[Gymnastics, excuse from school gymnastics and special school gymnastics in scoliosis].
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24 former female artistic gymnasts of the German national team were examined for spinal deformities after the end of their athletic career. In 3 cases we found osseous lesions of the spine without neurological complications. However, emphasis was on spinal changes due to stress. During their athletic career 15 gymnasts complained of low back pain which persisted in 7 of them after finishing their athletic activities. The lumbar radiographs revealed bilateral spondylolysis at L5 in 6, unilateral spondylolysis in 1, spondylolisthesis at L5/S1 in 3, degenerative changes of the intervertebral joints in 5, retrolisthesis at L5/S1 in 2, and scoliosis in 6 cases.
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In the past 15 to 20 years gymnastics has become very popular. The increased participation exposes a greater number of athletes to potential injury. The risk of gymnastic injuries seems to be proportional to the level of the athletes; the higher the level of gymnastics, the more hours are spent in practice, with a greater exposure time. With the increased risk in gymnastics, the incidence of acute injuries will also increase, and as the skill level increases, the load during the workout will also increase, providing more opportunity for chronic injuries. As in many sports, the ankle is the most injured body part. Some injuries, however, seem to be specific to gymnastics. In gymnastics the upper extremities are used as weightbearing limbs, so high impact loads are distributed through the elbow and wrist joint. Back problems appear to result not only from single episodes of macrotrauma, but also from repeated microtrauma caused by specific impact loads during vaults and hyperextension. Early detection is the key to treating elbow, wrist and back pain in the gymnast. Reinjury following an acute injury may be reduced by allowing for complete rehabilitation before returning to full practice. Some studies indicate that maturation rate could play a potential role in injury predisposition. The combination of periods of rapid growth and intense training could provide for conditions where the gymnast is more injury prone.
The growth and maturity status of 201 elite female gymnasts was considered. The subjects were participants at the 24 World Championship Artistic Gymnastics in 1987. In addition to age at menarche, weight, stature, biacromial, and bicristal breadths, the sitting height/stature ratio, and the Health-Carter anthropometric somatotype of gymnasts 13-20 yr of age were compared with reference data for a nationally representative sample of Flemish girls. Median age at menarche (probit analysis) in gymnasts is 15.6 +/- 2.1 yr compared with 13.2 +/- 1.2 yr in Flemish girls. Anthropometric dimensions increase with age until about 16 yr and then tend to plateau. In contrast to body size, there is little variation in somatotype with age. Compared with adolescent girls, elite gymnasts are considerably shorter and lighter with narrower shoulders and hips, but the differences are more apparent after 17 yr. Elite gymnasts do not differ from nonathletes in relative leg length, but they have proportionally broader shoulders relative to hips. Differences in somatotype occur primarily in endomorphy (especially lower in gymnasts) and to a lesser extent in mesomorphy (higher in gymnasts).
Anthropometric data of outstanding gymnasts were gathered on the occasion of the 24th World Championship Artistic Gymnastics, held at Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in October 1987. In total 165 males and 201 females were investigated, constituting 84% of the total number of participants. The data of these gymnasts were descriptively compared with both reference data and data reported in previous studies on gymnasts competing at international events. Also, based on the data obtained, 'gymnastic-specific' anthropometric reference values (i.e. profile charts), were established for both male and female gymnasts. Finally, the maturational characteristics (skeletal age and menarche) of the 'Rotterdam' female gymnasts were described.
Selected body composition measures of female junior elite gymnasts (n = 146) were evaluated cross-sectionally (ie, we observed a younger and an older group at one point in time, not the same individuals over time). For certain comparisons, the gymnasts were grouped into a younger group (7- to 10-year-olds) and an older group (11- to 14-year-olds). Gymnasts were in the 50th percentile for weight:height ratio, regardless of age. However, weight:age and height:age percentiles progressively dropped from the 48th to the 20th as age increased. Body fat percentage did not differ significantly between age groups. Triceps and subscapular skinfolds were 63% and 56%, respectively, of the age-related standard for the younger group and 52% and 39%, respectively, of the age-related standard for the older group. Arm muscle circumference and calculated arm muscle area of the gymnasts were in about the 75th percentile, regardless of age grouping. In general, as they grew older, gymnasts became progressively smaller in weight and height for age but were highly muscled for size. The steady age-related drop in height:age and weight:age percentile may be attributable to nutritional deficits, a sport-specific selection favoring retention of small but powerful gymnasts, or a combination of these factors. We recommend that young gymnasts be carefully observed longitudinally by trained nutrition professionals to ensure that inadequate nutrient intake is not a contributing factor to poor growth or health.
