TITLE:
Impact of Improved Feedforward Control on Flight Time in Trampoline Competitions
AUTHORS:
Mutsumi Takahashi, Yogetsu Bando, Takuya Fukui
KEYWORDS:
Feedforward Control, Flight Time, Trampoline Competition, Mouthguard, Occlusion
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Physical Education,
Vol.15 No.2,
May
13,
2025
ABSTRACT: Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to clarify the effect of improved feedforward control resulting from better occlusal balance through a mouthguard intervention on flight time in trampoline competition. Method: Participants were 13 male trampoline gymnasts (17.8 ± 2.2 years). Feedforward control was evaluated with the cross test by using a center-of-gravity sway meter. The value obtained by dividing the rectangular area obtained from the product of the longitudinal movement distance and the lateral movement distance of the center of foot pressure by the outer peripheral area (i.e., R/E value) was used as an index of feedforward control. The trial was 10 consecutive straight jumps. The HDTS all-in-one measurement system was used to measure the flight time. Measurements were performed under two conditions: not wearing a mouthguard and wearing a mouthguard. Comparisons of the R/E value or flight time between the wearing and not wearing mouthguard conditions were analyzed using a paired t-test. Correlation between the R/E value and flight time under each measurement condition was analyzed using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. Results: The R/E values and flight time were significantly higher with the mouthguard than without (P P