On directions of research in artistic gymnastics
The authors showed that in the modern science of physical education and sports scale research is so extensive that the analysis and synthesis of the results of scientific work becomes of fundamental importance. This situation is typical for many areas of science, characterized by the fact that there are so many publications that scientists are unable to keep track of all of them, even in their field. Suffice to say that in Russia the number of defended and published theses on problems of physical education and sports in only two of the leading higher education institutions (Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism, and Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health) is more than 6760 works. The results of scientific research in the field of gymnastics are no exception. During the period of 1946-2009 in the Soviet Union and Russia 284 research papers were defended. The authors identified 13 areas of research in artistic gymnastics: methodology of sports training of gymnasts, biomechanics of gymnastic exercises, gymnastics, sports training technique of young gymnasts, gymnastics technique in the school system, gymnastics technique in the higher education system, physiology of sports activity of gymnasts, physiotherapy, sports acrobatics, production gymnastics, psychological training of gymnasts, biochemistry in the athletic training of gymnasts, gymnastics history. It is shown that the largest number of works (158) is defended in research related to the procedure of training gymnasts. Of these, 44% is works related to the improvement of athletic training of gymnasts of high class. 21% of works is devoted to general theoretical foundations of sports training and 23% - to the methods of excelling gymnasts of high class. In the second place are papers related to the study of the biomechanical basis of gymnastic exercises. This fact is quite natural, since the results of biomechanical studies are the basis for the adjustment of teaching and improving the training process of gymnasts. The third place is occupied by researches related to artistic gymnastics (58 works). Considering the number of dissertation researches in rhythmic gymnastics we should note that a greater number of works mentioned appeared since 1990. So if during the Soviet period, there were 26 works in rhythmic gymnastics, the post-Soviet period has 32 of them. Research on Sports Reserve occupy the fourth place. Studies of gymnastics as a means of physical education at secondary schools and higher education institutions have the fifth and sixth places accordingly. Research related to the problems of medical and industrial gymnastics have the eighth and tenth places. The modern process of training gymnasts is impossible without research on physiology, psychology, and biochemistry. Research in the field of gymnastics in these areas occupy the seventh, 11th, and 12 th place in the overall number of researches. Problems in the history of artistic gymnastics in the research of scientists occupy the modest 13th place.