Gymnastic Injuries: the Virginia Experience 1982-1983

Gymnastics has undergone a tremendous increase in popularity largely due to exposure during the Olympics. The injury rate in gymnastics is exceeded only by football, wrestling, and softball. A prospective analysis of club level gymnastic injuries over one season (1982-83) was conducted. Complete responses from 15 clubs (2,558 participants) were obtained. Parameters of clubs followed were: skill level, student, instructor ratio, safety equipment, and conditioning and warm-up exercises. Data obtained from each participant were: injuries sustained, event in which injury occurred, setting of injury, type of injury, and duration of disability. Results were 62 injuries among 542 competitive and 2,016 noncompetitive level athletes (5.3 per 100 competitors and 0.7 per 100 beginners). Of the 62 injuries, 51 were acute and 11 chronic. Twenty-one injuries occurred during floor exercises, 13 on beam, 9 on vault, 6 on uneven parallel bars, and 2 on springboard. Acute injuries included 21 sprains, 16 fractures, 6 contusions, 4 dislocations, and 4 muscle strains. A significant finding was the increased frequency of acute injury seen at dismount. Also there was a positive correlation between duration of frequency of practice (fatigue) and injury rate. We would define a high risk gymnast as one who is performing at an advanced competitive level, performing floor or beam exercises, and practicing more than 20 hours per week.