LOWER-LIMB POWER AND ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES IN YOUNG GYMNASTS: A DESCRIPTIVE AND CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS USING VERTICAL JUMP TESTING

Abstract

Artistic Gymnastics (AG) requires high technical-motor complexity and the integration of multiple physical capacities, with lower-limb muscle power playing a central role in the execution of jumps and acrobatic elements. In young athletes, physical performance is influenced by neuromuscular development, biological maturation, and previous experience in the sport. However, Brazilian studies that jointly examine anthropometric variables, sport practice history, and vertical jump performance in youth gymnastics categories remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to: (a) describe the anthropometric characteristics and sport practice history of young gymnasts; (b) assess performance across three vertical jump attempts; and (c) investigate correlations between age, body measurements, sport experience, and jump performance. This quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted using data collected in a sports training environment and included seven female gymnasts aged between 10 and 14 years. The analyzed variables were age, body mass, stature, and body mass index (BMI), as well as information related to sport practice history. Lower-limb muscle power was assessed using a vertical jump protocol consisting of three consecutive attempts. The results indicated an anthropometric profile consistent with the participants’ age range and mean jump performance values with variability across attempts, suggesting possible learning effects and/or the onset of fatigue. Correlation analyses revealed moderate to strong associations between age, body mass, and stature with jump performance, particularly in the third attempt, whereas years of practice showed weak, although positive, correlations. In conclusion, variables related to growth and biological maturation appear to exert a greater influence on vertical jump performance than total years of sport practice, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring of physical characteristics and performance to guide training planning in young gymnasts.