Sciences for Gymnastics and Acrobatic Activities

23 - 25 October 2009

BIOENERGETICS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HIGH LEVEL

GYMNASTS

Dr Monèm Jemni
Department of Life and Sport Science, University of Greenwich, Medway Kent, UK.

m.jemni@greenwich.ac.uk / monemj@hotmail.com

Astract

During the period from the 1960s to the 1980s investigators showed that
gymnasts were characterized by a low maximal aerobic power and a high
strength quality, (Barantsev 1985, Jemni et al. 2001, Sands et al. 2002) but no
one has updated these values since that time in spite of the increasing training
volume and intensity of the sport (Sands et al. 2002). Energy expenditure could
not be compared to that of running at 13 km.h-l, as had been considered in the
1970s (Montpetit 1976). Modern thinking has gymnastics very different from
running. Current understanding would suggest that energetic requirements
during gymnastics are mainly anaerobic in nature due to the high intensity and
short duration of competitive routines. (Jemni et al. 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006).
Richards et al., (Richards 1999) showed that modern artistic gymnastics requires
more and more strength and power because of the increasing difficulty
requirements of the Code of Points (FIG 2000) that changes every Olympiad.

This communication is the conclusion of more than 10 years investigations in the

energetics aspects of high level male gymnasts.

The first part highlights the cardiovascular stress and the metabolic responses to
gymnastics exercises during a simple training session, a competition and a back
to back competition.

The second part presents the effect of gymnastics training on the aerobic and the
anaerobic components of these athletes.
Abstract & Articles 1

Editors: César Peixoto; Vítor Ferreira; Luís Moreira

 Sciences for Gymnastics and Acrobatic Activities

23 - 25 October 2009

References

Barantsev, S.A. Do gymnasts need to develop aerobic capacity? Gymnastika.

2:14-17, 1985.
FIG: Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique. Code de Point age - gym nast ique
artistique masculine. 2000
Jemni M, Sands W, Friemel F, Cooke C. M. Stone. (2006) Effect of gymnastics
training on Aerobic and anaerobic components in elite and sub elite men
gymnasts. J. Strength Cond. Res. 20(4): 899-907
Jemni M, Sands W, Friemel F, Delamarche P. (2003). Effect of active and passive
recovery on blood lactate and performance during simulated competition in
high level gymnasts. Can. J. Appl. Physiol. 28(2), 240-256.
Jemni M., Sands W. (2003). Active recovery during gymnastics session. Elite
Gymnastics Journal. 26(5), 19-26
Jemni M., Sands W. (2003). Heart rate and blood lactate concentration as
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Jemni M, Friemel F, Sands W. (2002). Etude de la récupération entre les agrès
lors de quatre séances d'entraînement de gymnastique masculine.
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Jemni M, Friemel F, Sands W, Mikesky A. (2001). Evolution du profil
physiologique des gymnastes durant les 40 dernières années. (Evolution of
gymnasts physiological profile during the last 40 years) Can. J. Appl.
Physiol. 26(5), 442-456.
Jemni M, Friemel F, Le Chevalier JM, Origas M. (2000). Heart rate and blood
lactate concentration analysis during a high level men s gymnastics
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Abstract & Articles 2

Editors: César Peixoto; Vítor Ferreira; Luís Moreira

 Sciences for Gymnastics and Acrobatic Activities

23 - 25 October 2009

Montpetit, R. Physiology of gymnastics. In: The advanced st udy of gym nastic.

J.H. Salmela (Eds.) Springfield, USA: C. Thomas Publisher, 1976, pp. 183-
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Abstract & Articles 3

Editors: César Peixoto; Vítor Ferreira; Luís Moreira