Gymnastics is a highly technical and demanding sport, which is associated with a high rate of injury. In fact, more than 80,000 gymnastics-related sports injuries are treated each year in the U.S. alone. While the majority of these injuries are overuse injuries resulting from hours and hours of repetitive motions, acute injuries due to falls or other accidents are also relatively common. Here, we will discuss some of the most common gymnastics-related injuries as well as how to avoid them.
Gymnastics is a highly technical and demanding sport, which is associated with a high rate of injury. In fact, more than 80,000 gymnastics-related sports injuries are treated each year in the U.S. alone. While the majority of these injuries are overuse injuries resulting from hours and hours of repetitive motions, acute injuries due to falls or other accidents are also relatively common. Here, we will discuss some of the most common gymnastics-related injuries as well as how to avoid them.
Wrist and Ankle Sprains
Some of the most common types of sports injuries for gymnasts are wrist and ankle sprains. In many gymnastic routines, the weight is placed largely on the wrists or ankles, subjecting them to forces sometimes exceeding twice the gymnast’s body weight. Therefore, even a small misstep or mistake can result in a serious sprain.
ACL Injuries
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the ligaments providing stability to the knee. ACL injuries commonly occur as a result of a sudden change in direction, a sudden start or stop or a bad landing from a jump when tumbling, dismounting or vaulting. Frequently, a loud “pop” is heard as the ACL is injured, and many ACL injuries require surgery in order to fully heal.
Lower Back Injuries
Another common area frequently injured in gymnastics is the lower back. Lower back pain can occur as a result of several different conditions, including muscle and ligament strains, fractures and herniated discs. While strained muscles or ligaments can usually be treated by rest and conservative treatments, lower back pain caused by a herniated disc may require orthopedic surgery. Additionally, spondylosis, which is characterized by stress fractures of the vertebrae, can develop as a result of direct impact or improper twisting. This is one of the most common causes of lower back pain in young athletes.
Achilles Tendonitis
In gymnastics, Achilles tendonitis is commonly caused by a bad landing or from repetitive jumping and landing, which results in damage or tearing of the Achilles tendon. Since this tendon anchors the heel to the leg, severe Achilles tendonitis can make it hard to walk or even stand on the foot.
Muscle sprains, bruises and stress fractures due to overuse are also all common in gymnastics. Due to the nature of the movements and routines used in gymnastics, any part of the body is at risk of being injured.
How to Prevent Gymnastics Injuries
While there is no foolproof way of avoiding any type of sports injury, there are several things you can do to greatly reduce the risk of sustaining a serious injury. First, it is important that you are in good physical condition as this greatly reduces the risk of injury. Second, always make sure to warm up before and to cool down after exercising as well as to stretch both before and after each training session or competition. Third, if needed, use protective equipment such as guards, braces and pads, and make sure that all your equipment is safe and well-maintained. Finally, focus on learning proper technique. Whenever you are learning a new skill or routine, have someone spot you and make sure that you are in good enough shape to attempt the move.
Should You Consider Knee Replacements?
Total knee replacement is a relatively common type of orthopedic surgery with approximately 600,000 patients undergoing the procedure every year in the United States. The most common reason for needing a knee replacement is osteoarthritis in which the cartilage between the joint and bone is gradually worn away. This damage to the cartilage consequently results in swelling, stiffness and pain, and since the cartilage cannot be renewed, surgery may eventually be needed. Other relatively common reasons for needing a knee replacement include rheumatoid arthritis and direct knee trauma.
While the success rate of knee replacements is very high, this surgery is not right for everyone. However, if the answer to the following questions is yes for you, knee replacement may be the right decision.
Prevent Ulnar Wrist Pain from Tennis
Wrist pain is highly common in tennis players, including both amateurs and pros. In most cases, wrist injuries are the result of chronic overuse of the wrist, improper technique or inappropriate equipment, such as the wrong size grip or improper string tension. However, acute injuries from falling or not hitting the ball correctly are also common.
