2.1   Respiratory and ventilation system

There is an evident paucity of literature regarding the respiratory system in male and female
gymnasts. This lack of information is mainly due to the difficulties of operating medical instru-
ments while performing gymnastics. It is indeed very tricky, even with advanced technology,
to collect the gas exchange during aerial catch and release skills. This is the case, for example,
on the horizontal and parallel bars. Investigators have tried to use portable telemetric gas
analysers; unfortunately, the weight of the equipment obliged the gymnasts to make some
adjustments to the skills. Aerial figures, for example, were harder to perform. The gymnasts
were not only afraid of missing their landings/dismounts and thereby damaging the equipment,
but they were also prevented from performing certain elements where they had to go on their
backs and/or their fronts. In addition, the face mask and the turbine of the system prevent
head flexion and tucked or piked positions on all apparatus (as in the case of somersaults).

The only two studies reported in the literature within this field were carried out in the late 70s. The authors gave details mainly of the ventilatory system of the gymnasts at rest: Shaghlil