top of page
CIENCIAS
DE LA SALUD
medicina - fisioterapia - actividad física - psicología - etc.
Musculoskeletal injuries in gymnastics: a review of epidemiology, etiology, and associated factors
Autor
Horvat et al.
2025
|
Science of Gymnastics Journal
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
musculoskeletal injury, prevalence, incidence, pathomechanics, gymnasts
Resumen
Gymnastics encompasses various disciplines, including artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, acrobatics, aerobic gymnastics, parkour, and gymnastics for all. While there are many differences in characteristics, movement execution, and equipment, all disciplines involve brief and high-intensity movements. Athletes achieve extreme ranges of motion and generate and absorb significant forces while performing gymnastic elements. Consequently, gymnasts are prone to numerous injuries, with frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 9.4 injuries per 1000 hours of athlete exposure. The most common types of gymnastics injuries are sprains and strains. In females, lower limb injuries prevail, whereas males predominantly experience upper limb injuries. Specifically, the ankle, knee, and foot are frequent sites of injury in the lower limb, while the shoulder joint, wrist, and elbow are commonly affected in the upper limb. Spinal and head injuries occur less frequently. Identifying factors associated with injuries is important for their prevention. They can be classified as non-modifiable, potentially modifiable,and modifiable. By addressing the latter two groups of factors, we can contribute to reducing the incidence of injuries. The main intrinsic factors linked to injury onset include age, a rapid growth period, previous injuries, joint laxity and instability, limb asymmetry, abnormal muscle stiffness, stress, fear,and lack of focus, while the main extrinsic factors are early specialization, training volume and duration. Most injuries occur during artistic gymnastics routines, especially during the floor exercise. Although more injuries happen during training sessions, the injury rate is higher during competitions. Furthermore, a higher number of injuries is associated with less experienced coaches and inadequate equipment.Preventive measures for gymnastics injuries revolve around training equipment,and healthcare modifications. Optimal landing technique, balanced workload, and comprehensive rehabilitation are crucial, alongside addressing mental and emotional strain.
URL
Parkour practitioners’ training habits, motives, goals and perceived performance factors: an international approach
Autor
Elizondo-Donado et al.
2025
|
Kinesiology
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
This study aimed to describe frequent parkour practitioners' training habits, training motives and goals, and perceived performance factors of practitioners from different countries and continents. An ad hoc questionnaire (PARK-Q) was developed in four languages by the research group and validated by active experts with 12-18 years of experience practising and coaching parkour. The PARK-Q is a multidimensional questionnaire that explores demographics, habits, goals, motivation and perceived performance factors from the practitioner's perspective. The PARK-Q presented overall great internal consistency (Cronbach's α=.902) and was answered by one hundred and forty-one parkour practitioners (n=141, 26.2±5.0 years old) from 15 countries and four continents. Parkour could still be considered a masculine action sport with a low level of federated participation, mostly practised outdoors, with friends, in an unstructured way, and learnt freely: with friends, autodidact, etc. Parkour practitioners' motivation mainly comes from within and could be considered Intrinsic Motivation. To parkour practitioners, Precision, Environmental adaptability, and Movement techniques may be considered the most important performance factors, whereas Flip repertoire, Suffering capacity, and Keeping yourself distracted are the least important. Thus, new measuring instruments or assessments that align better with the discipline should be explored, considering the performance factors perceived by international parkour practitioners.
URL
Comparison of basic motor skills and physical fitness between (pre-)pubertal children from parkour and team sports
Autor
Konushevci et al.
2025
|
Frontiers In Sports And Active Living
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
Background: Parkour is a modern sport known for daring jumps and moves in urban environments that require exceptional motor skills and various sports-specific techniques. Although it is increasingly popular among children and adolescents, training routines in youth Parkour are still rather driven by personal beliefs and experience of coaches than by evidence.
Purpose: This study aims to analyze basic motor skills and physical fitness of youth Parkour athletes compared to team sports athletes.
Study design: Cross-sectional study with matched-pair analysis.
Methods: Seventeen youth Parkour (12.50 ± 1.80 years) and seventeen team sports athletes (11.90 ± 1.70 years), matched for height and weight, participated in this study. Tests included static (single-leg postural sway = PS) and dynamic balance (Y-Balance test = YBT), jumping (countermovement jump = CMJ, drop jump = DJ, side-hop = SH), muscle strength (planks, pull-ups = PU) and basic gymnastics skills (bridging = BG, handstand = HS, cartwheel = CW).
