured
directly". Milanovic (2009) states that
according to Meinel (1977), it is a complex
structure of quantitative (strength, speed,
endurance, flexibility) and qualitative
(coordination, agility, balance and
precision) motor abilities (Badric, Sporis,
Trklja, and Petrovic, 2012).
Most experts (Kurelic et al., 1975;
Kukolj, Jovanovic, and Rupert, 1992; Nicin
and Kalajdzic 1996) agree that in the latent
space of basic motor abilities, the following
features stand out:
− strength,
− coordination,
− endurance,
− speed,
− flexibility,
− balance, and
− precision.
Many authors have tried to define
strength in the most adequate way by using
different starting points. Thus, Opavski
(1971, p. 169) identifies strength with force
and says that "force is the ability to
transform muscular tension in the
composition of motor units into a kinetic or
potential form of mechanical energy". In
anthropomotorics, the term strength is
defined as a human trait, i.e., its ability to
overcome some external resistance or to
oppose it with the help of muscular strains
(Nicin, 2000). Strength represents the work
of muscles in a unit of time against the force
of gravity in overcoming the resistance
offered by muscle contraction (Ugarkovic,
2004). Stone (1993) and Sif (2001) defined
muscular strength as the ability to exert
force on an external object or resistance.
The most common criterion for classifying
motor ability strength is the ratio of the
magnitude of the force exerted to the mass
of the body. It can be isolated on this basis
of:
− absolute strength (maximum muscle
strength that a person can develop with
his/her overall muscle mass), and
− relative strength (amount of strength
that a person can develop per kilogram of
his/her weight) (Stojiljkovic, 2003).
The aim of the study was to determine
the influence of absolute and relative
strength of the muscles of the legs, upper
arms and shoulder girdle on the success of
performing vault in gymnasts aged 13 to 16
years.
In previous research studies related to
vault, the authors have examined a variety
of variables. Scharer, Lehmann, Naundorf,
Taube & Hubner (2019) examined the
relationships between run-up speed; the
degree of difficulty (D-score); height and
length of flight on the vault in artistic
gymnastics for handspring; Tsukahara and
Yurchenko-style vaults, and compared the

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performances of male and female elite and
junior athletes during the 2016 European
Championships. The results showed that for
females, the run-up velocity correlated
significantly with the difficulty (D) score
and the height of flight for all vaulting styles
(r ≤ 0.80). In males, the run-up velocity
correlated significantly with the D-score,
height and length of flight of Tsukahara (r
≤ 0.69) and Yurchenko vaults only (r ≤
0.65). Males reached 8–9% higher run-up
velocity performing handspring and
Tsukahara vaults than females, but similar
run-up velocity performing Yurchenko
vaults. Both male and female elite gymnasts
achieved higher run-up speeds than junior
gymnasts. The authors concluded that the
knowledge of the required run-up velocity
for each vault helps coaches to estimate
each athlete’s potential and/or to focus the
training on developing the required physical
qualities. A similar group of authors
(Scharer, Haller, Taube & Hubner 2019)
examined “Physical determinants of vault
performance and their age-related
differences across male junior and elite top-
level gymnasts” with the aim to: 1)
investigate interrelations between difficulty
value (D-score) and run-up kinematics of
handspring/Tsukahara and Yurchenko
vaults as well as lower body power (25m-
sprint, explosive and reactive strength) and
2) to explore age-related differences of
these parameters across junior and elite
gymnasts performing
handspring/Tsukahara vaults. On a sample
of 47 top-level male elite and junior
gymnasts aged 14.3 to 28.3, results showed
that D-scores for handspring/Tsukahara (n
= 33) were strongly correlated with the run-
up speed. There were no significant
relationships with the D-score for
Yurchenko (n = 14). Looking at the age-
