The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical features of sequential landings during two connecting aerial movements in floor exercise. One elite gymnast performed a tumbling sequence consisting of a backward somersault with 3 twists connecting to a backward somersault with 1½ twists in a competition. The performance was recorded using two high speed video cameras (300Hz). An athlete-specific multi-segment model and a model of the mat were developed. The two landings of the connecting aerial movements were simulated and kinematics and kinetics were compared. Compared with the second landing, the ground reaction forces, loading rate and joint torques of the first landing were all greater, but the duration and height lowered of center of mass during the landing were less. All loads upon the left are respectively greater than those of the right. These results suggest that the sequential landing is a much forceful and short duration movement while the terminal landing is relatively less forceful and longer duration movement.
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