Examination of Force and Joint Position Senses in 
Hip Joints of Aerobic Gymnasts of Different Age Groups, and 
Comparison Effect of External Load to Joint Position Sense

Deniz TIKIZ; Muammer ALTUN

Examination of Force and Joint Position Senses in Hip Joints of Aerobic Gymnasts of Different Age Groups, and Comparison Effect of External Load to Joint Position Sense

Date

2022

Authors

Deniz TIKIZ

Muammer ALTUN

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the development of target joint position sense (JPS) and force sense (FS) in young gymnasts at different age groups and compare the effect of external load on position sense. Material and Methods: A total of 38 gymnasts were divided into three age groups: 12-14, 15-17, and 18 and over age groups. The maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) forces of the participants at a 90-degree hip angle were measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. For the isometric FS test, the target of 50% MVIC was used. Two active JPS tests were performed with and without a load. For the JPS test under load, 50% of MVIC was isotonically applied. The error scores were acquired from the absolute difference between the reproduced and targeted values in all conditions. Results: Results of repeated measures indicated the significant main effect of loads [F(1,37)=7.41, p=0.010, η2 =0.17]. Significant differences were found between no-load and under load JPS error values [t(37)=2.72, p=0.010]. Under load (2.05 ±1.86-degree), absolute error scores were statistically less than no-load (3.50 ±3.02-degree). A significant negative correlation was found between age groups and FS error scores. Conclusion: The hip JPS improves with the external load. Testing gymnasts' joint position sense acuity under external loads, such as the nature of the sport, may be a more appropriate test criterion. This is especially important in determining the criteria for returning to sports after injury. Those in the higher age group make fewer FS errors. This indicates that strength acuity improves as the age of athletes improves and reveals the contribution of aerobic gymnastics to the development of the sense of force.