related differences for
handspring/Tsukahara, D-scores increased
significantly from the junior to the elite
level (+11.6%; p < 0.01). The comparison
between consecutive age groups revealed
that the U19 group had higher run-up
speeds, step lengths, body weights and
heights than the U17 group, while the U21
group achieved significantly higher speeds
(run-up, 25m-sprint) and explosive strength
than the U19 group. They concluded that 1)
the optimization of important physical
determinants may increase the potential to
perform more difficult
handspring/Tsukahara vaults, and 2) first
growth and maturation and later
improvements of lower body power led to
higher run-up speeds for
handspring/Tsukahara in the subsequent
age-group. Atiković, Kazazović,
Kamanješavić and Nožinović-Mujanović
(2019) examined the correlation of
biomechanical parameters and the vault
start value in men's artistic gymnastics. Tha
aim of their research was to determine the
correlation between the vault start value and
the run-up velocity, the first flight phase,
the table support, and the second flight
phase. In the correlation matrix, the criteria
variables from the Code of Points FIG
MAG (2017-2020) effected a statistically
significant postive correlation with two
variables: run-up velocity on springboard
and the second flight phase, but a negative
correlation with two other variables, i.e., the
first flight phase and vault support. The
authors concluded that there were no
differences in the values in relation to the
two cycle Code of Points. Hwang, Kim,
Choi and Choi (2020) dealt with ”Dynamic
modelling for the second flight phase of the
Yurchenko layout vault based on msc.
Adams”. They used a 3D angle-driven
computer simulation model of a gymnast
who performs the Yurchenko layout vault
using ADAMS software. Their results
showed that increasing the initial horizontal
velocity resulted in an increased horizontal
flight distance, but had no connection with
the duration of the flight and the angle of
twists. The overall angle of twists is
concerned with initial vertical velocity and
angular velocities about the transversal and
longitudinal axes. Also, increasing the
initial vertical velocity and angular velocity
about the transverse axis leads to an
increase in the touchdown angle between

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the ground’s horizontal axis and the
gymnast’s longitudinal axis.
In previous studies related to the
strength in artistic gymnastics, authors have
examined a variety of variables on a sample
of respondents of different ages. The aim of
the research of Kochanowicz et. all (2018)
was to demonstrate the differences between
non-athletes and gymnasts in the
development of peak torque (PKTQ) in the
pre- and post-pubertal age. They also
examined the flexion/extension ratios at the
elbow and the glenohumeral joints, as well
as the relevance of the above activities for
the co-activation of selected muscles. On a
sample of 20 gymnasts and 20 non-athletes
aged 8-9 years, in addition to 12 gymnasts
and 16 non-athletes aged 18-25 years, the
results showed that in the group of older
gymnasts the PKTQ ratio of the
glenohumeral flexors to extensors was the
lowest (0.72) and was significantly different
from the other groups. This result was
consistent with the 30% higher PKTQ
values (P<0.01) of the glenohumeral
extensors and a 41% reduction in their
EMG in flexion in comparison to non-
athletes. Scharer et. all (2021) examined
“Maximum strength benchmarks for
difficult static elements on rings in male
elite gymnastics”. Subjects performed a
concentric (1RM isoinertial) and eccentric
(isokinetic: 0.1 m/s) conditioning strength
test for the swallow/support scale (supine
position) and inverted cross (seated
position) on a computer-controlled device
and a maximum strength test maintaining
these elements for 5s on the rings with
counterweight or additional weight. Results
showed high correlation coefficients
between the conditioning maximum
strength for the swallow/support scale (r:
0.65 to 0.92; p < 0.05) and inverted cross (r:
0.62 to 0.69; p > 0.05) and maximum
strength for the elements on the rings.
