Effectiveness of a Differential Exercise Program Aimed at Developing Flexibility in Female Rhythmic Gymnasts Aged 5–7 Years

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a differential exercise program designed to develop flexibility in female rhythmic gymnasts aged 5–7 years. The research was organized as a pedagogical experiment conducted from September 2025 to April 2026. Flexibility was assessed using tests reflecting the mobility of the spine, shoulder, hip, and ankle joints, including the Bridge Test, Sit-and-Reach Test, Gymnastic Rope Shoulder Rotation Test, Split Test from a 30-cm Platform, Ankle Dorsiflexion Test, Foot Extension Test, and Back Bend from a Prone Position Test. The results were analyzed through a comparative assessment of baseline and final measurements. Absolute changes and percentage improvements were calculated for all indicators. At the end of the experiment, positive dynamics were observed in all flexibility tests: 71.2% improvement in the Bridge Test, 43.4% in the Sit-and-Reach Test, 30.3% in shoulder joint mobility, 81.3% in the right-leg split, 67.9% in the left-leg split, 111.1% in ankle dorsiflexion, 63.7% in foot extension, and 90.1% in the Back Bend from a Prone Position Test. The findings indicate that flexibility development in young gymnasts can be effectively enhanced through the application of exercises based on age-related characteristics, joint-specific differentiation, progressive load increase, and systematic repetition. The proposed differential exercise program demonstrated substantial effectiveness in improving flexibility indicators among female rhythmic gymnasts aged 5–7 years.