Results: The Parkour group performed significantly better in the CMJ (p = 0.014), the anterior direction of the YBT (p < 0.001), cartwheel performance (p = 0.019), and pull-ups (p = 0.029) when compared to the team-sports group. Moderate but non-significant differences were observed in PS for the dominant (p = 0.12) and non-dominant leg (p = 0.14) as well as in SH (p = 0.06). No further significant differences were observed.
Conclusion: Children practicing Parkour demonstrated superior performances in certain parameters of motor skills and physical fitness compared to team sports athletes. The findings suggest that Parkour may contribute positively to children's overall physical development. However, more intervention studies with a prospective study design are needed for further recommendations.
URL
The Application of an Ecological Dynamics Approach to the Athletic Development of Youth Basketball Players: The Use of Parkour to Develop Fundamental Movement Skills
Autor
Williams
2024
|
University of Essex
Tipo de publicación
Tesis doctoral o similar
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Fundamental movement skills Sports specific skills
Resumen
Youth athletic development models emphasise the development of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in preadolescent children before sports specific skills (SSS). However, in sports such as basketball, FMS and SSS are not necessarily separate. An alternative perspective, based on the ecological dynamics framework, suggests that sports can be used to develop transferable FMS and SSS concurrently. Parkour has been proposed as a donor sport to enhance movement skills and capabilities transferable to team sports athletes like basketball, although further research is needed. This research investigates parkour’s potential as a donor sport for youth basketball players from an ecological dynamics perspective. Based upon a meta-analysis of bodyweight-only neuromuscular training programmes on motor control in youth athletes aged 8-18 years and basketball coaches’ perceptions of FMS, a narrative review explored parkour’s role in developing adaptable movement skills. A cross-sectional study compared the biomechanical properties of the parkour tic-tac skill and the basketball lay-up shot, revealing that the parkour action resulted in significantly higher maximum acceleration, suggesting it could enhance propulsive capabilities of the lower limb. Two intervention studies examined parkour’s effects on youth basketball players, revealing that although parkour did not outperform conventional athletic development training, it promoted greater engagement and enjoyment. Thus, parkour may effectively increase movement skills and physical capabilities whilst keeping young players motivated. Parkour offers a diverse repertoire of movement, which may be particularly beneficial for preadolescent players, potentially reducing the risks of single-sport specialisation while enhancing basketball-specific performance. For adolescent basketball players, parkour-based exercises could be included into strength and conditioning (S&C) programmes to improve transferable physical capabilities. By adopting the ecological dynamics framework, organisations and governing bodies responsible for the long-term development of youth basketball players can create more effective training strategies that combine motor learning, performance, and athletic development.
URL
The parkour tic-tac action versus the drop jump as part of complex training within the strength and conditioning programme of highly-trained youth basketball players.
Autor
Williams et al.
2024
|
Plos One
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
This study aimed to examine the effects of two different complex training protocols on physical performance in highly-trained youth basketball players. Fourteen adolescent players participated in twice-weekly sessions over eight weeks, following either the Drop Jump protocol (n = 7) or the Tic-tac protocol (n = 7), performing 1-3 sets of 8-9 exercises. Physical performance was assessed before and after the intervention using jumping tests (CMJ, squat, 10-5 hop jumps), change-of-direction speed (5-10-5), sprinting (0-20 meters), and muscular strength (isometric midthigh pull) tests. The intraclass correlation coefficient of within subjects measures was 0.95. Results showed no significant fixed effects for group or time on performance variables (p > 0.05), with greater variance attributed to measurements rather than group differences. The interindividual response to training was highly variable, contingent on the performance outcome. These findings suggest that the parkour-based Tic-tac protocol can be included in strength and conditioning programs for youth basketball players to enhance sport-specific actions. However, to improve physical performance in young team-sport athletes, it is crucial to address the individual needs of each athlete. This includes acknowledging the highly individualised responses to training stimuli.
URL
Factors Influencing the Continuance Intention to Participate in Extreme Sports
Autor
Yu et al.
