Baseline Testing, Program Analysis, Efficacy, Compliance and Marketing for Gymnasts: Analyzing Strengths and Deficits

Course overview

Gymnastics is a sport based on a foundation of proper strength flexibility body control and basic movements that build on each other in combination or with the addition of added velocity. An athlete who has the basics mastered will increase their likelihood of more efficient skill advancement and performance that lessens injury possibility. Understanding where your athletes are in the continuum of progression is important. Where are the deficits? What is being worked at nauseum? Are you preparing the athletes for the next level of demands? Is there a coach or level that is favoring certain repetitive conditioning skills and ignoring others? Gym owners and coaches can use this information to better their program and motivate athletes to fully engage in strength, conditioning and flexibility whereas rehabilitation professionals can use this data for etiology of chronic injury and markers for full recovery and return to sport specific training. Convincing the athletes themselves, parents, coaches, gym owners and the health care team of the relevance of this data and the time and organization needed to collect will increase compliance and better outcomes! Synthesizing all of the information learned as a medical practitioner is difficult, and convincing stakeholders is the application. Interested affected parties include athletes, parents/guardians, current and future/community health care team, coaches, gym owners, National Governing Boards and more. Having well researched peer-reviewed and anecdotal and vetted evaluations and applications is the base. Obtaining buy in, value, and commitment is the key to making a difference. Health communication theories are used to explain how people establish their personal health beliefs and values, and the method and level of commitment people have to change. Within the gymnastics community specifically, buy in of the entire support system is crucial. Learning how to do so increases efficacy and overall wellness.