Gymnastics Research

More than 600,000 children participate in school-sponsored and club-level gymnastics competitions annually in the United States. Yet gymnastics continues to be overlooked in terms of potential for injury while having one of the highest injury rates of all girls’ sports.

A study, conducted by researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital examined data on children 6 to 17 years of age who were treated in hospital emergency departments for gymnastics-related injuries between 1990 and 2005. According to the findings, on average nearly 27,000 injuries are reported each year – nearly 426,000 injuries during the 16-year period.

Gymnastics Resources:

• Video News Release: Gymnastics Leads to 27,000 Hospital Visits Each Year - April 30, 2008

• Press Release: Study Finds Pediatric Gymnastics-Related Injuries a Concern - April 7, 2008

• PubMed Abstract: Gymnastics-Related Injuries to Children Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States, 1990-2005 - April 2008