[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/common-gymnastics-injuries\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/common-gymnastics-injuries\/","headline":"Gymnastics and Injury: How to Stay Safe","name":"Gymnastics and Injury: How to Stay Safe","description":"Gymnastics has an injury rate that rivals contact sports. Learn about upper and lower-body injuries as well as gymnastics back injuries with this guide.","datePublished":"2017-03-11","dateModified":"2022-12-06","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/032017_GYMNASTICS.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/032017_GYMNASTICS.jpg","height":325,"width":751},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/common-gymnastics-injuries\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":799,"keywords":["gymnastics","injuries in gymnastics","injury prevention","lower back pain","shoulder injuries","sports injuries"],"articleBody":"Updated June 2021Millions of people participate in gymnastics every year in the United States at a variety of skill levels.\u00a0 Participation in gymnastics from the recreational class level to the competitive team can provide both physical and mental benefits.Erica Coffey, PT, MS, SCS, program director of the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute\u00a0Sports Physical Therapy Residency Program and former collegiate gymnast, weighs in on the great benefits and risks of gymnastics.Benefits of GymnasticsGymnastics builds physical strength, balance, flexibility, and total body coordination \u2013 as well as teaching life skills such as goal setting and the tangible benefits of working hard to successfully complete a new skill for the first time. The physical benefits of gymnastics participation can also improve one\u2019s ability to perform in other sports. But gymnastics, like all sports, is not without risk. Most injuries occur as a result of overuse due to repetitive practice to master specific skills.\u201cThe most common overuse injuries in gymnastics are muscle strains and tendonitis. Due to the high-flying nature of some tumbling and vaulting type skills, traumatic injuries can occur as well. Gymnastics skills that require an individual to turn upside down such as back handsprings, back tucks, and other \u201cflipping\u201d skills should never be performed without supervision,\u201d Erica says.Upper Body Injuries in GymnasticsGymnastics requires exceptional\u00a0strength, and as a result can place excess stress on joints, especially in the upper body. Events like the vault, pommel horse, rings, and high bar for men \u2013 as well as vault and uneven bars for women \u2013 are the most likely to cause injury to the shoulders, wrists, and elbows.\u00a0 Injuries might include:Ligament sprains of the shoulder, elbow, or wrist.Growth plate injuries in young athletes.Joint dislocations\u00a0of the shoulder or elbow, or wrist\u00a0fractures.Muscle strains or tendonitis to the shoulder or elbow muscles.Common Lower Body Injuries in GymnasticsHard landings and the repetitive stress of jumping and landing, especially from events such as vaulting and tumbling, can lead to lower body injuries in gymnasts.Injuries can range from minor to severe and may include ankle and foot sprains, patellar tendonitis, or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury \u2013 any of which can require surgery, rehabilitation, and significant time away from sport. Repeated injuries of this kind can be serious and should be addressed by a physician specializing in orthopaedics.Back Injuries Common Among Gymnasts\u201cGymnastics can be extremely enjoyable for athletes of all ages, as it promotes skill building, helps with overcoming challenges, and emphasizes perfection of movement,\u201d Erica says.Many gymnastics skills such as back walkovers, back handsprings, and other tumbling and vaulting type skills require repetitive back \u201carching\u201d or hyperextension. Performing the high repetitions sometimes required to perfect these skills can result in overuse injuries to the back. The most common back injuries in gymnasts include:Muscle strains.Sprained ligaments.Stress fractures.Disc disorders.Despite the risk of these injuries, long-term lower back pain in gymnasts is not common.Safety in Gymnastics: Injury PreventionEvery year, many young people perform gymnastics without injury. Here are a few tips to help:Get expert coaching. Your coach should be well-versed in gymnastics safety practices and provide appropriate instructions for progressing skills and proper supervision.Avoid practicing high-level skills on your own without proper matting and\/or supervision.Listen to your body. Your body sends pain signals to indicate something is wrong. Rather than try to push through, give your body time to rest and recuperate.Warm up, cool down, and stretch properly.Ensure that all equipment is functional, maintained, and used as intended.Be aware that people trained in first aid should be available at all gymnastics events and practices.Care for Gymnasts at UPMC Sports Medicine\u201cIf you experience a gymnastics injury, consider seeking care from a sports medicine professional to help you prevent more serious injury and get back to the gym safely,\u201d Erica says.Erica Coffey, PT, MS, SCS, is a senior physical therapist who has devoted much of her career to performing arts related injuries and rehabilitation. She received her bachelor\u2019s degree in exercise science from the University of Massachusetts, where she was a member of the women\u2019s gymnastics team. She then returned home to Pittsburgh to complete her master\u2019s degree in physical therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.Erica has been a physical therapist since 1998 and is a board-certified specialist in sports medicine physical therapy through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. She treats gymnasts, dancers, and everyday active people with a focus on knee, foot, and ankle injuries at the UPMC Freddie Fu Sports Medicine Center.To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call 1-855-937-7678 or visit our website.Editor's Note: This gallery was originally published on March 11, 2017, and was last reviewed on December 6, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Gymnastics and Injury: How to Stay Safe","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/03\/common-gymnastics-injuries\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]