Injuries in gymnasts can occur in all parts of the body. The most at risk are the extremities due to the twisting turning and impact of the sport.

The most common extremity injury is pain and strain in the wrists and ankles. The wrists are not only used for tumbling, vaulting, but also used with hanging from an apparatus such as the bars or rings.  Elbow injuries such as dislocation. Shoulder pain and Rotator cuff injuries are other types of common injuries. A common injury for male gymnasts is a condition known as pommel arm. The medical term for this is a medial epicondylitus, which is also known as golfers elbow.

Ankles can occur strains, sprains or tendonitis from landings and tumbling since they require the twisting skills for instant stopping and the excessive force required for landing and takeoff.  One of the more serious conditions for ankle injuries is an Achilles tendon rupture. This is because of the constant tendon cell degradation over time in an aging gymnast.

Let’s not forget about the knee. It is often under pressure with and can occur knee ligament injuries. A common one of these is the ACL injury. Adolescent gymnasts are also likely to suffer patella tendonitis such as Osgood Schlatter’s or Sinding Larsen Johanssen Syndrome

Even though the extremities are at the most risk Gymnasts are also very high risk of developing a long-term injury such as spondylothesis. This is a back stress fracture in the lower vertebrae known as spondylolysis. Bulging disc injuries are common as well