Ankle injuries of elite male Iranian gymnasts and anthropometric characteristics

Year 2013, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 35 - 41, 13.02.2014

Hadi Ghasempour , Reza Rajabı Mohammad Alızadeh Ali Tavanaı

Abstract

In men's gymnastics, the ankle is the most frequently injured part of the body. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine the roles of various risk factors so that the rate of these injuries can be reduced. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between anthropometric factors (intrinsic risk factors) and the ankle injuries incurred by elite male gymnasts in the Iranian Premier League and Division One.This research was cross sectional correlation study in its nature. The injuries of 43 elite male gymnasts were recorded for the past year based on a questionnaire and interviews. Also their anthropometric characteristics, including weight, height, body mass index, percentage of fat, somatotype, size of the body, girth of the ankle, length of the lower extremities, and girth of the calf, were collected according to criteria established by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. The correlation method of non-parametric tests (Spearman) and event tree analysis (ETA) were used to identify the relationships between the variables. Seventy-nine percent of gymnasts experienced ankle injuries over the past year, mostly on the floor (58%) and vault (29%), and joint and ligamentous injuries occurred most frequently. Body size had a positive relationship with the injuries (p < 0.05), and no meaningful correlation was identified between number of injuries and other anthropometric characteristics (p < 0.05).Gymnasts and coaches should pay special attention to body size as an intrinsic risk factor and take preventive measures to decrease ankle injuries

Keywords

Risk factor, ankle injuries, anthropometry, gymnastics

Ankle injuries of elite male Iranian gymnasts and anthropometric characteristics

Abstract

In men's gymnastics, the ankle is the most frequently injured part of the body. However, very few studies have been conducted to determine the roles of various risk factors so that the rate of these injuries can be reduced. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between anthropometric factors (intrinsic risk factors) and the ankle injuries incurred by elite male gymnasts in the Iranian Premier League and Division One. This research was cross sectional correlation study in its nature. The injuries of 43 elite male gymnasts were recorded for the past year based on a questionnaire and interviews. Also their anthropometric characteristics, including weight, height, body mass index, percentage of fat, somatotype, size of the body, girth of the ankle, length of the lower extremities, and girth of the calf, were collected according to criteria established by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. The correlation method of non-parametric tests (Spearman) and event tree analysis (ETA) were used to identify the relationships between the variables. Seventy-nine percent of gymnasts experienced ankle injuries over the past year, mostly on the floor (58%) and vault (29%), and joint and ligamentous injuries occurred most frequently. Body size had a positive relationship with the injuries (p < 0.05), and no meaningful correlation was identified between number of injuries and other anthropometric characteristics (p < 0.05). Gymnasts and coaches should pay special attention to body size as an intrinsic risk factor and take preventive measures to decrease ankle injuries.

Keywords

Risk factor, ankle injuries, anthropometry, gymnastics.