Strength benchmarks varied between
56.66% (inverted cross concentric) and
94.10% (swallow eccentric) of body
weight. They concluded that differences in
biomechanical characteristics and technical
requirements of strength elements on rings
may (inter alia) explain the differences
between correlations. Dallas, Kirialanis,
Dallas and Mellos (2017) dealt with effects
of training maximal isometric strength on
young gymnasts. Subjects (57 gymnasts
and 74 non-gymnasts) were tested for
isometric strength during force flexion and
extension of the upper and lower limbs
during a 5-second maximal voluntary
isometric strength test for the right and the
left side respectively. The results showed
significant differences between gymnasts
and non-gymnasts (p<.05). Further,
significant interaction revealed: a) for the
right side with respect to the force flexion at
the elbow and shoulder joints; b) for the left
side with respect to the force flexion for the
elbow, shoulder and hip joint, c) with
respect to the force extension of the right
side for the elbow, shoulder, hip and knee
joints, d) for the extension of the left side
for elbow, shoulder, and hip joints. In
conclusion they indicated that such results
should be considered by trainers seeking to
improve the strength and overall training
level of their athletes. Čeklić and Šarabon
(2021) conducted a research study aiming to
determine the differences in hip, knee, and
ankle strength between female gymnasts
and non-gymnasts, and secondly, to
determine the effect of strength training
interventions. Over the period of 8 weeks,
the participants underwent 5 weeks of
regular training and 3 weeks of targeted
strength training intervention. After eight
weeks, they were retested. It was found that
there were significant differences between
the two groups in the most observed hip
strength parameters, but not in the knee and
ankle strength. The intervention did not
significantly affect any parameters of ILAs.
Gymnasts and non-gymnasts differ in hip
strength parameters. In conclusion, the
authors stated that a longer intervention
program might decrease the ILA
parameters. Qomarrullah, Kristiyanto,
Sugiharto and Hidayatullah (2018)
examined the dominant factors of physical
ability determining the achievement of

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artistic gymnastic techniques on the vault.
The aim of the study was to analyze the
relationship between the physical ability
factor of running speed, the strength of leg
muscle, arm muscle, abdominal muscle, and
balance in the vault technique. The results
showed that the speed and the running
factor had no significant influence; while
the leg muscle strength, the arm muscle
strength, and the abdominal muscle strength
had a significant effect. The most dominant
factor of physical ability in the vault
technique is the leg muscle strength, while
the influence of the running speed is the
lowest.
METHODS
The sample of respondents included 29
gymnasts (Table 1) from eight countries
participating in the international
tournament "Laza Krstic and Marica
Dzelatovic" in Novi Sad, aged 13 to 16, who
have practiced gymnastics from five to 12
years. The research was approved by the
Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Sports
and Physical Education, University of Nis,
and was conducted in accordance with the
Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical
Association 2013).
The Japanese digital dynamometer
IMADAZ2H-1100 with WinWedge 3.4
software was used to estimate the absolute
strength of the leg, upper arm and shoulder
girdle muscles. The values displayed on the
digital meter represented the absolute value
of the maximum force. When the absolute
value of the force was divided by the weight
of the participants, the value of the relative
force was obtained. A scale (Gorenje) was
used to estimate body weight and the results
were recorded in kilograms (kg).
Table 1
Sample of respondents.
Age
Training
internship
Body
weight
MIN
13
5
31
MAX
16
12
64
Mean
14.62
8.14
47.25
The measurement of the absolute force
of the leg, upper arm and shoulder girdle
muscles was performed immediately before
the competition, so that it did not affect the
outcome of the competition. To estimate the
maximum force, the following features
were measured: the maximum force of the
leg extensors, the maximum force of the
flexor muscles of the upper arm and the
maximum force of the shoulder girdle
muscles. The results (final score on vault)
from the international tournament "Laza
Krstic and Marica Dzelatovic" were used as
an indicator of the success in performing
vault.
To measure the maximum force of the
leg extensors, the subject holds a
dynamometer behind and below the back,
with the knees in slight flexion and the feet
spaced hip-width apart (Figure 1). The
chain connecting the stand to the digital
force meter is fully tightened. The subject
pulls the dynamometer from the starting
position with evenly extended arms with the
strength of the extensor muscles of the
lower extremities, during which he
performs the movement of the extension in
the knee joint. The result is measured in
Newtons (N).
