Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 16 (2002) 145–151 145 IOS Press Injuries in artistic gymnastic elite adolescent male and female athletes P. Kirialanis, P. Malliou * , A. Beneka, V. Gourgoulis, A. Giofstidou and G. Godolias Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Komotini, Greece Abstract. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to record the incidence of Sport Injuries (acute and overuse syndromes) in Greek artistic gymnasts in relation to sex, age, event and exercise phase. Methods: 187 Greek elite artistic gymnastic athletes (100 male and 87 female athletes) participating in Greek artistic gymnastic championship involving all age-related categories, were observed on a weekly basis for a year. The athletes consisted of the pre-national team that was chosen to prepare for the next Olympic games. Results: 147 (61.5%)acute injuries and 93 (38.5%) overuse syndromes were recorded. The most common anatomical location of injury was the ankle (110 cases, 46%), followed by the knee (63 cases, 26.2%). According to the results, the rate which involved mild injuries was 26.8% (64 cases, 34 males, 30 females) moderate injuries was 44% (106 cases, 59 males, 48 females), major injuries was 29% (70 cases, 38 males, 31 females). For the total sport injuries recorded, the injury incidence on the “floor” and especially during “landing phase”, were statistically significant. Conclusions: Artistic gymnastics predisposes to acute injuries, by its nature, but up to 70% are mild and moderate. Special attention needs to be given during “floor exercises”, especially on landing phase. Keywords: Artistic gymnastics, muscular and skeletal injuries 1. Introduction The sport of gymnastics began with the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, where it was used as a means of discipline and physical conditioning for young men being trained for warfare [38]. Today, it is both a recre- ational and organized sporting activity, in which there are six major disciplines: men’s artistic gymnastics, women’s artistic gymnastics, rhythmic sportive gym- nastics, sport aerobics, trampoline sports, and general gymnastics [6]. Within each of these disciplines, there are three main levels of gymnastics activity: recre- ational, competitive, and elite [6]. Epidemiological studies relating to injuries different information that are gathered from athletes teams, are used to define which are the factors that predispose the athletes to the appearance of the injuries [13,33]. * Address for correspondence: Malliou Paraskevi, Assistant Pro- fessor, Democritus University of Thrace, Dept. Physical Education and Sport Science, 69100 Komotini, Greece. Tel.: +30 25310 39662; Fax: +30 25310 39623, E-mail: malliou2002@yahoo.gr. Since the mid 1970s, competitive gymnastics has undergone a dramatic transformation with respect to the complexity of manoeuvres performed and the age at which gymnasts start training [25]. Both coaches and gymnasts have become more ambitious and cre- ative, and consequently, the range and number of risk elements incorporated into gymnastics routines. More children are starting gymnastics from an earlier age and maintaining an extremely high level of training throughout the years of growth and development. Con- sequently, it has been suggested that the increased in- volvement and difficulty of skills practiced from an early age may be associated with an increased risk of injury [24]. Most elite gymnasts do not pass through childhood and adolescence without injury, and the risk of injury increases with longer practice time and the degree of difficulty of the routines [36]. There is a general admission referring to the risk factors for injuries according to they can be classified into two categories: Internal (personal) and external (environment) ones [37]. ISSN 1053-8127/02/$8.00  2002 – IOS Press. All rights reserved