Mental gymnastics

Gymnastics as a Factor in the Treatment of Mental Retardation

The relation of muscular activity to mental development, recognized as it has been from the very beginning of modern psychology, teaches us that kinesthetic, i. e., motor, images are more important than visual or auditory images, and that a greater part of the sensations bringing about mental development are excited through motor activities. This is a fundamental truth, and the leaders of to-da...

Baby Gymnastics

Rotational Preference in Gymnastics

In gymnastics, most skills incorporate rotations about one or more body axes. At present, the question remains open if factors such as lateral preference and/or vestibulo-spinal asymmetry are related to gymnast's rotational preference. Therefore, we sought to explore relationships in gymnast's rotation direction between different gymnastic skills. Furthermore, we sought to explore relationships...

Modeling a Springboard in Gymnastics

For development and optimization of elements in gymnastics` vault, the knowledge of the angular momentum, take-off velocity and thus the forces on the springboard are of interest. A multi-body model was developed for the determination of forces. The following article describes the creation of a springboard model and therefore the identification and evaluation of physical parameters acting durin...

Gymnastics: changing for the better?

Imagine an Olympic gymnast and you conjure up a picture of a small, slight child accomplishing dazzling feats on the vault, asymmetric bars, beam, or floor area. Now look back at the Atlanta Olympics. The same dazzling feats, but most of the gymnasts were no longer children. Yes, they were small and slight, but they had breasts and hips and waists. Female Olympic gymnastics has come full circle...