2024
|
International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
The exponential growth in engagement with extreme sports in recent decades has surpassed our understanding of the perceptions and personal experiences of those individuals who participated. This research explores the relationship between self-efficacy, perceived enjoyment, perceived risk, attitude toward behavior, and continuance intention within the framework of the theory of planned behavior. The study collected data from 193 parkour enthusiasts who associated with Chinese amateur parkour clubs. Hypotheses were verified using structural equation modeling using AMOS 26.0. The results demonstrate notable associations across all categories, however, the hypothesis that perceived risk will influence attitude toward behavior was not supported. The study concludes with discussions on the implications for scholars and practitioners and suggestions for future research.
URL
Real Time Detection of Freezing of Gait of Parkinson Patients based on Machine Learning Running on a Body Worn Device
Autor
Esfahani et al.
2024
|
Procedia Computer Science
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Freezing of gaitLong short term memoryMachine learningEdge deviceRecurrent neural networkTime-series classification
Resumen
In this work, we present a system that detects Freezing of Gait Detection (FOG) that uses of a single wearable inertial sensor to automatically evaluate a Parkinson’s patient’s gait instability and detect FOG in real-time. A wearable vibrator is our cueing system which is triggered by the FOG detection whenever a FOG episode takes place. The vibration impulses help the patient to prevent FOG by switching to voluntarily movement execution. Sensor data were collected from nine patients with Parkinson’s disease performing Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) test under the supervision of a clinical expert. Along with data recording, a video was taken from patient’s parkour. The data were labeled through the recorded video of the patient’s tests and FOG and non-FOG data were assigned. A machine learning model using a deep Long-Short-Term-Memory (LSTM) employ the accelerometer data from the sensor and the inference leads to a FOG or non-FOG classification. The FOG detection model is pruned, quantized and used for real-time inference on Google Coral board worn on the patient’ body. The model deployed on a Google coral board sends a trigger to the cuing device right after the FOG detection and the patient get alert for the happening FOG. The individualized model for one-second windows applied in this work performed an average of 91.5% of sensitivity and 86.5% specificity for models running on PC and 91.7% of sensitivity and 86.7% of specificity for the models tested on Google coral with the latency of 50 millisecond on real-time testing.
URL
An unusual wrist injury in a parkour-athlete: Transstyloid, transscaphoid, transtriquetral perilunate dislocation
Autor
Kalinterakis et al.
2024
|
Trauma Case Reports
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Dislocation; Fracture; Perilunate; Wrist
Resumen
Perilunate dislocations are uncommon high energy injuries. The combination of fractures resulting in a trans-styloid, trans-scaphoid, and trans-triquetral perilunate fracture dislocation is extremely rare. We describe a 20 year old male who suffered this injury after a fall from height while parkouring. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation with ligamentous repair and carpal tunnel decompression. After 3 months, he was noted to have a radiographic evidence of scapholunate dissociation and he returned to the operative room for definitive fixation. Despite this complication, the final functional outcome 6 months after the second surgery was satisfying.
URL
Beyond athletic development: The effects of parkour-based versus conventional neuromuscular exercises in pre-adolescent basketball players
Autor
Williams et al.
2023
|
Plos One
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a parkour-based warm-up to a conventional neuromuscular training (NMT) warm-up on the athletic capabilities of youth basketball players. This was examined through two arms: In Investigation 1, the aims were to measure the effects of the two warm-ups on physical measures of athletic performance in prepubescent basketball players. Using post-intervention semi-structured interviews, Investigation 2 aimed to gain insights from the players in relation to the perceived benefits of the two warm-ups. Pre-adolescent children were recruited from two youth level basketball teams. Participants from one club were randomly assigned to either a conventional NMT warm-up group or a parkour warm-up group, while a control group was formed of participants from the second club. Participants of both experimental groups were required to complete a 15-minute warm-up once per week before their regular basketball practice across 8-weeks. For both groups, the coach adopted the same pedagogical approach, utilising a guided discovery strategy. Pre-post test measures of overhead squat performance, countermovement jump, and 10-metre sprint speed were recorded in all three groups. Additionally, pre-post measures were recorded for a timed parkour-based obstacle course for the two experimental groups. No significant between-group differences were found between pre- and post-test measures. However, analysis using Cohen's d effect sizes revealed improvements in both intervention groups versus the control. Moreover, between group effect size differences were observed between the two experimental groups. Following the intervention, participants from both experimental groups were also invited to take part in a post-intervention semi-structured interview to discuss their experiences. The thematic analysis of these semi-structured interviews revealed three higher order themes: Enjoyment; Physical literacy; and Docility; of which the two former themes appear to align to constructs relating to the wider concept of physical literacy. In summary, warm-ups designed to improve athleticism can include less structured and more diverse movement skills than are typical of conventional NMT warm-ups. Specifically, we provide evidence that advocates for warm ups that include parkour-related activities alongside conventional NMT exercises to preserve physical fitness qualities and to simultaneously evoke a sense of enjoyment, fun, and purpose. The benefit of such activities may extend beyond athletic development and, more broadly, contribute to the development of physical literacy.