Figure 1.Leg extensors measurement.
To measure the maximum force of the
upper arm muscles, the subject holds a
dynamometer in front of him with a flexion
in the elbow joint of 90 degrees (Figure 2).
The feet are hip-width apart and the chain
connecting the stand to the digital force
meter is fully tightened. The subject pulls

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the dynamometer from the initial position
evenly with both hands with the strength of
the flexor muscles of the upper arm, during
which he performs the movement of flexion
in the elbow joint. The result is measured in
Newtons (N).
Figure 2. Upper arm muscles measurement.
To measure the maximum force of
the shoulder muscles, the subject holds a
dynamometer in front of him, arms
outstretched with an angle of 90 degrees
between the arms and the torso (Figure 3).
The feet are hip-width apart and the chain
connecting the stand to the digital force
meter is fully tightened. The subject pulls
the dynamometer from the initial position
evenly with both hands with the strength of
the shoulder girdle muscles, during which
he performs the ante-flexion movement in
the shoulder joint. The result is measured in
Newtons (N). The description of the test
was taken from Dopsaj, 2010.
Figure 3.Shoulder muscles measurement.
The sample of variables consisted of:
− final score on vault (DVAL),
− absolute leg muscle strength
(ASLE),
− relative leg muscle strength
(RSLE),
− absolute strength of the upper arm
muscles (ASBI),
− relative strength of the upper arm
muscles (RSBI),
− absolute strength of the shoulder
girdle muscles (ASSH),
− relative strength of the shoulder
girdle muscles (RSSH).
Statistical procedures corresponding to
the problem under investigation were used
for data processing. First, for each variable,
descriptive parameters were calculated as
follows:
− minimum value (MIN),
− maximum value (MAX),
− range (RAN),
− arithmetic mean (ARM),
− standard deviation (STD),
− skewness (SKE),
− kurtosis (KUR),
− Kolmogorov smirnov Z test (p).
Regression analysis was used to
determine the influence of absolute and
relative strength of the leg, upper arm and
shoulder girdle muscles on success in
performing vault. For this purpose, the
following were calculated: standardized
values of the regression coefficient – Beta,
standardized tests of the significance of the
regression coefficient – t, the level of
significance of the standardized regression
coefficient – p, coefficient of determination
– R2, adjusted coefficient of determination
– R2 adjust, standard error estimate – Std.
Err. Est., significance test of multiple
regression analysis – F, significance level of
multiple correlation – p. The statistical
program "SPSS v20" was used for statistical
data processing.
RESULTS
Based on the obtained measurement
results, adequate statistical procedures were
applied.
Table 2 shows the basic statistical
parameters of descriptive statistics and

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Tables 3 and 4 show the regression analysis
of absolute and relative strength, both sets
of applied variables and for each variable
separately.
Examining the results of descriptive
statistics, it can be concluded that the results
are normally distributed, as indicated by the
values of skewness and kurtosis. The
normality of the distribution of results is
also confirmed by the values of Kolmogor's
Smirnov Z test, which are higher than 0.05
for all applied variables.
The results of the regression analysis
for absolute strength indicate that although
there is an influence, it is not statistically
significant, either for each variable
separately (ASLE .290, ASBI .895, ASSH
.074) or for a set of variables (p=.239). The
values of the Beta coefficient indicate that
there is a very small influence of leg
muscles (ASLE -.296), slightly larger of
shoulder girdle muscles (ASSH -.572), and
almost no influence of the muscles of the
upper arm (ASBI .031); none of them have
any statistical significance. The values of
the coefficient of determination agree with
these results (R2=.152) and an adjusted
coefficient of determination (R2adjust=.051),
which indicates a very small correlation
with no statistical significance.
