Studia Kinanthropologica

Studia Kinanthropologica 2023, 24(2-3):59-65 | DOI: 10.32725/sk.2024.001

Muscle imbalance and hypermobility in figure skaters of younger school age

E. N. Nowická

Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Pedagogická fakulta, Katedra tělesné výchovy a sportu

Figure skating is a very demanding sport both physically and mentally. The coach should take care to limit the possible risks of the sport and prevent injuries. The main objective of this study was to try to show that young figure skaters aged 7 to 12 years experience muscle imbalances due to four years of regular training. The study population consisted of 7 female figure skaters of younger school age from HC Tábor. The basic characteristics of the participants were the category of the youngest and younger schoolchildren (age = 8.71 ± 1.10, height = 135.5 ± 6.8 cm, weight = 32 ± 6.9 kg). Both Dostalova and Horkel tests were used to test muscle shortening and weakening, based on Jand’s functional muscle
test. Assessment was by observation from the starting position through the progression of exercise performance to the final position. When assessing the fulfilment of the given criteria of the performed test exercise, we always took into account the whole range of motion, not only its initial and final position. All test exercises were assessed binary. Muscle imbalances in the lumbar, trunk extensors, neck and hamstrings were measured. Muscle imbalances can be compensated by compensatory exercises. The trunk extensor muscles were the most shortened and the muscles on the back of the lower limbs were the most shortened. In addition, the neck muscles were also weakened. Hypermobility proved to
be a major problem.

Keywords: muscle imbalances; figure skating; functional muscle tests; hypermobility

Received: September 15, 2023; Revised: December 22, 2023; Accepted: January 22, 2024; Published: February 15, 2024  Show citation