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Construction and Validation of a Specific Balance Test for Rhythmic Gymnasts: A Pilot Study
Rebeka Stojkovic1, Ivan Peric1, Zvonimir Tomac1
1Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek, Drinska 16a, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.
Background:
Balance is a key ability in rhythmic gymnastics, affecting not only technical performance but also the aesthetic and expressive quality of routines. Standard tests often do not reflect the real demands of the sport, where gymnasts must simultaneously maintain stability, manipulate apparatus, and follow the musical rhythm. Therefore, there is a need for a specific test that combines motor and cognitive challenges to provide a precise and reliable assessment of athletes' functional abilities.
Methods:
The study involved 12 girls with an average age of 9 years. Participants underwent anthropometric measurements and were tested using standard motor tests as well as a specific balance test for rhythmic gymnasts (BTRG). Test reliability was assessed using a test-retest procedure, and construct validity was evaluated through factor analysis in comparison with existing balance tests.
Results:
The BTRG demonstrated high reliability (ICC = 0.96; CV = 6.4%; SEM = 0.18) and the ability to distinguish gymnasts from different programs. Factor analysis confirmed that the BTRG effectively measures specific balance in accordance with theoretical expectations.
Conclusions:
The new test provides a potentially valid and reliable tool for assessing specific balance in rhythmic gymnasts and maybe useful in the training process, athlete evaluation, and talent development; however, these finding should be interpreted with caution as they are preliminary and derived from pilot study.