URL
The effect of parkour intervention on fourth grade students’ motor, cognitive and social-emotional skills; a mixed methods study
Autor
Yolcu
2023
|
Middle East Technical University
Tipo de publicación
Tesis doctoral o similar
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
adventure education, parkour, motor coordination, divergent thinking, motor creativity
Resumen
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an eight-week parkour intervention based on the adventure education model on fourth-grade students' 1) motor skills, cognitive skills, and social-emotional skills 2) to explore the students' perceptions of the intervention and their overall thoughts about it. The study involved 55 students from three different village schools, with 28 students (Mage=9.63, SD=.60) in the intervention group and 27 (Mage=9.79, SD=.62) in the comparison group. The mixed-method experimental design was used in the study to answer the research questions. Motor coordination, perceived motor competence, divergent thinking, and motor creativity variables were measured using four quantitative data collection tools. Qualitative data were obtained through field notes, semi-structured and group interviews. The intervention group received an eight-week parkour intervention, while the comparison group continued the regular program. The findings showed that students who received parkour intervention based on the adventure education model improved significantly more in motor coordination (p<.001), perceived motor competence (p=.009), fluency in divergent thinking (p<.001), originality in divergent thinking (p=.009) and motor creativity (p=.003) skills after the pre-test data were controlled. The qualitative data from the intervention group supported the quantitative results and provided further insight into the students' experiences. The study concluded that the adventure education model and parkour could be an effective and cost-efficient alternative for achieving physical, social, and cognitive outcomes in physical education and sport, particularly in schools without sports facilities.
URL
The Effect of Parkour Concept on Functional Mobility in Older Adults
Autor
Svobodova et al.
2025
|
Studia Sportiva
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
Introduction: One of the limiting factors in the quality of life of seniors is the increased risk of falls. We come up with a new type of exercise, modified parkour for older adults. Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of the Parkour concept on functional mobility in older adults. Patients and Methods: Twenty older adults without cognitive or neurological deficits (> 26 points in the MoCa test) completed a 10-week exercise program. The program included the practice of overcoming obstacles of various shapes and sizes and the practice of fall techniques under the guidance of an instructor. The level of functional mobility was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go test (TUG 1), the Timed Up and Go test Cognitive, and the Timed Up and Go test manual (TUG 3) and functional reach test (Reach) before and after completing the exercise program. Results: Although participants in the parkour intervention program showed good results in the reach test before starting it, they were able to improve significantly. The effect of the parkour concept is not statistically significant for the functional mobility measured by the TUG tests. The difference is small by Cohen’s effect size (d = 0.22 and d=0.26). There was a slight improvement in the functional mobility test without another task (TUG1) and the modified test with another movement task (TUG3). There was no significant change in the modified cognitive test (TUG2). Conclusion: Modified parkour is a new activity that requires more scientific research. For this age group, we consider a positive improvement in any part of physical fitness.
URL
The Effect of Parkour Activities on Specific Physical Fitness and Grit in the Population of Healthy Youth Football Athletes
Autor
Hasyim et al.