The influence of relative strength in
relation to the absolute is greater, but
without statistical significance, both for
each variable separately (RSLE .166, RSBI
.544, RSSH .060) and for a set of variables
(p=.258). Beta coefficient values indicate a
very small influence of the upper arm
muscles (-.144), small influence of leg
muscles (-.322) while the influence of the
shoulder girdle muscles is larger (.525) and
amounts to 52.5%. The values of the
coefficient of determination (R=.146) and
the adjusted coefficient of determination
(R2adjust =.044) also support the previously
mentioned results, which, as with absolute
strength, indicate a very small correlation
without statistical significance.
DISCUSSION
The aim of this study was to examine
the influence of absolute and relative
strength of the leg, upper arm and shoulder
girdle muscles on the success of performing
vault with gymnasts aged 13 to 16 years.
The results showed that although there is
some influence of the abovementioned
muscles, it is not statistically significant.
Table 2
Descriptive statistics.
Variables
MIN
MAX
RAN
ARM
STD
SKE
KUR
КS - Z
КS - Z
p
DVAL
10.10
13.80
3.70
11.93
0.87
0.04
-0.12
0.38
1.00
ASLE
341.00
2232.00
1891.00
856.72
406.69
1.64
3.61
0.98
0.30
RSLE
5.78
36.59
30.81
17.99
6.14
0.65
1.80
0.52
0.95
ASBI
129.00
659.00
530.00
281.97
116.75
1.49
2.77
0.79
0.56
RSBI
3.79
18.31
14.52
6.00
2.61
1.03
1.02
0.66
0.78
ASSH
32.00
231.00
199.00
113.38
46.44
0.49
0.15
0.47
0.98
RSSH
0.98
3.79
2.81
2.35
0.64
-0.60
0.99
0.91
0.37
Legend: DVAL – final score on vault, ASLE – absolute leg muscle strength, RSLE – relative leg muscle strength,
ASBI – absolute strength of the upper arm muscles, RSBI – relative strength of the upper arm muscles, ASSH –
absolute strength of the shoulder girdle muscles, RSSH – relative strength of the shoulder girdle muscles, MIN –
minimum value, MAX – maximum value, RAN – range, ARM – arithmetic mean, STD – standard deviation, SKE
– skewness, KUR – kurtosis, КС-Z – Kolmogorov smirnov Z test, p – statistical significance of the KS-Z test

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Table 3
Regression analysis of absolute strength.
Variables
Beta
t
p
R2
R2adjust
Std. Err.
Est.
F
p
ASLE
-.296
-1.081
.290
.152
.051
.843
1.498
.239
ASBI
.031
-.133
.895
ASSH
-.572
1.862
.074
Legend: ASLE – absolute leg muscle strength, ASBI – absolute strength of the upper arm muscles, ASSH – absolute
strength of the shoulder girdle muscles, Beta – standardized values of the regression coefficient, t – standardized
tests of the significance of the regression coefficient, p – the level of significance of the standardized regression
coefficient, R2 – coefficient of determination, R2 adjust – adjusted coefficient of determination, Std. Err. Est. –
standard error estimate, F – significance test of multiple regression analysis, p – significance level of multiple
correlation
Table 4
Regression analysis of relative strength.
Variables
Beta
t
p
R2
R2adjust
Std. Err.
Est.
