The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Warm-Up: Gymnastics

The Cricket’s done. Winter Olympics are wrapped up. The footy is under way and the FIFA World Cup is getting to crunch time!  Just around the corner (105 days, 4 hours, 57 minutes and 2 seconds at time of writing!) are the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
For our sporting nation this year, it promises to be a good one. I feel like it’s high time for a review of one of the more overlooked sports, Gymnastics, and the spectacular routines – and equally spectacular injures – that may result.

The history of Gymnastics

Gymnastics is one of the oldest disciplines, with a rudimentary form being practiced in the Ancient Olympic Games, and a more modern variant being included in the Modern Olympic Games since its inception in 1896.

Interestingly enough, it is also the forerunner of one of the most popular forms of exercise and rehabilitation today – Clinical Exercise.

Joseph Clinical Exercise himself was a gymnast and developed his revolutionary exercise technique as a way to rehabilitate gymnasts, dancers and other sports people.

With all of the saults (flips with knees tucked, no hands allowed!), flips (vaulting from the hands), twists and turns routines on gymnastic apparatus can be awe-inspiring.

Common Gymnastics injuries

Unfortunately, these awe-inspiring feats of human achievement can make mistakes costly, often resulting in broken bones, torn ligaments and months of rehabilitation. I myself experienced a broken arm on the pommel horse when my confidence outweighed my ability!

In addition to trauma, the repetitive load of training also contributes to gymnasts breaking down.

This is where physiotherapy steps in, as qualified eyes thoroughly assess every motion, twist, pull up and jump to make sure the right muscles are working at the right time to cushion landings, allow maximum power and most importantly, prevent injury.

Keeping a Gymnast’s body in check

Shoulders, knees and backs are the most commonly injured areas for gymnasts.

It’s an intensive job as physiotherapists find the delicate balance of getting peak strength out of their charges whilst managing niggling injuries and minimising lost training time due to injury.

As with all sports and levels, preparation plays a key element in injury prevention. Gymnasts prepare their bodies in the same way as most athletes:

• Aerobic warm up before training;
• Specific stretching or activation exercise as prescribed by their physio;
• Static stretching after training of all the major muscle groups;
• Eating right to give them the energy they need to perform at their best.

Conclusion

As you know, it’s not only Gymnasts who get injured during training or events.

If you find yourself wondering about your own exercise routine, or why that niggle won’t go away, maybe it’s time that you got assessed by a physio.

Book in for a Free Initial Assessment with your nearest Back in Motion physio and pick the brains of the experts in the business.

Rob Edwards - Physiotherapist and Director, Back In Motion Wantirna South and Back In Motion Rowville

Rob graduated from Melbourne University and after spending time working in a large rehabilitation hospital, is now committed to achieving the highest results for his clients by emphasising a holistic approach and promoting exercise based rehabilitation and strengthening.