2025
|
Journal of Population and Social Studies
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Grit; parkour activity; physical fitness; youth
Resumen
This study investigates the effects of parkour activity (PA) on physical fitness and grit for youth soccer athletes. True experimental research with a random control trial design for 12 weeks was adopted in this study. There were 78 male youth soccer athletes involved in the experimental (PA, n = 39) and control group (CG, n = 39) groups. The PA intervention program was carried out three times a week for 12 weeks. Pre-post-intervention tests were carried out to assess physical fitness and grit. The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that there were significant effects of time, group, and time*group interaction on physical fitness (all, p <.05) and grit (all, p <.05). Meanwhile, Student's paired t-test results show that the PA group experienced significant differences scores between pre-and post-test in physical fitness (all, p <.05) and grit (all, p <.05), but in CG the differences were significant only occurred in sprint test 30m (p <.05), Illinois agility test (p <.05), hand grip test (p <.05) and there was no other difference, including grit (p >.05). In conclusion, we highlight that PA is the valid method to promote physical fitness and grit in youth soccer athletes.
URL
Generalization of Parkour Skill Trials From Physical Education to Organized Recess in Elementary School
Autor
Cheng
2025
|
Physical Educator
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
To investigate the generalization of correct parkour skill trials from physical education to parkour recess in elementary school as a function of skill level. Seven 2nd grade classes with 147 children (55 girls) received a 10-lesson sport education parkour season. During the season, children could voluntarily participate in five parkour recess sessions during lunch recess. Children’s voluntary participation in parkour recess was recorded and all skill trials in physical education and parkour recess were collected. There was no difference on voluntary participation in parkour recess between higher- (78%) and lower-skilled (77%) children. Higher-skilled children had higher percentages of correct skill trials than lower-skilled children in physical education (48% vs. 40%, p = .001) and parkour recess (42% vs. 32% p = .002). Most children voluntarily participated in parkour recess regardless of skill level. Parkour recess offered the opportunity to practice the skills learned in physical education.
URL
Analysis of scientific production in street sports with acrobatic components
Autor
Rodriguez-Redondo et al.
2024
|
Science of Gymnastics Journal
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Acrobatics; break dance; parkour; physical activity; sports; street workout
Resumen
In recent years, the number of practitioners of disciplines such as parkour, break dance or calisthenics (freestyle or street workout) has increased. These disciplines share common characteristics, such as an unregulated street origin and a focus on acrobatics. This study aimed to analyze the state of scientific publications related to these acrobatic street sports. A bibliometric analysis was conducted, applying traditional bibliometric laws to scientific documentation found in journals indexed in WoS and Scopus. Data processing and visualization were performed using Bibliometrix and Excel. A total of 199 articles published between 1984 and 2024 were identified, indicating exponential growth. Among these, 139 papers were related to parkour, 48 to breakdance, and 12 to street workout. A review of 158 journals revealed that they contained related publications, although their distribution did not conform to Bradford’s model, showig only two areas. Among 417 authors identified, 22 were deemed prolific and 12 prominent. France emerged as the most prolific country, followed by the USA. The 553 author keywords were categorized into three groups, each associated with one of the sports. The 26 most cited papers were selected as relevant, demonstrating a correlation between the increase in publications and the popularization of these sports, largely due to television exposure. The "International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics” emerged as the most prolific journal. The most relevant authors identified in each sport were Signey Grosprêtre (parkour); Max Daniel Kauther and Christian Wedemeyer (breakdance); and Javier Sanchez-Martinez (street workout)
URL
Combined Electromagnetic and Electrohydraulic Focused ESWT and EMTT for Delayed Calcaneal Union in an Adolescent Parkour Athlete - A Case Report
Autor
Knobloch et al.
2024
|
Journal of Sports Medicine
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
EMTT; ESWT; epiphysis; non; shockwave therapy; union.
Resumen
This case report describes a novel and unique combination of both electromagnetic and electrohydraulic focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy (EMTT) for accelerated healing in a calcaneus epiphyseal fracture with delayed healing in an adolescent Parkour athlete. After a 2.5m jump, the 14-year-old experienced significant heel pain, however avoided telling his parents. After eight weeks, the initial imaging using ultra low dose weight-bearing cone beam CT (WBCT) revealed a calcaneus non-union situation adjacent to the open calcaneal physis. To improve and accelerate bony healing substantially, we chose to apply both combined focused electromagnetic (Storz Ultra, Storz Medical AG, Tägerwillen, CH) and focused electrohydraulic (MTS, Konstanz, Germany) ESWT in a fractioned fashion plus EMTT (Storz Magnetolith, Tägerwillen, CH) in five consecutive weekly sessions while allowing the patient to fully weight bear. The follow-up WBCT after six weeks revealed a near to total healing of the delayed union and being pain-free. Notably, combination therapy with focused ESWT and EMTT did not result in early closure of the calcaneal epiphysis. We conclude that combined focused electromagnetic and electrohydraulic ESWT and EMTT facilitate bony healing in adolescent calcaneal apophyseal fractures without any adverse effects on the open physis. Evidence level IV (case report).
