Descriptive epidemiology of collegiate women's gymnastics injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System, 1988-1989 through 2003-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To review 16 years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury surveillance data for women's gymnastics and identify potential areas for injury prevention initiatives.


BACKGROUND
In the 1988-1989 academic year, 112 schools were sponsoring varsity women's gymnastics teams, with approximately 1550 participants. By 2003-2004, the number of varsity teams had decreased 23% to 86, involving 1380 participants. Significant participation reductions during this time were particularly apparent in Divisions II and III.


RESULTS
A significant annual average decrease was noted in competition (-4.0%, P < .01) but not in practice (-1.0%, P = .35) injury rates during the sample period. Over the 16 years, the rate of injury in competition was more than 2 times higher than in practice (15.19 versus 6.07 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures; rate ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.3, 2.8). A total of 53% of all competition and 69% of all practice injuries were to the lower extremity. A participant was almost 6 times more likely to sustain a knee internal derangement injury in competition than in practice (rate ratio = 5.7, 95% CI = 4.5, 7.3) and almost 3 times more likely to sustain an ankle ligament sprain (rate ratio = 2.7, 95% CI = 2.1, 3.4). The majority of competition injuries (approximately 70%) resulted from either landings in floor exercises or dismounts.


CONCLUSIONS
Gymnasts with a previous history of ankle sprain should either wear an ankle brace or use prophylactic tape on their ankles to decrease the risk of recurrent injury. Preventive efforts may incorporate more neuromuscular training and core stability programs in the off-season and preseason conditioning to enhance proper landing and skill mechanics. Equipment manufacturers are encouraged to reevaluate the design of the landing mats to allow for better absorption of forces.
Marshall
Stephen W
SW
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Covassin
Tracey
T
Dick
Randall
R
Nassar
Lawrence G
LG
Agel
Julie
J
D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
Br J Sports Med. 1999 Oct;33(5):312-8
10522632
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993 Dec;25(12):1322-9
8107537
Am J Sports Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;31(4):611-6
12860554
Sports Med. 2000 Nov;30(5):359-73
11103849
J Athl Train. 2007 Apr-Jun;42(2):173-82
21714302
Can J Sport Sci. 1990 Dec;15(4):254-61
2125528
Am J Sports Med. 1993 Mar-Apr;21(2):271-6
8465924
Am J Sports Med. 1982 Jul-Aug;10(4):237-9
7125046
J Athl Train. 2004 Mar;39(1):95-100
15085217
Am J Sports Med. 1989 Nov-Dec;17(6):811-20
2696378
Sports Med. 1992 May;13(5):357-64
1533052