The main aim of this study was to determine the influence of rigorous training on physical growth (PG) between age 14-17 among professional and non-professional gymnasts. The study included two groups; 40 professional and 40 non-professional male Artistic gymnasts. The mean difference between both groups shows that the increase in height of professional gymnasts after intervention is less than that of non-professional gymnasts. Professionals in pre-test and post-test which indicates mean and SD scores was found 159.31 ±9.85 in pre-test and 159.94±9.86 in post-test along with Mean % Dif. (0.63) in both tests and p <0.001 indicate that the difference is statistically significant in both pre & post-tests. Overall results show that PG of male artistic gymnasts (age 14-17 years old) was more negatively affected by RT in professional gymnasts as compare to non-professional groups

Artistic Gymnastics, International, Federation, Growth, Training 

Physical fitness and growth are essential aspects of human well-being that contribute to overall health and quality of life. They are interconnected and play a significant role in an individual's physical, mental, and social development. Numerous studies (Garcia et al., 2023) indicate that physical fitness and growth are closely tied to physical activity. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that physical exercise helps to avoid chronic illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity (WHO, 2020). Sports and physical exercise both serve important roles in improving health and well-being, building social relationships, and cultivating a sense of accomplishment. While the players in the sports exertion keep themselves physically and mentally intertwined, they also make the followership enjoy it. Playing well is vital to sensation in sports that cannot be achieved without excellent training. Athletes borrow good training to improve their playing process and keep themselves fit (Berryman et al., 2019).

Gymnastics is a physically demanding sport that requires participants to complete sophisticated and challenging sequences that incorporate aspects of strength, flexibility, power, balance, and coordination. Gymnastics may be linked to prehistoric times when it was used in sports and warfare (Tayne et al., 2021). Gymnasts are athletes who push the limits of human physical capabilities by defying gravity and performing gravity-defying moves with extraordinary control and technique (Kant, 2011). The movement of the body from beginning to end may be thoroughly observed in AG. Strength, Balance, Coordination, Flexibility, and Agility are visible. When viewed scientifically, it depicts the whole biomechanical action. The complete biomechanical law is engaged in the player's movement from the front role to the finish of the game. There are six events included in the AG which are; floor exercise, vaulting horse, parallel bar, pommel horse, still rings, and horizontal bar. 

Regarding body movement (BM), Hsu and Valentova (2020) indicate that physical exercise is based on BM that needs energy expenditure. Similarly, Tao and Li (2023) reported that sometimes physical activity and body movement involve high-intensity exercises that are intended to enhance strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall fitness. Athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and professionals in a variety of sports and athletic professions frequently use rigorous training. Although gymnastics is expected to increase an athlete's personality in the same way that other sports enhance a person's personality, nowadays in Gymnastics, it is seen that the athletes who participate in training from the beginning, as they get older, as they move towards the peak level of Gymnastics; their physical growth starts to stagnate. This difference is evident in their parents and players. Additionally, Reaboi (2023) concluded that, if the difference regarding physical growth is due to rigorous training (RT), then we must consider it because athletes come to sports to develop their health and their personality. 

1. There is no significant effect of rigorous training on the height, weight, and body movement in male professional and non-professional gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics.
2. There is a significant effect of rigorous training on the height and weight of male professional and non-professional gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics.
3. There is a significant effect of rigorous training on the body movement of male professional and non-professional gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics.

Research Objective

1. To analyze the effects of rigorous training on the height and weight of male professional and non-professional gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics.
2. To determine the effects of rigorous training on body movements of floor elements in male professional and non-professional gymnasts in Artistic Gymnastics.

Gap analysis

Georgopoulos et al. (2012) aim of this study was to determine the impact of intensive training on adult final height in elite female rhythmic (RG) and artistic gymnastics (AG). In both elite female RG and AG, genetic predisposition to final height was not disrupted and remained the main force of growth. Although in elite RG genetic predisposition for growth was fully preserved, in elite female AG final adult height falls shorter than the genetically determined target height, though within the standard error of prediction. Therefore, the author analyzed the effects of rigorous training on physical growth and body mobility in children aged 14-17 years through this study. Because the growth rate in children of this age (14-17 years) is much higher than in adolescence and young adulthood.

