Women's intercollegiate gymnastics. Injury patterns and "permanent" medical disability.

A prospective study was established to record the patterns of injury incurred by all members of women's college gymnastics team. Twenty-six women were followed over a 4-year period (53 gymnast seasons) from 1983 to 1987. To identify which injuries resulted in persisting impairment, these same athletes were contacted again 3 years later. The 26 athletes sustained 106 injuries. Sixty (57%) of these were of acute onset and were related to an identifiable gymnastics event. The remaining 46 (43%) were of gradual onset or overuse injuries. For the follow-up phase, 22 of the 26 women were contacted from 10 to 70 months (38.5 average) after completion of their gymnastics careers. Forty-five percent of the injuries recorded in their competitive years still bothered them at the time of followup, especially low back, ankle, great toe, shoulder, and knee injuries. Athletic and recreational activity exacerbated the complaints. Twenty-nine percent felt that their sports activity level was now limited. Forty-six percent felt that their injury was at less than full recovery, yet most felt that they were capable of strenuous physical activity and continued to be active despite complaints such as pain and stiffness.