Cimnastikçilerde Bilateral Açık ve Ekstremiteler Arası Kuvvet Asimetrisinin Yorgunluğa Bağlı Değişiminin İncelenmesi

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the fatigue-related changes in bilateral deficit and interlimb strength asymmetry in gymnasts. A total of 35 female gymnasts, aged between 9 and 14 years and with a minimum of 4 years of sport experience in gymnastics disciplines (aerobic and artistic), voluntarily participated in the study. The participants were divided into two age groups: 9-11 years (n=19) and 12-14 years (n=16). Additionally, they were categorized into three groups based on their level of biological maturity determined by peak height velocity (PHV): pre-PHV (n=15), PHV (n=13), and post-PHV (n=7). Anthropometric measurements were conducted at the beginning of the study, followed by the calculation of participants' biological maturity levels. To evaluating bilateral deficit and interlimb strength asymmetry, the participants performed unilateral and bilateral countermovement jump tests before and immediately after a fatigue protocol. The fatigue protocol consisted of 10 consecutive countermovement jumps without rest, each preceded by a 20-meter sprint involving a 180° change of direction. The fatigue protocol was terminated either when participants failed to reach 50% of their maximum jump height for three consecutive jumps or when they reported exhaustion. Independent samples t-test was used to analyze the differences in bilateral deficit and interlimb strength asymmetry between age groups, while one- way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to determine the differences among the maturity groups. The effects of fatigue-related changes were examined using mixed-design ANOVA, considering age groups and biological maturity. Scheffe's post hoc test was employed when significant differences were detected (F statistic). The results indicated that age group and maturity level did not have a significant effect on bilateral deficit (p>0.05). However, significant fatigue effects were observed with respect to age group and maturity level (F(1, 33)=11.699, p=0.002, η2=0.262 and F(1, 32)=5.962, p=0.020, η2=0.157, respectively). Furthermore, significant interactions were found between age group and fatigue, as well as maturity level and fatigue (F(1, 33)=13.705, p=0.001, η2=0.293 and F(2, 32)=6.742, p=0.004, η2=0.296, respectively). In terms of interlimb strength asymmetry, neither age group nor maturity level had a statistically significant effect (p>0.05); however, fatigue had a significant effect on both variables (F(1, 33)=10.835, p=0.002, η2=0.247 and F(1, 32)=9.575, p=0.004, η2=0.230, respectively). Nevertheless, the interactions between age group and fatigue, as well as maturity level and fatigue, were not statistically significant for interlimb strength asymmetry (p>0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that fatigue influenced bilateral deficit and interlimb strength asymmetry in gymnasts. Additionally, fatigue-related changes in bilateral deficit varied according to age and biological maturity, whereas interlimb strength asymmetry did not exhibit any variations related to age and biological maturity.