Common Injuries and Their Management Among Youth to Elite Artistic Male and Female Gymnasts

Artistic gymnastics is a complex and challenging sport. The specific demands of gymnastics place athletes at unique risk of injuries to the spine, as well as upper and lower extremities. Changes to the rules and scoring system since the 2004 Olympics have encouraged athletes to perform more challenging skills, adding to the risk of injury. Single-sport specialization occurs at a young age among competitive gymnasts, introducing an increased risk of overuse injuries. Common injuries include spondylolysis, medial-sided elbow injuries, gymnast's wrist, ligamentous injuries of the knee, and Achilles tendon ruptures. It is important to understand these injury patterns to properly prevent, treat, and safely return these athletes to play.