Screening Tools as a Predictor of Injury in Gymnastics: Systematic Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Biomechanics
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Gymnastics involves intense movements that can lead to acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.
• Identifying reliable injury screening tools is crucial for gymnasts across all levels and disciplines.

Approach:

• A systematic literature review was conducted by searching seven databases until March 2021.
• Search terms included combinations of 'Gymnastics,' 'injury,' and 'Screening' across all text fields.
• Included studies were assessed using a 20-point methodological quality scoring tool.

Key Points:

• Methodological quality scores averaged 13.1, indicating moderate quality.
• Screening measures reported included range of motion, anthropometrics, hypermobility, clinical tests, and muscle function.
• Preliminary evidence suggests height and mass may correlate with injury risk, but findings are limited by methodological inconsistencies.

Conclusions:

• Recording height and mass during screening is recommended.
• Heterogeneity in study design, poor injury definition, and reliance on self-reporting limit current evidence.
• Further prospective research with robust methodology is required to establish effective injury screening protocols in gymnastics.