F
p
RSLE
-.322
-1.427
.166
.146
.044
.846
1.430
.258
RSBI
-.144
-.615
.544
RSSH
.525
1.969
.060
Legend: RSLE – relative leg muscle strength, RSBI – relative strength of the upper arm muscles, RSSH – relative
strength of the shoulder girdle muscles, Beta – standardized values of the regression coefficient, t – standardized
tests of the significance of the regression coefficient, p – the level of significance of the standardized regression
coefficient, R2 – coefficient of determination, R2 adjust – adjusted coefficient of determination, Std. Err. Est. –
standard error estimate, F – significance test of multiple regression analysis, p – significance level of multiple
correlation
There are very few studies that deal
specifically with this topic. In the first
research by Paunovic et al. (2018), the
authors examined the influence of the
relative strength of different muscle groups
on the results in all-around for gymnasts
aged 14 to 16 years. It came up with results
that are consistent with the results in this
study. There is an influence of the relative
strength of the leg muscles on the result in
all-around, but it is not statistically
significant and amounts to p=0.413, the
upper arm muscle amounts to p=0.926 and,
as in this study, the impact of the shoulder
girdle muscles was the greatest
(Beta=0.499) but still with no statistical
significance (p=0.653). The results for the
set of variables are also very similar to the
results in this study (p=0.653).
In another study, Paunovic et al. (2019)
examined the influence of absolute and
relative strength on the success of
performing the floor exercise. On a sample
of respondents aged 14 to 16 years, results
were obtained that are similar to the results
in this and the abovementioned study.
Although there is an influence of absolute
and relative strength, it is not statistically
significant. For absolute strength, it is at the
level of p=0.295, and for relative, at the
level of p=0.284.
In research by Qomarrullah,
Kristiyanto, Sugiharto and Hidayatullah
(2018), there were two variables as in this
study, the leg and the arm muscle. In a
slightly younger sample of subjects (10 to
12 years), the obtained results indicate a
statistically significant influence of the

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above variables on the technique of
performing the jump (leg muscle p <0.01,
arm muscle p <0.01), in contrast to this
study where, although there is an influence,
it is not statistically significant.
Strength in boys aged 13 and 16 can
vary greatly due to this sensitive period of
development. Respondents of this age were
selected because they competed in the same
category. The internship is related to the age
of the respondents. But it is not uncommon
for children with good predispositions,
which starts with training later, to progress
equally well or better than those who have a
longer internship.
CONCLUSION
Based on the obtained results, it can be
concluded that strength, both absolute and
relative, is not a decisive factor for success
in performing vaults. Although gymnasts
work out exclusively with their own weight,
their relative strength is not crucial for
success. This does not mean that strength is
not important for success in gymnastics.
Instead, the reason for the results obtained
in this way should be sought in the age of
the respondents. Namely, at this age,
gymnasts perform elements that are more
coordination-wise and technically
demanding and require less strength. Given
their age, this way of training and
competition is justified since for many
reasons, the development of strength can
"wait" for a few more years.
The significance of this research is
reflected in its determination of the
influence of absolute and relative muscle
strength of the muscles of the legs, upper
arms and shoulder girdle on success in
performing vault for gymnasts aged 13 to
16 years. Since a performance on the vault
starts with a run-up towards the
springboard, followed by the take-off with
both feet from the springboard, then a
support phase of take-off from the vault and
finally landing on both feet, it can be said
that the choice of muscle groups is justified.
Bearing in mind that gymnasts exercise
only with their weight, without additional
external load, it can be concluded that
relative strength is crucial for success in
artistic gymnastics. But other motor skills
should not be disregarded, since artistic
gymnastics is a very complex sport and
does not tolerate well deficiencies in the
development of any motor ability.
Specifically, for a successful performance
on the vault, the shoulder girdle muscles
have the greatest influence (without
statistical significance). The reason for the
results obtained in this way lies in the fact
that the flight phase and the landing phase
depend on the support phase and the
repulsion from the vault.
As there is a small number of studies
that research the subject of this paper,
regardless of the results obtained, this
research represents a good foundation and
basis for future studies of the absolute and
relative strength in artistic gymnastics. It
can also be used by trainers as a guide in the
training process, as it indicates which
muscle groups are most active on the
specific apparatus.
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Corresponding author:
Miloš Paunović
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education
University of Niš
Čarnojevića 10a, Niš
Tel.: +381654200831
E mail: zuxxx123@gmail.com
Article received: 2.9.2021
Article accepted: 11.2.2022

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