Spatiotemporal gait parameters and ground reaction force analysis in female non-gymnasts versus gymnasts during adolescence and university stages
Amany E. Abd-Eltawab, Yusuf Saleem Khan, Eslam K. Fahmy, Mustafa Shukry, Dalia Mahmoud Abdelmonem Elsherbini, Hailah M. Almohaimeed et al. · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · 2026
Background: and
Aim: Gymnastics requires balance, coordination, and flexibility, making it both enjoyable and challenging. However, ensuring safety is crucial to prevent injuries. This study aimed to assess key spatiotemporal gait parameters, including cadence, velocity, stride length, cycle time, and step width, in conjunction with the anteroposterior ground reaction force (GRF-X) across five sub-phases of the gait cycle, in female gymnasts and non-gymnasts during the adolescence and university stages.
Methods: In this study, 40 participants were recruited and categorized into two primary groups based on age: Group I represented the adolescent stage and comprised female middle school students, and Group II represented the university stage and comprised female university students. Each primary group was further divided into two subgroups: non-gymnasts and gymnasts. Therefore, four distinct groups were formed: 10 non-gymnast female middle school students, 10 gymnast female middle school student, 10 non-gymnast female university students, and 10 gymnast female university students. Participants were matched for age, height, and weight. A two-way multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA) was performed to evaluate the effects of group (junior vs. university) and activity (gymnast vs. non-gymnast) on the combined dependent variables, including cadence, walking speed, stride length, cycle time, step width, and GRF-X, across the gait sub-phases. A p -value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The
results indicated significant differences between female middle school gymnasts and non-gymnasts in cadence, speed, cycle time, and step width. Similarly, significant differences were identified between female university students who were gymnasts and those who were not, specifically in cadence, speed, and stride length. Furthermore, the mean values of GRF-X during the initial contact, loading response, and mid-stance phases differed significantly between female middle school gymnasts and non-gymnasts. Additionally, a significant difference was noted between gymnast and non-gymnast female university students during the initial contact and mid-stance phases.
Conclusion: The
results revealed significant alterations in the GRF-X values across the four groups. Furthermore, the cadence, speed, cycle time, and step width exhibited significant differences between the non-gymnast and gymnast groups; therefore, it is recommended to strengthen lower limb muscles, normalize gait parameters, and improve ankle range of motion to mitigate injury risk. Normal gait provides a fundamental benchmark for subsequent comparisons with task-specific activities.