Characterization of Musculoskeletal Injuries in Gymnastics Participants From 2013 to 2020

Abstract

Background: Many studies have analyzed gymnastics-related injuries in collegiate and elite athletes, but there is minimal literature analyzing the epidemiological characteristics of injuries in the greater gymnastics community. Hypothesis: A higher incidence of injuries in younger gymnasts between the ages of 6 and 15 years compared with those 16 years and older and a difference in the distribution of injuries between male and female gymnasts. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for all gymnastics-related musculoskeletal injuries presenting to the emergency department (ED) between 2013 and 2020. Incidence was calculated as per 100,000 person-years using the weighted estimates provided by NEISS and national participation data. Chi-square and column proportion z-testing was used to analyze where appropriate. Results: The incidence of gymnastics-related musculoskeletal injuries was 480.7 per 100,000 person-years. Most ED visits were children between the ages of 6 and 15 years (84.0%). Younger gymnasts (ages 6 to 10) were most likely to experience a lower arm fracture, while those over the age of 10 years were most likely to experience an ankle sprain ( P < 0.01). Men and boys presented with a much greater proportion of shoulder injuries (8.0% vs 3.9%), while women and girls presented with a greater proportion of elbow injuries (9.9 % vs 5.9%) and wrist (10.5% vs 8.3%) injuries ( P < 0.01). Conclusion: As hypothesized, most gymnastics-related injuries between 2013 and 2020 were athletes between 6 and 15 years old. Many of these athletes are attempting new, more difficult, skills and are at increased risk of more acute injury when attempting skills they may be unfamiliar with. Clinical Relevance: With increased pressure to specialize at an early age to maintain competitiveness and learn new, higher-level skills compared with their peers, younger athletes are most susceptible to acute injury. New injury prevention strategies could be implemented to help this high-risk population compete and train safely.

A Research and Clinical Framework for Understanding Achilles Injury in Female Collegiate Gymnasts

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Returning to Sport: A Level-Based Guide for Women’s Artistic Developmental Program Gymnasts

“…17 However, a recent retrospective analysis of injury data representing a broader population of gymnasts, including gymnasts at the precompetitive or precollegiate level, found higher percentages of elbow and wrist injuries, particularly in comparison to male gymnasts. 33 Distal Radial Physeal Stress Syndrome, also called "gymnast's wrist" is a well-described overuse injury to the distal radial physis found primarily in gymnasts secondary to the high-impact loading forces repetitively placed through the wrist. It is typically diagnosed by a history of chronic dorsal or radial-sided wrist pain, a physical exam demonstrating pain at the distal radial physis and possibly decreased wrist mobility, and with radiographic findings of an irregular or widened distal radial physis.…”

Prepoznava Značilnosti Pojava Mišično-Skeletne Bolečine Pri Mladih Športnicah

“…According to Thomas & Thomas (2019), the most common injury types in gymnast Olympians were sprains (35%) followed by tendinopathy/arthritis/impingements 17%), contusions (10%), and fractures (7%). Researches on young gymnasts (ages 6 to 10) show that they are most likely to experience a lower arm fracture, while those over the age of 10 years were most likely to experience an ankle sprain (Albright, Meghani, Lemme, Owens, & Tabaddor, 2022). In order to be able to prevent such injuries caused by training, it is advisable to start with the systematic monitoring of the occurrence of pain of very low intensity as early as possible.…”