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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Caine D, Roy S, Singer KM, Broekhoff J (1992) Stress changes of the distal radius growth plate. A radiographic survey and review of the literature. Am J Sports Med 20:290–298
Lindner KJ, Caine DJ (1990) Injury patterns of female competitive club gymnasts. Can J Sport Sci 15:254–261
Meeusen R, Borms J (1992) Gymnastic injuries. Sports Med 13:337–356
Olesen S (1991) Occurrence of athletic injuries among female elite athletic gymnasts. Ugeskr Laeger 22:2117–2119
Pettrone FA, Ricciardelli E (1983) Gymnastic injuries: the Virginia Experience 1982–1983. Am J Sports Med 15:59–62
Sands WA, Shultz BB, Newman AP (1993) Women's gymnastic injuries. A 5-year study. Am J Sports Med 21:271–276
Shaffer TE (1974) Summary in sportspages. Physician Sportsmed 2:23
Snook GA (1979) Injuries in women's gymnastics, a 5 year study. Am J Sports Med 7:242–244
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Felländer-Tsai, L., Wredmark, T. Injury incidence and cause in elite gymnasts. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 114, 344–346 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00448959
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00448959