Gymnastics is a sport of flexibility and agility
that includes 4 forms: artistic, rhythmic, acrobatic, and tumbling and
trampoline. Each form has its unique physical demands and specific injury risks;
however, all forms include jumping and back arching and rotating movements.
While not all injuries can be prevented, the risk of
injuries can be reduced. The following is information from the American Academy
of Pediatrics about how to prevent gymnastics injuries. Also included is an
overview of common gymnastics injuries.
Injury prevention and safety tips
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Coaches. It is important
for coaches to be experienced and familiar with the rules. Coaches
should also be certified in CPR and first aid.
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Spotters. Proper
supervision and spotting should be available at all times.
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Rules. "Clowning
around" should not be tolerated in the gym, especially around the
foam safety pit or trampolines.
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Equipment. Safety gear
should fit properly and be well maintained.
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Clothing that
allows for easy movement. (Body piercing should not be allowed
around the face or mouth.)
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Wrist pads/braces
like "Tiger Paws" to protect the wrist and
decrease wrist pain.
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Heel supports like
Tuli's heel cups placed in an ankle brace or Cheetahs
(which have a heel cup built into a wrap around the ankle brace)
cushion the heel for the barefoot athlete.
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Grips to protect
the palms. Basic palm protectors are used by beginners. Dowel
grips are used by the advanced gymnast.
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Apparatus should be
well maintained and checked on a regular basis.
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Emergency plan. Teams
should develop and practice an emergency plan so that team members know
their roles in emergency situations. The plan would include first aid
and emergency contact information. All members of the team should
receive a written copy each season. Parents also should be familiar with
the plan and review it with their children.
Regular: Basic palm protector made of leather
with no dowel.
Leather dowel grips for the advanced
gymnast.
Common injuries
Wrist injuries
Because gymnasts walk and jump on their
hands, significant force (sometimes 2 to 4 times their body weight) is put
on the wrists. As a result, most gymnasts complain of wrist pain at some
point. Gymnasts are particularly at risk for injuries to the growth plate of
the wrist as well as stress fractures of the forearm, tears in the wrist
cartilage, and scaphoid fractures.
Treatment begins with rest, ice,
compression, and elevation (RICE). Athletes should see a doctor if their
wrists are swollen or painful the next day. X-rays may be needed.
The risk of these injuries can be reduced by
a gradual increase in activity intensity, proper skill progression, proper
warm-up and conditioning, and the use of wrist braces.
Elbow injuries
Elbow sprains, fractures, or dislocations
can occur when a gymnast lands on an overextended elbow. Loss of blood
supply to an area of bone and cartilage, a condition called
osteochondritis dissecans, can cause an inability to
straighten the elbow and locking, catching, or swelling of the elbow.
Gymnasts are at risk of these injuries from the repetitive forces placed on
the elbow joints.
Treatment begins with RICE. Athletes should
see a doctor if their wrists are swollen or painful the next day. X-rays may
be needed.
Ankle and foot injuries
Ankle sprains are common, and a strength
training program that includes balance and theraband exercises is
recommended for both treatment and prevention. Sever's disease (heel
pain from inflammation of the growth plate of the heel bone) can happen when
an athlete's bare foot impacts the ground. Use of a Cheetah ankle
brace (or a Tuli's heel cup in an ankle brace) cushions the ankle
while performing gymnastics events.
Knee injuries
Both acute and chronic knee injuries are
seen in gymnastics. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears commonly occur
with dismounts and floor exercises. ACL prevention programs, which teach
proper landing and stopping techniques and include hamstring strengthening
exercises, should be part of the conditioning of all gymnasts. The
athletes' young ages and hours of practice make pain in the front of
the knee common (Osgood-Schlatter disease, patellar tendinosis, and
patellofemoral pain syndrome).
Treatment begins with RICE. Athletes should
see a doctor as soon as possible if they cannot walk on the injured knee.
Athletes should also see a doctor if the knee is swollen, a pop is felt at
the time of injury, or the knee feels loose or like it will give way.
Athletes who return to play with a torn ACL
risk further joint damage. Athletes with an ACL tear are usually unable to
return to their sport.
Low back pain
Spondylolysis, stress fractures in bones of
the lower spine, is a common injury in athletes who do a lot of jumping,
tumbling, and back-bending activities. Symptoms include low back pain that
feels worse with back extension activities like back walkovers or back
handsprings. Gymnasts with low back pain for longer than 2 weeks should see
a doctor. X-rays are usually normal so other tests are often needed to
diagnose spondylolysis.
Blisters
Training on the bars, horse, or rings often
causes calluses or blisters (also called rips by many gymnasts). These can
be prevented by using chalk (to decrease friction), leather grips, and
regular shaving of calluses that do develop.
Common medical issues
Female athlete triad
Female athlete triad is a
term used to describe the unhealthy combination of eating problems (not
getting enough calories), menstrual problems (absent or infrequent periods),
and low bone density (weak bones). Many female gymnasts try to stay thin for
appearances, or to be a lighter weight for mastery of difficult moves.
Parents and trainers should be on the lookout for rapid weight loss or
abnormal eating behaviors to prevent an eating disorder.
Burnout
Burnout can occur to gymnasts with long
hours of training, year-round participation, and pressures to advance. This
is common among athletes who began training at very young ages or those
forced to "retire" or miss a season after an injury. Athletes
should be watched carefully and counseled if burnout is suspected.
For answers to additional questions about
injuries, injury prevention, and safe training practices, talk with your
doctor or a physical therapist.
Remember
Gymnastics injuries can be prevented with proper
supervision and compliance with the rules and safety guidelines in place.
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