Gymnastics demands extraordinary combinations of strength, flexibility, and precision, creating unique injury risks at every level of participation. From recreational classes to elite competition, gymnasts face specific challenges that require targeted prevention and treatment strategies. At M.O. Therapy in Markham, we help gymnasts of all ages and levels prevent and recover from injuries.
Understanding Gymnastics Injuries
Gymnastics injury patterns reflect the sport's extreme demands:
- Overuse injuries are more common than acute trauma
- Wrist and ankle injuries are most frequent
- Back pain affects 50-85% of gymnasts at some point
- Growth plate injuries are a concern in young athletes
- Injury rates increase with competitive level
- ACL injuries are particularly common in female gymnasts
Common Gymnastics Injuries by Body Region
Wrist Injuries
The wrist bears weight-bearing loads it wasn't designed for in gymnastics, making it one of the most vulnerable areas.
Wrist Pain Syndrome:
- Chronic pain in the wrist
- Results from repetitive impact
- Affects up to 79% of gymnasts
- Can become debilitating without treatment
Gymnast's Wrist (Distal Radial Physeal Stress):
- Growth plate injury in young gymnasts
- Results from repetitive loading
- Causes pain with weight bearing
- Requires activity modification to heal
Scaphoid Stress Fractures:
- Occurs in the wrist's scaphoid bone
- Slow healing due to poor blood supply
- May require prolonged rest or surgery
- Prevention is crucial
TFCC Injuries:
- Triangular fibrocartilage complex damage
- Causes ulnar-sided wrist pain
- Results from repetitive rotation and loading
- May require surgical repair
Prevention:
- Proper wrist conditioning
- Wrist guards during training
- Progressive loading
- Adequate rest between sessions
- Technique optimization
Back Injuries
The hyperextension and rotation demands of gymnastics heavily stress the spine.
Spondylolysis:
- Stress fracture in the pars interarticularis
- Affects 11-32% of young gymnasts
- Results from repetitive hyperextension
- May progress to spondylolisthesis
Symptoms:
- Low back pain with extension
- Pain worse with activity
- Stiffness after rest
- May have leg symptoms
Treatment:
- Rest from extension activities
- Bracing in some cases
- Core strengthening
- Gradual return to activity
Prevention:
- Core stability training
- Proper technique development
- Adequate rest between sessions
- Monitoring for early symptoms
Disc Injuries:
- Can occur from repetitive loading
- More common in older gymnasts
- May cause leg symptoms
- Treatment depends on severity
Muscle Strains:
- Common in the lower back
- Result from overuse or acute injury
- Usually respond to conservative treatment
- Prevention through conditioning
Ankle Injuries
Landing forces create significant ankle stress.
Ankle Sprains:
- Most common acute injury
- Usually lateral (inversion) sprains
- Result from landing errors
- High recurrence rate
Prevention:
- Landing technique training
- Ankle strengthening exercises
- Proprioception training
- Appropriate matting
Achilles Tendinopathy:
- Overuse injury from repetitive loading
- Causes pain and stiffness
- May become chronic
- Requires load management
Osteochondral Lesions:
- Damage to cartilage and underlying bone
- Result from repeated impact
- May cause pain and catching
- Sometimes require surgery
Knee Injuries
ACL Tears:
- Serious injury in gymnasts
- More common in females
- Usually occur during landing or tumbling
- Typically require surgical reconstruction
Risk Factors:
- Female sex
- Landing mechanics
- Previous injury
- Fatigue
Prevention:
- Neuromuscular training programs
- Landing technique optimization
- Hip and core strengthening
- Fatigue management
Patellar Tendinopathy:
- Common with repetitive jumping
- Causes anterior knee pain
- May become chronic
- Responds to load management
Osgood-Schlatter Disease:
- Growth-related knee pain in adolescents
- Painful tibial tubercle
- Usually resolves with skeletal maturity
- Activity modification during active phase
Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder Instability:
- Common in gymnasts due to extreme positions
- May be subtle or obvious
- Can lead to labral tears
- Requires comprehensive strengthening
Rotator Cuff Problems:
- From repetitive overhead activities
- Rings and bars particularly stressful
- May progress without treatment
SLAP Tears:
- Labral injuries from repetitive loading
- Common in apparatus gymnasts
- May require surgical repair
Hip Injuries
Hip Flexor Strains:
- Common from repetitive kicking and leg lifts
- Pain in front of hip
