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Elbow injury in women's gymnastics

Institute for Athletic Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Debra J. Weise, RPT

Institute for Athletic Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota

This investigation reports on 30 female gymnasts with 32 elbow injuries acquired in gymnastics. Thirty of the injuries were acute fractures and dislocations, and two developed Panner's disease of the humeral capi tellum.

Primary treatment included 14 closed reductions and 11 open surgical procedures. Those who returned to competition lost an average of 4.1 months.

Spotters were not present during nearly 60% of these injuries. The mechanism which led to a variety of elbow injuries was possibly singular: a fall on an outstretched arm. More than twice as many injuries occurred on thin mats or the bare floor than on thicker mats.

The authors concluded, after the study, that elbow immobilization for as short a time as possible was beneficial to regaining range of motion. We recom mend reducing injuries by employing spotters, using thicker mats, and educating young gymnasts in tech niques of falling.

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