Modeling stability in gymnastics: mediation and moderation of arm and abdominal effects on handstand performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v73.117422Keywords:
Biomechanics, Gymnastics, Inclinometer Sensor, Human Stability, Modelling AnalysisAbstract
Introduction: Handstand performance in gymnastics varies across apparatuses, with antero-posterior stability playing a key role in maintaining balance.
Objectives: This study explores the biomechanical interplay between abdominal, arm, and floor handstand torso stability in gymnastics, towards the torso stability of handstand performance on parallel bars.
Methods: Twenty-five participants completed four tasks: holding a 10-kg dumbbell for 15 seconds (arm stability), maintaining a floor forearm plank for 15 seconds (abdominal stability), and performing 10-second of steady handstands on both the floor and parallel bars. Inclinometer sensors recorded sagittal-axis movement to quantify stability. Statistical analysis steps included correlation, normality testing, linear regression, bootstrapped mediation and moderation models, and path visualization.
Results: Regression analysis revealed significant direct effects of abdominal and arm stability on torso stability during handstands on P-bars. Mediation analysis showed that floor torso stability significantly mediated the effect of arm stability, but not abdominal stability. Moderation analysis confirmed that floor torso stability amplified the influence of arm control, while no such interaction was found for abdominal control.
Discussion: Bootstrapping validated the robustness of direct and moderated effects. The analysis revealed a range of meaningful and intriguing mediation and moderation pathways among the studied variables, highlighting the complexity of their interrelationships.
Conclusion: Despite the small sample size, the study provides a theoretically grounded framework for future research in gymnastics biomechanics and wearable sensor applications.
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