URL
Acute Effect of Video Feedback on Self-Regulation and Proprioceptive Control of Standing Back Tuck Somersault in the Absence of Vision
Autor
Abahnini et al.
2024
|
Motor control
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
parkour athletesacrobatic movementvisionlessself modelingverbal instruction
Resumen
The purpose of this study was to assess the immediate effect of video feedback on the regulation and control of the standing back tuck somersault in the absence of vision. Two groups of male parkour athletes performed the standing back tuck somersault under both open and closed eyes conditions. The first group received video feedback, while the second group received verbal feedback. Concurrent analysis, including kinetic data from a force plate (Kistler Quattro-Jump) and kinematic data in two-dimensional by Kinovea freeware, was employed for motion and technical performance analysis. The results indicate that the loss of vision during the standing back tuck somersault affected only the take-off and ungrouping angle, as well as the vertical velocity and displacement. These effects were consistent regardless of the type of feedback provided (i.e., video feedback or verbal feedback). Furthermore, a significant Vision x Feedback interaction was observed at the level of technical performance. This suggests that the use of video feedback enabled the parkour athletes to maintain a high level of technical performance both with and without vision (i.e., 13.56 vs. 13.00 points, respectively, p> .05 and d= 2.233). However, the verbal feedback group technical performance declined significantly under the novision condition compared with the vision condition (13.14 vs. 10.25 points, respectively, with and without vision, p< .001 and d= 2.382). We concluded that when the movement is proprioceptively controlled (i.e., without vision), the video feedback enables the athletes to globally assess the technical deficiencies arising from the lack of vision and to correct them. These findings are discussed based on parkour athletes' ability to evaluate the kinematic parameters of the movement.
URL
Acute effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on postural control of trained athletes: A randomized controlled trial
Autor
Giancatarina et al.
2024
|
PLoS ONE
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
transcranial direct current stimulation, trained athletes, postural control, randomized controlled trial
Resumen
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is used to modulate brain function, and can modulate motor and postural control. While the acute effect of tDCS is well documented on patients, little is still known whether tDCS can alter the motor control of healthy trained participants. This study aimed to assess the acute effect of tDCS on postural control of parkour practitioners, known for their good balance abilities and their neuromuscular specificities that make them good candidates for tDCS intervention. Eighteen parkour practitioners were tested on three occasions in the laboratory for each stimulation condition (2 mA; 20 minutes)–primary motor cortex (M1), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and sham (placebo). Postural control was evaluated PRE and POST each stimulation by measuring Center of Pressure (CoP) displacements on a force platform during static conditions (bipedal and unipedal stance). Following M1 stimulation, significant decreases were observed in CoP area in unipedal (from 607.1 ± 297.9 mm² to 451.1 ± 173.9 mm², P = 0.003) and bipedal (from 157.5 ± 74.1 mm² to 117.6 ± 59.8 mm² P<0.001) stances. As well, the CoP total length was significantly reduced in bipedal (from 3416.8 ± 295.4 mm to 3280.6 ± 306.2 mm, P = 0.005) as well as in unipedal stance (from 4259.6 ± 398.4 mm to 3846.5 ± 468.9 mm, P<0.001), only after M1 stimulation. Relative pre-post changes observed after M1 stimulation were negatively correlated to experience in parkour only after unipedal stance (r = 0.715, P<0.001), meaning that the more participants were trained the less tDCS was effective. No significant changes were noticed after sham and dlPFC stimulation. These results suggested that the modulation of gait performance in athletes following an acute intervention of tDCS is specific to the targeted brain region, and that postures with reduced base of support (such as unipedal stance) were more sensitive to tDCS.