Serum cortisol concentrations and testosterone:cortisol concentration ratios of eight prepubescent elite male gymnasts (mean age 10 years 11 months) and 11 controls (mean age 11 years 1 month) were examined during 5 consecutive training days. During this period, the gymnasts trained 3 h each day with moderate intensity mobility, strength and skill exercises while the controls were relatively sedentary. Blood samples were taken from all the boys in both groups before (1630 hours) and 30 min after (2000 hours) training on 4 days. Serum cortisol concentrations of the gymnasts were not significantly different from those of the controls throughout the experiment. Serum cortisol concentrations of both groups were significantly larger (P < 0.05) at 1630 hours than at 2000 hours, indicating that cortisol secretion followed the typical adult circadian change, seemingly unaltered by training. However, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the testosterone:cortisol ratio of the gymnasts when compared with controls from day 1 to day 3. After a rest on day 4 the testosterone: cortisol ratio of the gymnasts significantly increased (P < 0.05) but the ratio of the control group also increased indicating that there may have been some day-to-day change by factor(s) other than training. The most obvious factor which may have accounted for the unresponsiveness of serum cortisol concentration to the gymnastics training was that the exercise intensity was too low. However, several days of the training seemed to reduce the anabolic to catabolic balance but further experiments are needed to confirm this finding.
Future drop-outs (n = 27) and continuing (n = 41) female competitive gymnasts were compared with respect to their physical, performance and injury characteristics measured through a large battery of tests completed while they were participants in competition. Included were anthropometric variables, body composition and somatotype, strength, flexibility, endurance, power, speed and balance measurements, and previous injury information. Differences were examined through t-tests and through discriminant analyses of principal components. The results indicate that the drop-outs were as a group distinguishable from the continuing gymnasts: they were significantly older, taller and heavier which may account for the finding that they were significantly stronger, more powerful and faster, and had greater endurance. They also had a slightly more linear/ectomorphic physique with less muscularity, and performed better on most flexibility tests. Only in a gymnastic-specific flexibility variable did the continuing gymnasts out-perform the drop-outs. It was concluded that it was mainly the age factor, and presumably the social and psychological factors associated with it, that distinguished the future drop-outs from the continuing gymnasts, and that factors related to the physical make-up and performance capacities of gymnasts cannot readily predict withdrawal from the sport.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 35 young competitive gymnasts and 10 control subjects in order to detect the number of degenerated discs and other lumbar spinal disorders. Lumbar radiographs were obtained from all gymnasts who showed evidence of disc abnormality on MRI. Eleven gymnasts had suffered from episodes of low back pain during exercises and eight were found to have evidence of back trauma. Only 3 of the 35 gymnasts had MRI evidence of degenerated discs associated with Scheuermann's manifestations and spondylolysis. Lumbar radiographs confirmed the diagnosis in these three cases. The results indicate that despite the excessive range of motion and strong axial loading of the lumbar spine that are associated with gymnastic maneuvers, incurable primary damage to the intervertebral discs is uncommon in young gymnasts during growth.
The wrist is a frequent site of symptoms and injury in the gymnast, both acute and chronic. The chronic injuries are due to repetitive loading of the musculoskeletal system, and their incidence rises as participation and level of competition rises. More attention needs to be directed toward prevention, but many of these injuries seem to be inherent to the sport as it transforms the upper extremities into weight-bearing limbs. Evaluation and recognition of wrist injuries in the gymnast will allow appropriate management for these patients; however, the compulsive and intense nature of many gymnasts can lead to recurrent or new injury and continued wrist symptoms. Much more sophisticated and detailed examination of the gymnast's wrist should be done before onset of training, before increase of intensity of training, before competition, and with the onset of any symptoms, including observed guarding. In addition, pretraining and annual follow-up wrist radiographs should be considered for the skeletally immature gymnast. Follow-up evaluation after skeletal maturity and retirement from active participation is needed to elucidate the long-term effect of gymnastics on the wrist.
