Parada de mãos: do início ao aperfeiçoamento

Abstract

Gymnastics is a comprehensive and diverse practice, encompassing modalities like conditioning, competition, physiotherapy, body awareness, and demonstration. Its foundations are rooted in natural movements, with a particular focus on the handstand, a complex exercise found in various physical practices such as circus arts and dance. However, existing literature offers limited references for teaching and learning methodologies for this skill. To address this gap, this research aimed to develop a methodological synthesis for handstand teaching and learning by analyzing physical education didactic materials. The study employed a literature review, valuing its efficiency in terms of cost and access to information, despite challenges in source availability and the need for critical reading. The process involved selecting and analyzing didactic materials from the curriculum components of Physical Education pedagogical projects in public institutions in Goiânia (GO) for the year 2025. Initially, 42 gymnastics-related materials were identified; however, due to unavailability, only 32 were accessible. After refinement, focusing exclusively on works about handstand teaching and learning, 9 bibliographic references were selected. The next step involved detailed cataloging of these materials, including summaries and relevant citations, to organize information and enable an in-depth critical analysis. The theoretical underpinning of the research is the information processing theory, which understands motor learning as an interdependent perceptual-motor system. Efficient handstand execution depends on the precision of sensory stimuli perception—involving the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems—and the coordination of motor responses in five stages: capture, integration, processing, execution, and movement evaluation. Learning this skill is a non-linear and individualized process, influenced by biological, environmental, and task factors, manifesting across psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains, with training being crucial for its improvement. Biomechanically, the handstand requires the body to form a continuous straight line, with extended arms, flexed shoulders, joined legs, a straightened spine, and fine balance control through the hands and wrists, in addition to muscle tone. Its learning is gradual and systematic, progressing from static exercises and weight transfers to wall support and assistance, culminating in kicks-up or press-ups. Correcting common errors is fundamental for mastering this complex skill. This work aims to stimulate the gradual development of motor response stages and sensory systems, emphasizing the importance of prior experience and safety. This significantly contributes to handstand instruction, integrating biomechanical requirements, body alignment, and error correction for the development of a fundamental gymnastics skill.