CONCUSSIONS IN GYMNASTS: EXPLORING THE NATIONAL ELECTRONIC INJURY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FROM 2018 to 2022

Gymnastics is a dynamic sport that carries inherent risks of injuriy, including concussions. Despite its popularity, there is a paucity of research focusing on concussions among gymnasts. The purpose of this retrospective, descriptive epidemiological study was to investigate the mechanism of injury and recovery in gymnasts following concussion over a recent 5-year period using the most available information from a national database. Our investigation utilized publicly available data from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) between 2018 and 2022. We reviewed 155 cases of gymnastics-related concussions, examining demographics, treatment trends, injury mechanisms, and associated diagnoses. Our study found a high incidence of concussions among adolescent female gymnasts. The most common events at the time of injury leading to gymnastics-related concussions were balance beam, high bar, flips, and/or backflips. The most commonly reported diagnoses associated with concussions were neck injuries, including neck pain, sprain, and/or strain. Concussions are a significant concern in gymnastics. Future research should focus on longitudinal assessments and detailed injury mechanisms to inform evidence-based preventive strategies.