Identification of Risk Factors for Injury in Women's Collegiate Gymnastics With the Gymnastics Functional Measurement Tool.

BACKGROUND

The Gymnastics Functional Measurement Tool (GFMT) is a series of 10 sport-specific tests that evaluates the physical fitness of female gymnasts. The standardized scoring system has been validated in a wide range of competitive levels. To date, there is no screening tool to identify risk factors for injury in female gymnasts.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the total score on the GFMT or the individual test components can identify female collegiate gymnasts who are at risk of developing an injury.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Collegiate gymnastics training and competition facilities.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred female gymnasts from seven National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division I teams.

INTERVENTIONS

Gymnasts were tested with the GFMT (vertical jump, hanging leg lifts, agility sprint, 20-meter sprint, pull-ups, push-ups, rope climb, handstand hold, lower extremity flexibility, and shoulder flexibility). Each team's certified athletic trainer recorded injuries over the course of one season. Logistic regression modeling was used to assess the relationship between each individual test and the development of upper extremity, lower extremity, or trunk injuries.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Gymnastics-related injuries.

RESULTS

A total of 160 injuries from 100 gymnasts were included in the analysis. No tests were significantly associated with developing of upper or lower extremity injuries. A higher score on the vertical jump test was associated with fewer trunk injuries (odds ratio [OR] 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-0.91; P = .01). This relationship existed even after adjusting for gymnast characteristics in a multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

A one-unit increase in vertical jump score was associated with a 30% decrease in trunk injuries in collegiate-level female gymnasts. Future research to identify risk factors for gymnastics-related injury and methods for prevention are needed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.