Injury incidence and cause in elite gymnasts

Abstract

This report describes the incidence, localization, and cause of injuries in Swedish male and female elite gymnasts during 18 active months (three seasons). Thirty-one elite gymnast clubs with all together 437 gymnasts were included in the study, which consisted of a written questionnaire reporting morphometric facts as well as data concerning the injury. There were in total 82 injury reports. The injury incidence was 6.25 per 100 elite gymnasts and season. A majority of the injuries occurred in the lower extremities. The right leg was injured more often than the left. Most of the severe injuries occurred during mounting and dismounting which advocates the need for preventive measures in association with these particular events. Male gymnasts were more prone to sustain severer injuries such as dislocations and fractures. Severe injuries affected the upper extremity in 83%, and the right side was injured more often than the left.