URL
A Comparison of Maximal Acceleration Between the “Tic Tac” Parkour Action, Drop Jump, and Lay-Up Shot in Youth Basketball Players: A Preliminary Study Toward the Donor Sport Concept
Autor
Williams et al.
2024
|
Journal of Motor Learning and Development
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
accelerometer; motor skill; jumping; kinematics; specificity
Resumen
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare acceleration outputs of the parkour-style “tic tac” action with those of the drop jump and the lay-up shot in youth basketball players. A total of 25 participants (17 boys, 13.80 ± 1.30 years of age; and eight girls, 15.00 ± 0.80 years of age) completed three trials of each action while wearing a single inertial motion capture unit with a sampling frequency of 200 Hz, positioned at the lumbar spine. All data were captured in a single session, using the same test order for all participants. Maximum resultant acceleration was calculated from the raw data for each action. Using sex and maturation status as covariates, data were analyzed using a Bayesian one-way repeated-measures analysis of covariance. Results revealed the jump + sex model to be the best fitting (BF10 = 9.22 × 105). Post hoc comparisons revealed that the tic tac produced greater maximal acceleration than the drop jump and the lay-up. These findings provide a biomechanical basis for the potential use of the parkour tic tac as an activity that could be used within the athletic development of youth basketball players.
URL
Effects of eliminating visual cues on kinetic and kinematic parameters in back tuck somersault: A comparison between artistic gymnasts and parkour athletes
Autor
Abahnini et al.
2023
|
Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
artistic gymnasts; motion analysis; open/closed eyes; parkour athletes; standing back tuck somersault
Resumen
Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of vision (i.e., open and closed eyes) on the kinetic and kinematic parameters of the standing back tuck somersault (SBTS) in artistic gymnasts and parkour athletes. Methods: Eleven male parkour athletes (age 22.53±2.36 years; height 1.72±0.08 m; weight 69.58±3.72 kg) and seven male artistic gymnasts (age 21.96±2.64 years; height 1.62±0.02 m; weight 63.54±1.35 kg) participated in this study. Each subject was asked to perform the SBTS in the same condition (i.e., first open-eyes then closed-eyes). 2D kinetic and kinematic analysis was conducted. Results: The results showed significant interaction (i.e., vision and sport) obtained at the take-off angle (p<0.05 and d=1.992), horizontal displacement (p<0.05 and d=1.906), and technical execution (p[removed]0.05). However, the elimination of vision during SBTS only affected parkour athletes (i.e., landing angle, ground reaction force, vertical velocity and technical execution, p[removed]1.20) while artistic gymnasts remain unchanged. Conclusion: We conclude that the specificity of the practice in each of the two sports disciplines influences the kinetic and kinematic control of the SBTS and suggests that with closed-eyes, the integration of afferent information relating to the vestibular and proprioceptive systems is different and specific to each discipline’s goal. Artistic gymnasts seem to be better skilled in the mechanical and technical control of the SBTS than parkour athletes.
URL
Training habits and lower limb injury prevention in parkour practitioners
Autor
Grosprêtre & El Khattabi
2022
|
Movement and Sports Sciences - Science et Motricite
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Freeruning, knee, ankle, sprain
Resumen
Parkour consists of overcoming obstacles mostly in an urban landscape. Little is known regarding usual training habits and injury risks of traceurs, i.e., parkour practitioners. In this study, a 20-min survey have been fulfilled by a population of traceurs regarding training load, habits (type of warm up, physical conditioning, stretching), type of footwear, and number and type of ankle- and knee-injuries during their career. A total of 180 responses were analyzed (24.4 ± 5.9 years old, 21.7% female, 6.0 ± 3.9 years of experience). Participants reported to train 1 to 7 times per week for a mean duration of 2.2 h. 76% practiced stretching exercises. 75.6% practiced physical conditioning in addition to their parkour training (weightlifting, functional exercises). Injury rate was 1.7 per 1000 h of training, mostly ankle sprains and knee contusions. Number of injury and training load were positively correlated. The lack of physical conditioning was also a factor of injury. Knee injuries have been more frequent on participants wearing minimalist shoes. Although training appears well auto-organized and the injury rate quite low some pitfalls require attention, notably in training planning, warm-up, stretching and conditioning. Building training and coaching methods specific to parkour appears essential.
URL
bottom of page