Gymnastics cause 27,000 injuries per year, research shows

Unlike other contact sports such as ice hockey, gymnastics is not thought of as a dangerous sports. But a new and first-of-its kind study found just how risky a sport gymnastics can be.

Researchers from the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio examined a 16-year span of data from hospital emergency rooms on gymnastics-related injuries sustained by children. They found rather alarming results:

• An estimated 27,000 injuries are related to gymnastics activities every year
• Most of the injuries happened in school or a place of recreation or sports (as compared to a training center) where there may be lack of supervision.
• Younger children (ages 6 to 11) are more likely to get injured at home, where these children spend more active time, and unfortunately where there are usually no training mats available.
• Older children (ages 12-17) are more likely to get injured in school, and while performing a difficult skill such as a handspring or flip.
• Injuries to the arms and hands are more common than injuries to the legs/feet or head/neck, suggesting an improper training in falling.

Gymnastics activities, along with ice hockey, causes the most number of serious, catastrophic injuries, the study also revealed.

Earlier today, I talked with Lara McKenzie, the senior author of this research published in the Pediatrics journal about her suggestions to making gymnastics a safer sports.

Kids Health Notes: These results make gymnastics look really dangerous…

Lara McKenzie: Well, yes. It is a high-impact acrobatic sports that demands high level of strength and grace., You know you’re literally flipping in the air many times so when you think of gymnastics in that sense, it can be a very dangerous sport.

KHN: What can you hope to achieve from this study? Are you going to go for nationwide regulation?

McKenzie: We can’t really dictate how that should be. But one observation we have is that prevention and reduction of gymnastics injuries might be achieved by establishing and universally enforcing uniform rules and regulations for gymnasts, spotters and coaches and trainers.

KHN: To my knowledge, there is no nationwide guideline at the moment. What advice do you give to parents who wish to enroll their children in gymnastics?

McKenzie: What we would tell parents, if they were going to have their child participate in gymnastics, is to enroll them in reputable program, a place that has safety equipment, properly trained coaches, spotters, trainers and to practice in properly supervised environment.

KHN: Especially with the Olympics coming up in a few months, many children will want to imitate the gymnasts they see on TV. More likely the enrolment in gymnastics classes and programs will also increase this year, so this is a sound advice to parents, schools and pediatricians.

photo credit: MediaSource

The study appears in the April 4, 2008 issue of Pediatrics, Gymnastics-related Injuries to Children Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States, 1990-2005; www.pediatrics.org