Sport is concerning the exertion of the body in which the body is exercised according to its aptitude. Playing well is vital to sensation in sports that cannot be achieved without excellent training. Athletes borrow good training to get better in their playing process and keep themselves fit (Makepeace & Young, 2021). As part of sports, physical activity is useful for improving the capacity of mental health. In addition, a study was conducted to find out whether physical activities at different times can really be helpful in reducing mental pressure (Aguilar?Raab et al., 2021). 

Sports Training

Song (2022) reported that the success or failure of any game depends on its level of training which includes technical, physical, tactical, and physiological training of athletes. The results of the study indicated that, if technical and physical factors are left out, players can be exposed to a variety of setbacks that can cause them to fail to achieve their goals. Walsh (2018) indicated that there is a limit to the amount of training that can be done in any game on a regular basis that builds the energy and immunity in an athlete's body. Training with more rest and less intensity reduces the strength of the athlete which is considered necessary for high-intensity exercise which helps to make high-intensity training perfect. If we continue with high-intensity training, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits (Mohamed et al., 2021).

Rigorous Training

A challenging and intensive workout plan that presses athletes to their limitless potential is referred to as rigorous training. It is systematic and controlled training, sometimes involving high-intensity exercises that are intended to enhance strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall fitness. To compare the eccentric overload training of Unilateral vs. Bilateral training with the use of inertial devices when using rigorous skill training or fitness training. The results indicated that both groups showed the best improvement without any change (Núñez et al., 2018). In recent times, it has been observed that the use of high-intensity interval training in sports training is increasing. A study of related literature indicates that guidelines and their advantages and disadvantages have been overlooked. This helps to eliminate the athlete's chronic illness or a situation that has become very complicated. At the same time, this training does not have any negative effects on human memory (Hsieh et al., 2020). 

Artistic Gymnastics

Boyle (2022) indicated that there are different kinds of gymnastics including AG, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, and aerobic gymnastics. Arts and humanities scholarship has generally ignored it, with sports history giving analyses of certain gymnastic leaders or regional or national practices. Most current research comes from the field of sports science and focuses on biomechanics, difficulties related to PG, nutrition, eating disorders, and sports psychology. Artistic gymnasts often undergo comprehensive training programs that incorporate strength and conditioning exercises, flexibility training, balance drills, and aerobic conditioning to develop and enhance these fitness components. Tailored coaching and guidance are essential to ensure that young gymnasts progress safely and effectively in their pursuit of excellence in rhythmic and AG. 

Physical Growth

PG is a fundamental aspect of human development that occurs from infancy through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Here are some key points about PG.

According to (Silverman & Deuster, 2014), physical growth refers to the process by which an organism, typically a human, increases in size and develops physically over time. This process involves changes in height, weight, body composition, and the development of various bodily systems and structures including musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic, immunologic, and cognitive growth. It's important to note that physical growth is a dynamic process that occurs throughout the lifespan. While growth is most rapid during childhood and adolescence, it continues into early adulthood, albeit at a slower rate. After a certain point, usually around the late teens or early twenties, growth plates in the bones close, and further increases in height are limited. Additionally, researchers (Chen et al., 2022) have also identified factors of PG such as genetics, nutrition, overall health, and lifestyle choices all influence the rate and extent of PG in individuals. Proper healthcare, a balanced diet, and a healthy lifestyle are key factors in ensuring optimal PG and development. In this study, the researcher has tried to know how RT affects PG, particularly the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, metabolic, immunologic, and cognitive growth of children aged between 14 and 17, and its effects on their BM (Uraimov, 2022). 

Methodology

Study Design

The study under observation was conducted through a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) research design. The RCT data collection methodology was used to collect data for this study. Afterward, the data were collected from participating gymnasts who volunteered for this study. The process of data collection consisted of three stages; 1) Before the intervention stage; 2) During the intervention stage and 3) After the intervention stage. 

Study setting

Artistic gymnastic (AG) is a type that complies with the FIG codes and one apparatus floor exercise used in this study. In order to perform such physical movements on the gymnastics apparatus, 4-AGs were selected in Multan and Lahore which are large divisions of Pakistan from where 80 gymnasts participated in this study to assess the characteristics of their strength, agility, balance, coordination, and flexibility through intervention. 

Population

Participants (N= 225) gymnasts were registered in these clubs whose ages were from 7 to 26 years. Four gymnastics clubs were randomly selected from the Lahore and Multan divisions from which the participants volunteered for this study.