References

• Beynnon BD, Murphy DF, Alosa DM. Predictive factors for lateral ankle sprains: a literature review. J Athl Train, 2002; 37(4): 376–80.
• Beynnon BD, Renström PA, Alosa DM, Baumhauer JF, Vacek PM. Ankle ligament injury risk factors: a prospective study of college athletes. J Orthop Res, 2001; 19: 213–20.
• Caine D, Knutzena K, Howeb W, Keeler L, Sheppardd L, Henrichs D, Jim Fast. A three-year epidemiological study of injuries affecting young female gymnasts. Physical Therapy in Sport, 2003; 4: 10–23.
• Caine D, Nassar L. Gymnastic injuries. In: Caine DJ, Maffulli S, editors. Epidemiology of pediatrics sport injuries. Individual sports. 48th ed. Med Sport Sci; Basel, Karger. 2005. p. 18-58.
• Cuk I, Pajek MB, Jakse B, Pajek J, Pecek M. Morphologic bilateral differences of top level gymnasts. Int J Morphol, 2012; 30(1): 110-4.
• Elliott CB. Overuse injury in sport: a biomechanical approach. Safety Science Monitor, 1999; 3: 1-6.
• Emery CA. Injury prevention and future research. In: Maffulli N, Caine DJ, editors. Epidemiology of pediatric sports injuries: Team sports. 49th ed. Med Sport Sci, Basel Karger, 2005.
• Engebretsen L, Bahr R, editors. Why is injury severity in sports important? In: Bahr R, Engebretsen L. sports injury prevention. International Olympic Committee, Wiley- Blackwell. 2009. p.1-6.
• Faradjzadeh Mevaloo S. Physiology, Kinanthropometry (coaches guide). Tehran: National Olympic Committee. 2006.
• Fousekis K, Tsepis E, Vagenas G. Intrinsic risk factors of noncontact ankle sprains in soccer: a prospective study on 100 professional players. Am J Sports Med. 2012; 40(8): 1842-50.
• Gones GL, Wolf BR. Evaluation and management of gymnastic injuries. Sport medicine update, 2008; 2-9.
• Grana WA, Weiker GG. Injuries in gymnastics. In: Karageanes SJ, editor. Principles of manual sports medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005.526-35.
• Hrazdira L, Binder AJ. Ankle Injuries in gymnastics. FIG Medical Information. 2010; 1-10. (cited 2013 Aug 12); Available Docs%20for%20Website/Les%20accidents%20de%20la%20che ville%20en%20gymnastique-e.pdf
• Hume P. Minimizing injuries in gymnastic activities. CoachesInfo.com (Internet) 2005 (cited 2011 Aug 12); Available option=com_content&view=article&id=185:gymnastics-isbs- minimising&catid=62:gymnastics-isbs&Itemid=108.
• Jackson DW, Jarrett H, Bailey D, Kausek J, Swanson J, Powell JW. Injury prediction in the young athlete: A preliminary report. Am J Sports Med, 1978; 6(1): 6-14.
• Jalalian M. Writing an eye-catching and evocative abstract for a research article: A comprehensive and practical approach. Electron Physician, 2012; 4(3): 520-4. Available online at: http://www.ephysician.ir/2012/520-524.pdf.
• Jalalian M, Danial AH. Writing for academic journals: A general approach. Electron Physician, 2012; 4(2): 474-6. Available online at: http://www.ephysician.ir/2012/474- 476.pdf
• Kirialanis P, Malliou P, Beneka A, Giannakopoulos K. Occurrence of Acute Lower Limb Injuries in Artistic Gymnasts in Relation to Event and Exercise Phase. Br J Sports Med, 2003; 37(2): 137-9.
• Kirialanis PM, Malliou P, Beneka A, Gourgoulis V, Giofstidou A, Godolias G. Injuries in artistic adolescent male and female athletes. J Back Musculoskelet, 2002; 16(4): 145-51.
• Kolt GS, Caine DJ, editors. Gymnastics. In: Caine DJ, Harmer PA, Schiff MA. Epidemiology of injury in Olympic sport. Wiley-Blackwell. 2010: 144-60.
• Lueken J, Stone J, Wallach BA. Olympic training center report men’s gymnastics injuries. Gymnastics Safety Update. 1993; 8(1): 4–5.
• Lysens R, Steverlynck A, van den Auweele Y, Lefevre J, Renson L, et al. The predictability of sports injuries. Sports Med, 1984;1(1):6-10.
• Maffulli N. Intensive training in young athletes: an orthopaetic surgeon's view point. Sports Med. 1990; 9(4): 229- 43.
• Marshall SW, Covassin T, Dick R, Nasar LG, Agel J. Descriptive epidemiology of collegiate women’s gymnastics injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System, 1988–1989 through 2003–2004. J Athl Train. 2007; 42(2): 234–40.
• McKay GD, Goldie PA, Payne WR, Oakes BW. Ankle injuries in basketball: injury rate and risk factors. Br J Sports Med. 2001; 35: 103–108.
• Milgrom C, Shlamkovitch N, Finestone A, Eldad A, Laor A, Danon YL, Lavie O, Wosk J, Simkin A. Risk factors for lateral ankle sprain: a prospective study among military recruits. Foot Ankle, 1991; 12 (1): 26-30.
• Murphy DF, Connolly DAJ, Beynnon BD. Risk factor for lower extremity injury: A review of the literature. Br J Sports Med. 2003; 31: 13-29.
• Nikroo H, Attarzadeh Hosseini SR, Ghasempour H. Prevalence and causes of elite gymnast’s injuries in Iran males’ league. Journal of Sport Medicine Review, 2012; 11: 95-108.
• O’Kane JW, Levy MR, Pietila KE, Caine DJ, Schiff MA. Survey of Injuries in Seattle Area Levels 4 to 10 Female club gymnasts. Clin J Sport Med. 2011; 21(6): 486–92.
• Singh S, Smith GA, Fields SK, McKenzie LB. Gymnastics- related injuries to children treated in emergency departments in the United States, 1990-2005. Pediatrics, 2008; 121(4): 954- 60.
• Sitler MR, Ryan J, Wheeler B, Mc Bride J, Arciero R, Anderson J et al. The efŞcacy of a semirigid ankle stabilizer to reduce acute ankle injuries in basketball: a randomized clinical study at West Point. Am J Sports Med. 1994; 22(4): 454-61.
• Steel VA, White JA. Injury prediction in female gymnast. Brit J Sports Med. 1986; 20(1): 31-33.
• Stewart A, Marfell-Jones M, Olds T, de Ridder H. International standards for anthropometric assessment (ISAK). New Zealand. Lower Hutt. 2011.
• Taimela S, Kujala UM, Osterman K. Intrinsic risk factors and athletic injuries. Sports Med, 1990; 9: 205-15.
• Tyler TF, McHugh MP, Mirabella MR, Mullaney MJ, Nicholas SJ. Risk factors for noncontact ankle sprains in high school football players: the role of previous ankle sprains and body mass index. Am J Sports Med, 2006; 34(3): 471-5.
• Watson AW. Ankle sprains in players of the Şeld-games Gaelic football and hurling. J Sports Med Phys Fitness, 1999; 39(1): 66–70.
• Wright KJ, De Cree C. The influence of somatotype, strength and flexibility on injury occurrence among female competitive Olympic style gymnasts – A pilot study. J Phys Ther Sci. 1998; 10: 87–92.