Effective Methods for Developing Flexibility in Young Rhythmic Gymnasts

The aim of this research was to determine effective training methods for improving flexibility in young rhythmic gymnasts. Methods: An 8-week pedagogical experiment was conducted with 20 female rhythmic gymnasts (ages 7–9), divided into an experimental group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). The experimental group’s training incorporated a combined flexibility development program – including dynamic warm-ups, static stretching, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques, and playful “game stretching” exercises – alongside standard routines. The control group followed the traditional stretching regimen. Pre- and post-training flexibility was evaluated using splits tests and shoulder flexibility tests, and improvements were analyzed with appropriate statistical methods. Results: Both groups showed significant flexibility gains (p