By Sean Henahan, Access Excellence

ATLANTA (7/22/96) University of Illinois researchers have developed simple and effective training methods to help give American athletes a jump on the competition.

University of Illinois at Chicago orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Mark Hutchinson is the team physician and orthopaedic consultant to the U.S. Olympic rhythmic gymnastics team. Together with a team of physical therapists and athletic trainers, he introduced the gymnastics team to a new training prgram that has dramatically improved their leaping ability.

Rhythmic gymnastics blends ballet, dance and gymnastics and uses ribbons, bells and hoops. Using water-resistance training in a swimming pool and spring-controlled body conditioning exercises over a one-month period, the elite female athletes improved their jumping height by 16 percent, their reaction time (quickness) by 50 percent and their explosive leg power by 220 percent.

"The results from this limited course of intense training were impressive," says Hutchinson, who is also chief of sports medicine at UIC and team physician to all UIC Flames teams. "These athletes, who have an average of seven years of gymnastics experience, were already excellent leapers and well-conditioned. One of the key components of the training was education -- teaching the athletes to improve their technique.

"Using a variety of controlled leaps, jumps, twists and other water-resisted leg maneuvers, the pool training allowed the athletes to refine their leaping skills by focusing on proper technique in an environment that is safe and different from their normal training routine. It was also a form of cross-training that reduced the chances of injury as well as psychological burnout that can result from intense training."

Hutchinson says this kind of training program can be applied to many other sports that require leaping ability, including basketball, ice skating, volleyball, ballet, diving and certain track and field events.