The purpose of this study was to examine whether any differences exist in the cognitive and behavioural strategies of gymnasts competing at different elite levels. Thirty-eight male gymnasts competing at different competitive levels in an Australian gymnastic championship completed a standardized questionnaire prior to the first day of the competition. The questionnaire focused on a number of psychological factors that may affect both training and competition. Using both t-tests and simple discriminant function analysis, it was revealed that gymnasts competing at different elite levels could be distinguished on the basis of two psychological factors, psychological recovery and self-confidence, as well as the behavioural measure, training hours. Specifically, gymnasts competing at higher elite levels versus those at lower elite levels, were better able to recover from their competitive mistakes, were more confident and trained longer per week.
Anthropometric and pubertal status data have been collected on 99 schoolboy gymnasts. There are marked differences compared with standard percentile values for British children. This is most evident in the gymnasts' high biacromial diameters and low skinfold measurements. The anthropometric measurements are tabulated according to pubertal rating. The patterns of training are also presented. The atypical growth patterns of the gymnasts might have resulted from the intensive training requirements of the sport, but alternatively their particular physique may have favoured participation in gymnastics.
The thoracolumbar spine was examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the history of back pain was analyzed in 24 male elite gymnasts (age range, 19-29 years) and in 16 male nonathletes (age range, 23-36 years). Disc degeneration, defined as reduced disc signal intensity, was significantly more common in athletes (75%) than in nonathletes (31%). The gymnasts also had a higher incidence of other abnormalities of the thoracolumbar spine, and there was a significant correlation between reduced disc signal intensity and the other abnormalities among the gymnasts. There were also significant correlations between back pain and reduced disc signal intensity and abnormal vertebral configuration when the gymnasts run a high risk of developing severe abnormalities of the thoracolumbar spine, and they often have a history of back pain.
Long lasting intensive physical exercise leads to growth retardation. Short-limbed girls are selected for the training as gymnasts. In a preliminary study with 9 gymnasts a significant decrease of the IGF-I concentration was found after intensive 3-day exercise. This experiment was repeated with 16 girls (11.7 +/- 0.8 years old). The higher the initial DHEA-S and E2 concentration of the gymnasts, the higher were the IGF-I basal levels. The intensive training resulted in the following changes (basal after exercise): IGF-I: 247 +/- 86-->188 +/- 77 ng/ml, T3: 2.4 +/- 0.4-->2.1 +/- 0.3 nmol/l, T4: 96 +/- 15-->98 +/- 19 nmol/l, DHEA-S: 930 +/- 636-->1018 +/- 701 nmol/l, testosterone: 1.5 +/- 0.3-->1.9 +/- 0.4 nmol/l, cortisol: 824 +/- 272-->799 +/- 219 nmol/l. During the 3-day intensive training, the parallel decrease of IGF-I and T3 concentrations in each sportswomen is particularly impressive. Apart from the sequelae of 'negative' selection, the low T3-syndrome, the anti-insulin effect of high GH secretion and the elevated cortisol concentration are responsible for the growth depression, retardation in bone age and the higher incidence of skeletal problems in these gymnasts with 'exercise-induced' delay in development.
Gymnast and injury information on 178 competitive female gymnasts was collected through questionnaires and interviews in a 3-year prospective epidemiologic study. The injury rate was 30/100 gymnasts/year, .52 injuries/1000 h. Injury rates excluding risk exposure increased with competitive level, but the top level gymnasts had the lowest rate per 1000 h of practice. Fractures of the wrist, fingers and toes were most common, followed by sprains of ankle and knee. Nearly 40% of the sudden-onset injuries occurred in the floor event. 'Missed move' was most frequently cited as the injury mechanism, while somersaults and handsprings were the most injury-producing moves. Most injuries happened with moves that were basic or moderately difficult and well-established. There was an increased chance of injury when the gymnast had been on the apparatus for an extended period of time. One major source of injury is loss of concentration, and a key to injury prevention may be the reorganization of the practice session.
Eighteen gymnasts were interviewed and examined radiographically for a cortical irregularity of the proximal humerus simulating malignancy. Fifty percent of the gymnasts had the lesion which is considered to be a benign reactive lesion secondary to excessive forces at the pectoralis major insertion to the proximal humerus. All patients were asymptomatic. The lesion is probably unique to gymnasts, particularly those involved with strength moves.