Incidence and Injury Rates in Pre-Collegiate Female Gymnasts

Abstract:
Current gymnastics injury epidemiology data is sparse, especially at the pre-collegiate level. Previous collegiate research suggests that female gymnasts are injured at a higher rate than most of their male and female counterparts in other sports. Additionally, these athletes typically perform intense training during peak years of pubertal growth and development, potentially complicating injury risk and driving the need for effective prevention strategies. Gathering injury data is vital to help health care professionals recognize the types and rates of injury, determine injury patterns and risk factors of the sport, and ultimately implement prevention strategies. Gymnastics is one of a few unique sports where the athlete typically performs intense training during peak years of pubertal growth and development, potentially complicating injury risk and driving the need for effective prevention strategies. Epidemiological data is vital to help health care professionals recognize the types and rates of injury and determine injury patterns and risk factors of the sport.

Objectives:

• Participants will be able to recognize gymnastics-related injuries that commonly occur in adolescents., 
• Participants will be able to define the injury incidence and injury rates among novice to high level gymnasts., 
• Participants will be able to analyze the risk of injury as a gymnast advances in the sport., 
• Participants will be able to generate strategies to minimize the risk of injury at varying skill levels

Level:
Essential

Domains:
Domain 1: Risk Reduction Wellness and Health Literacy

CEUs:
1.0 Category A

Keywords: gymnastics, gymnasts, injury, female, risk, 

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