- Usually responds to rest and rehab
Hip Impingement:
- Bony contact during extreme positions
- May damage labrum over time
- Common in elite gymnasts
- May require surgical management
Apophysitis:
- Growth plate irritation at muscle attachments
- Common in adolescent gymnasts
- Requires activity modification
- Heals with skeletal maturity
Event-Specific Injuries
Floor Exercise
- Ankle sprains (tumbling)
- ACL injuries (landing)
- Wrist injuries (tumbling passes)
- Back injuries (hyperextension skills)
Vault
- Wrist injuries (during punch)
- Ankle injuries (landing)
- ACL injuries (landing)
- Shoulder injuries (during contact)
Uneven Bars (Women) / High Bar (Men)
- Shoulder injuries
- Wrist injuries (grip-related)
- Elbow injuries
- Hand tears (rips)
Balance Beam
- Ankle injuries
- Foot injuries
- Knee injuries
- Back injuries (dismount)
Pommel Horse / Rings / Parallel Bars (Men)
- Wrist injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Elbow injuries
Youth Gymnast Considerations
Young gymnasts face unique injury concerns:
Growth Plate Injuries:
- Open growth plates are vulnerable to repetitive stress
- Gymnast's wrist, Osgood-Schlatter, apophysitis
- May affect normal bone development
- Require careful management
Prevention in Youth:
- Age-appropriate training volumes
- Proper technique before progression
- Recognition of pain and fatigue
- Rest periods built into schedule
- Medical attention for persistent pain
Red Flags:
- Persistent pain lasting more than 2 weeks
- Pain that increases with activity
- Night pain or pain at rest
- Swelling or deformity
- Limited range of motion
Prevention Strategies
Strength and Conditioning
Essential Elements:
Core Stability:
- Hollow body holds
- Dead bugs
- Bird dogs
- Anti-extension exercises
- Rotation control
Upper Body:
- Shoulder stability exercises
- Scapular control work
- Wrist conditioning
- Pulling strength balance
Lower Body:
- Single-leg strength
- Landing mechanics
- Hip stability
- Ankle strengthening
Flexibility with Control
Gymnastics requires extreme flexibility, but it must be coupled with strength:
- Active flexibility training
- Strength at end ranges
- Controlled mobility work
- Balance between flexibility and stability
Training Load Management
Principles:
- Progressive skill development
- Adequate recovery between sessions
- Monitoring for signs of overtraining
- Rest days and recovery weeks
- Cross-training when appropriate
Warm-Up Protocol
Comprehensive Warm-Up (15-20 minutes):
- General cardiovascular activity
- Dynamic stretching
- Joint mobility work
- Sport-specific preparation
- Progressive skill work
Treatment at M.O. Therapy
Physiotherapy
Our physiotherapists specialize in gymnastics injuries:
Services:
- Comprehensive injury assessment
- Sport-specific rehabilitation
- Return-to-gymnastics programs
- Prevention strategies
- Growth-related injury management
Massage Therapy
Our RMTs help gymnasts:
- Recovery after training
- Address muscle tension
- Improve flexibility
- Maintenance treatments
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic benefits gymnasts through:
- Spinal assessment and treatment
- Joint mobility optimization
- Soft tissue therapy
- Movement enhancement
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do gymnasts get wrist pain? Gymnastics requires the wrists to bear loads they're not designed for—supporting full body weight during tumbling, vaulting, and apparatus work. This repetitive loading causes various wrist problems from simple strain to growth plate injuries.
How can I prevent back injuries in gymnastics? Prevention involves strong core stability, proper technique development, adequate rest between sessions, and early attention to any back pain. Avoiding excessive hyperextension training in young gymnasts is important.
When should a young gymnast see a doctor for pain? Seek evaluation for pain lasting more than 2 weeks, pain that worsens with activity, night pain, swelling, limited motion, or any pain that affects training. Young gymnasts should not train through significant pain.
How long does it take to return to gymnastics after injury? Recovery time varies significantly by injury. Mild sprains may heal in 2-4 weeks, while significant injuries like ACL tears or stress fractures can require 6-12 months or longer.
Book Your Assessment
If you're a gymnast dealing with an injury or wanting to develop a prevention program, M.O. Therapy in Markham can help. Our team understands the unique demands of gymnastics.
Call (905) 201-5827 or book online for your assessment. We offer direct billing and same-day appointments.