Handwalking is a skilled movement that many, if not most, individuals never master. However, mastery of handwalking is critical to successfully compete in gymnastics. Understanding the patterns of movement employed to achieve handwalking may provide insights into the coordination of handwalking and strategies that may be effective for improving handwalking performance. The aim of this study was to characterize the spatiotemporal features of handwalking in gymnasts, compare these features to those of typical walking, and determine how these features vary as a function of skill level. Nineteen gymnasts performed handwalking and bipedal walking trials on a computerized walkway. Participants used nearly identical cadences for handwalking and bipedal walking. Differences between handwalking and bipedal walking included shorter strides, a wider base of support, and more time spent in double support during handwalking. The increase in double support time may be a strategy adopted to enhance stability, as level of gymnastics skill was positively correlated with the amount of time spent in double support, i.e. with both hands in contact with the ground, during handwalking. Coaching strategies that encourage increasing the amount of time spent with both hands in contact with the floor may be advisable to improve handwalking performance.
© Copyright 2010 Science of Gymnastics Journal. Department of Gymnastics, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / Übersetzt mit https://www.DeepL.com/Translator