Gymnasts tumble on the floor, leap across the beam, implode off the vault and fly over the high bar, completing skills fit for superheroes. But while gymnasts are some of the strongest and most flexible athletes, they don't actually possess superhuman powers, and these challenging skills come with a risk of injury.
Number of Injuries
Gymnastics has one of the highest rates of injuries in girls sports, says an April 2008 article in "Pediatrics" citing data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. From 1990 to 2005, an average of 26,600 injuries occurred annually for boys and girls ages 6 through 17. For every 1,000 gymnasts participating in the sport per year, an average of 4.8 suffered injuries. The number of gymnastics injuries for both sexes is similar to that of hockey, basketball, soccer and cheerleading.
Type of Injuries
Most gymnastics injuries are minor. Girls are more likely to have upper extremity injuries, while boys are more likely to have head and neck injuries. Some of the most common injuries include wrist and ankle sprains, foot injuries, lower back strain, fractures, abrasions and dislocations. Concussions and closed head injuries only account for 1.7 percent of the injuries in the 16-year study. Injuries often occur from colliding with or falling off equipment. Of the reported skills that caused injuries, handsprings and flips made up the majority at 42.3 percent and cartwheels and round-offs followed at 30.7 percent.
Considerations
While the injury rate for gymnastics is high, the data from the 1990 to 2005 study showed injuries had declined over the 16 years by 25 percent. Additionally, 40 percent of the injuries occurred at school, and 20 percent occurred at home or another public property, not at a gymnastics facility. Trained gymnasts who understand the fundamentals of stretching, supporting their body weight and falling properly are less likely to injure themselves than the untrained children who practice gymnastics on their own at school or home. Finally, gymnasts who participate in the sport for recreation are less likely to injure themselves than competitive gymnasts at the higher levels.
Preventing Injuries
Practicing gymnastics under the supervision of a certified gymnastics coach in a well-equipped facility can reduce the chance of injury. Gymnasts always should warm up with short aerobic activity and a period of stretching the muscles. Wearing tight but flexible clothing, such as leotards, can reduce injuries by allowing the gymnast free range of motion. Tape and wrists guards can prevent injuries on the bars and rings, while gymnastics shoes can help absorb the impact of the vault. Spotters and spotting belts can help guide a gymnast safely through new skills.
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