Role of Trunk Muscle Function in Postural Stabilization During Gymnastics Landings

Background Optimal trunk muscle activation is essential for providing proximal stability for limb movement, enhancing performance and landing precision, maintaining postural control, and reducing fatigue, compensations, low back pain, and lower-limb injury risk in gymnasts.The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between trunk muscle activity and strength endurance and postural stabilization during landings in female gymnasts following different motor tasks. Methods Seventeen gymnasts (aged 14.2 ± 2.2 years) performed landings after four tasks: drop landing forward somersault, backward somersault, backward acrobatic series. Postural stabilization during landing was assessed using an inertial sensor placed on the lumbar spine at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra, from which data was used to determine the dynamic stability index. Muscle activity was assessed using surface electromyography in three trunk muscles (m. rectus abdominis, m. obliquus externus abdominis, m. erector spinae-pars lumbalis) and muscle strength endurance was tested by the Bourban Trunk Muscle Strength test and Y-Balance test Upper Quarter. Results For the drop landing and forward somersault, the activity of the m. obliquus externus proved beneficial for improving stabilization during landing, whereas the activity of the m. rectus abdominis had a negative effect on stabilization. The strength of the trunk muscles was also found to contribute positively in the case of the drop landing and forward somersault. Conclusion The study shows the importance of optimal trunk muscle strength and balanced trunk muscle activity, particularly activity of the m. obliquus externus, for improve landing stabilization in gymnasts and injury prevention.