Understanding overuse injuries in rhythmic gymnastics: A 12-month ethnographic study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of overuse injuries in rhythmic gymnastics from a psychosocial perspective. More specifically, it examined how sport culture impacts overuse injuries. Design: To develop an understanding of the culture of rhythmic gymnastics and gymnasts' behaviour within the context of this culture, ethnography was the chosen method and written product of this research. Method: A 12-month ethnography was conducted in an elite rhythmic gymnastics club in Italy, with 43 participants, consisting of 16 gymnasts, three female coaches, one physiotherapist, 22 parents, and the club's president. Eight qualitative methods of data collection were used to provide rigor and depth. Following data transcription, a thematic analysis was conducted to identify the emergent themes. Findings are presented using ethnographic creative nonfiction for ethical, theoretical and practical reasons. Results: Two stories were created portraying the same training session through the eyes of a gymnast and her coach. The stories reflect the differences in the interpretation of the same situations and the cultural norms, values and behaviours that influenced the occurrence and experience of overuse injuries. Conclusions: This study extends research on overuse injuries in three ways: (a) it honours athletes as social agents by exploring the intersection between psychology and sociology, (b) it uses a rigorous methodology to elicit a more in-depth understanding of overuse injuries, and (c) it adopts an innovative form of representation to increase the accessibility of the findings to non-academic audiences.

Adjusting to retirement from sport: narratives of former competitive rhythmic gymnasts

“…This lack of open communication between athletes and coaches, together 1 with pain normalisation and impression management behaviours, was shown to influence the 2 development of overuse injuries. Overall, the gymnasts adhered to the cultural values and 3 norms inherent within the gymnastics environment by displaying appropriate behaviours 4 reinforced by the coach (Cavallerio et al 2016). The extant research exploring the 5 environment of gymnastics has advanced our understanding of the role of culture in the 6 experience of current gymnasts.…”

“…16 Findings from Cavallerio et al (2016) illuminated how young rhythmic gymnasts were 17 immersed in the cultural environment of an elite gymnastics club. Over time, the gymnasts 18 learned and accepted the values (e.g., importance of success, discipline) and norms (e.g., do 19 not skip training, do not talk back to the coach, be on time) that characterised their 20 environment, in the pursuit of being 'good gymnasts' (Cavallerio et al 2016). Indeed, rather 21 than disclosing their experiences of pain and injury to their coaches, the gymnasts in 22…”

Overuse Injuries in Youth Sports: Legal and Social Responsibility

“…Similarly, Hill and Simons found coaches to be the more significant influence over youth decisions to specialize in a single sport (Hill & Simons, 1989). Youth players often learn a particular sports ethic from their coaches as well, one that often normalizes the experience of pain and the teaches youth to value "mental toughness" (Cavallerio, Wadey, & Wagstaff, 2016). Observational research of girls' softball teams found that coaches would frequently ignore players' complaints about pain, tell them to "shake it off," and even make jokes about those with physical complaints (Malcom, 2006).…”

Pain as performance: re-virginisation in Turkey

“…Within this categorisation, the latter usually refers to pain that hurts and is rather difficult to endure, whereas the former is necessary or is believed to have a function in the body. Pain that is necessary can be the result of bodily work such as exercising and dancing, as the pain in this case is the proof to oneself that the body has been put under the necessary stress to progress, although how this pain is interpreted by the one in pain and by its immediate community is not necessarily the same, which blurs the lines between good and bad pain 18. Bendelow and Williams refer to good pain as the ‘constructive use of pain’, where pain is ‘an ally’3 rather than the enemy.…”

“…However, as this article will illustrate as well, this dichotomy is constructed as a result of the overemphasis on chronic pain, and by overlooking the intersection between the two sensations. When the focus is shifted away from medically induced pain, the elusiveness of the lines between pain and pleasure can be seen even more clearly, as in the examples of physical exercise,18 sado-masochism21 and tattooing. Similarly, Amy Chandler addresses the elusiveness of the line between pain and pleasure by referring to self-injury and puts forth that ‘pleasure and pain became amorphous, fluid entities’ in her participants’ accounts 22.…”