Gymnastics requires a careful balance of strength, endurance, and agility. Consider what is involved in a balance beam routine. A standard competitive balance beam is four inches wide, 16 feet and five inches long, and sits four feet off the ground. A maneuver such as a handspring or a flip involves getting enough momentum on the beam to jump high enough to turn upside down, push off the beam with the hands while upside down in the air, and then land once again upright on the beam. That’s nowhere near as easy as it may look!

Unfortunately, that flip maneuver puts a great deal of stress on the ankle, wrist, and knee joints, given that at some point, each of those joints must not only bear the full weight of the gymnast, but have enough flexibility to shift their body weight in different directions. Furthermore, since many female gymnasts often begin competing at elite levels while in their pre-teen years, their bones and joints are still developing, which can make them even more prone to injury. In fact, gymnastics is the second most common cause of traumatic sports injuries for female athletes, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research. Dr. Nathen Horst has treated competitive gymnasts in his practice and understands their particular needs when it comes to chiropractic care.

Common Gymnastic Injuries

Muscle tightness: The three main muscle groups that can lead to back pain for gymnasts are the hip flexors, the hamstrings, and the glutes. These muscle groups are used to help keep the spine in proper alignment.

Strained or pulled muscle: If the gymnast lands awkwardly, falls, or uses a muscle group incorrectly (particularly while learning a new move), it is easy to strain or pull a muscle. This type of injury should not just be “walked off,” or it may get progressively worse.

Stress fracture: This is the most common type of injury seen at more elite levels of gymnastics. There will often be a sharp pain in the area of the fracture. This type of injury should be dealt with as soon as possible.

Treatment Technique

A special technique, called Active Release Therapy (ART), is often very effective in treating sports injuries in gymnasts. It is a specialized type of massage therapy that is effective in treating the type of soft tissue injuries that are common among gymnasts. If the muscles are over used, they may develop tears or not get enough oxygen. This may lead to the development of tough scar tissue as part of the healing process. This accumulation of scar tissue will weaken the muscle, reducing its ability to perform at peak capacity. Tendons and nerves can also get compressed by this tissue, leading to inflammation and pain.

Dr. Horst will use a combination of ART with chiropractic care to treat gymnasts. The chiropractic portion of the treatment will keep the spinal column in proper alignment, which is crucial when it comes to the ability to perform the flips, handsprings, and tumbling runs that are necessary for many of the apparatus events, as well as the floor routines for both male and female gymnasts. In addition, a properly aligned spine will keep the neck, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles aligned as well, all of which are needed to properly perform gymnastic routines.

An elite gymnast makes all those flips, somersaults, and handsprings look effortless. A good chiropractic care plan allows the gymnast to do those routines safely and more readily.