Event-Specific Kinematics of the Free Aerial Cartwheel on the Balance Beam: Associations with Execution Quality and Single-Leg Jump Performance

Abstract

The Free Aerial Cartwheel is a complex balance beam skill requiring precise coordination under a limited support surface. This study examined event-specific joint-angle characteristics of the Free Aerial Cartwheel and their associations with technical execution, single-leg countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJa) performance, and lower-limb length. Seven female artistic gymnasts performed the skill on a balance beam. Joint angles were assessed using 2D markerless motion analysis at predefined step, take-off, flight, and landing events, while technical execution was evaluated by five international FIG judges. Associations were examined using Spearman’s rank correlations with Holm correction for multiple comparisons. At the unadjusted level, large correlations were observed between the execution score and the landing-leg ankle angle at take-off (ρ = 0.857, p = 0.024) and opposite-side elbow angle at take-off and flight (ρ = 0.821, p = 0.034 for both). Single-leg CMJa performance showed large positive correlations with the execution score and take-off-leg hip angle at landing (ρ = 0.786, p = 0.048 for both). However, none of the examined associations remained statistically significant after Holm correction. These findings should therefore be interpreted as exploratory and identify candidate variables for further investigation rather than established relationships with Free Aerial Cartwheel execution.