Wrist pain can be divided into two main types: radial (thumb-side) and ulnar (pinkie-side) injuries. Many players experience ulnar pain in their non-dominant hand during two-handed backhand strokes. During these strokes,the upper hand is placed in extreme ulnar deviation and extension while moving from supination to pronation.
Who Should Have a Hip Replacement?
Each year, approximately 290,000 hip replacement surgeries are conducted in the United States alone. Since the procedure was first performed in 1960, advances in the surgical techniques and materials used have made it one of the most successful and effective orthopedic surgeries. The goal of the procedure is to greatly decrease hip pain and to allow an increased range of motion at the hip, allowing patients to get back to most of their daily activities.
Common Shoulder Injuries for Athletes
Shoulder injuries and shoulder pain are relatively common among athletes and can range widely in their severity and symptoms. In many cases, it can be difficult to diagnose the specific type of shoulder injury when it first occurs, so early evaluation and intervention by an orthopedic sports medicine specialist is essential.
Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain in athletes are shoulder dislocations, acromioclavicular joint injuries, rotator cuff tendonitis and tears, labral and superior labral anteroposterior tears, fractures and arthritis as well as activity-specific injuries such as “thrower’s shoulder,” “swimmer’s shoulder” and “rugby shoulder,” among others. (more…)
Don’t Wait Too Long for Joint Replacement
Joint replacement surgery, particularly of the knee and hip, is becoming increasingly common in the United States. Almost 5 percent of all Americans over the age of 50 have reportedly undergone total knee replacement with more than 600,000 Americans undergoing knee replacement each year. Hip replacement surgery, which is the second most common joint replacement surgery, is performed on approximately 120,000 people every year in the U.S.
The leading cause of joint replacement is osteoarthritis, which is characterized by the inflammation of certain joints. Osteoarthritis is generally caused by wear and tear or by previous trauma to the affected body part. (more…)
Symptoms of Arthritis in the Hand
Arthritis is a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of one or more joints in the body. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the hand is one of the most commonly affected body parts. (more…)
About Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery
Minimally invasive spinal surgery, or MISS for short, is a surgical method used to treat a variety of spinal disorders. It is characterized not only by the use of a smaller incision than in conventional open spinal surgery, but also by the use of advanced technology and innovative techniques. According to our Florida orthopedic specialists, the main goal of MISS is to minimize muscle and soft tissue damage caused by the surgery while accomplishing results equivalent to those of conventional open spinal surgery.
During MISS, a number of different techniques can be used depending on the condition being treated. In general, a tubular access approach is utilized. By using a tubular retractor, the force on the muscles around the incision is divided more equally than during open surgery, thus creating less localized pressure and reducing the risk of muscle and soft tissue damage. In some cases, MISS may be performed using endoscopy, which involves a tiny video camera guiding the orthopedic surgeon by displaying the internal view on several monitors in real-time, or by fluoroscopy, which is a type of intraoperative real-time X-ray.
MISS can be used to treat a number of different disorders, including degenerative discs, herniated discs, spinal tumors and compression fractures. It commonly involves either decompression, which is used to alleviate the pressure of the spinal cord or nerve roots, or fusion, which is used to stabilize and/or fixate the spine.
Advice for Parents of Fall Sport Athletes
With fall quickly approaching, this is the perfect time to get your child or teenager ready for their fall activities. Particularly for older children who may have tryouts coming up soon, it is important to start preparing in order for them to be ready and to reduce the risk of them sustaining various types of sports injuries. In order to help your child get the most of their sports experience, our Florida orthopedic specialists recommend you keep these six things in mind. (more…)
Is It Better To Exercise in the Morning or at Night?
The benefits of regular exercise include weight control, improved sleep, mood and energy levels, and a reduced risk of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, certain types of cancer, arthritis and various bone and muscular disorders.
In terms of weight loss, the experts at our Jacksonville clinic have found no solid evidence suggesting that either morning or nighttime exercise is greatly superior for burning calories. However, some studies have found that there may be a difference in terms of the consistency of exercising, which in turn may translate to increased fitness and weight loss. (more…)
