Common Gymnastic Spine Injuries

Gymnasts need to be in top physical form to perform the various flips, jumps, and swings that are necessary in a routine gymnastics set. Many of the required activities required by gymnasts are dangerous and can potentially lead to serious spinal injuries and conditions. In this article we are going to discuss a few of the more common back and spine injuries that gymnasts can experience while practicing their sport.

Gymnastic Injuries

There are many different events that a gymnast can perform including the balance beam, pommel horse, and floor routine. Certain injuries are more common in some events than others. Here are a few potential injuries that a gymnast can sustain:

• Vertebrae Fractures. These typically result from acute injuries during the course of a gymnastics routine.
• Herniated Discs. Falling from a great height or simply landing funny can result in a slipped spinal disc and potential nerve impingement.
• Whiplash. With all the flips, twirls, and turns required in a gymnastics routine, it’s no surprise that whiplash is a common injury.

Treating Gymnastics Spine Injuries

If you are a gymnast who has sustained a back injury, contact an orthopedic spine specialist to diagnose your injuries and offer treatment options. The specific treatments available to you will depend heavily on the nature of your injuries. When it comes to spinal nerve injuries and conditions, minimally invasive keyhole spine surgery is typically the best method for reducing pain and preventing other symptoms so you can get back to peak performance in your sport. Inspired Spine procedures are revolutionizing the way we think about spinal surgery. Our procedures (Inspired OLLIF and Inspired MIS-DTIF) have the shortest operating times, fastest recovery periods, and least pain of any procedure available. These surgeries also allow the patient to go home the day of surgery to recover in the comforts of their own home. Contact us today to learn more about these procedures or find a surgeon in your area who performs these surgeries.