The Association Between Flexibility and Injury Incidence Among Female Collegiate Rhythmic Gymnasts

Aims/objectives Flexibility is essential for rhythmic gymnastics performance, yet both insufficient and excessive flexibility may contribute to injury risk. However, the relationship between flexibility and injury in rhythmic gymnasts remains unclear. This study prospectively investigated the association between flexibility characteristics and injury occurrence in collegiate female rhythmic gymnasts. Materials and methods Forty-four collegiate rhythmic gymnasts were assessed for flexibility in side splits, forward bends, backbends, and straight leg raises. Over a 14-week period, athletes reported weekly whether physical complaints affected their training or performance using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) questionnaire. Participants were categorized into two groups: those who reported one or more complaints at any point during the 14-week period and those who did not report any complaints. Flexibility differences between groups were analyzed using unpaired t-tests. Results The overall prevalence of complaints was 61.2%. Athletes with lower-back complaints demonstrated significantly reduced backbend flexibility (p < 0.01). Those with ankle complaints showed significantly greater backbend flexibility (p < 0.05) but significantly lower side-split flexibility (p < 0.05). Athletes with foot complaints showed significantly greater flexibility in the left straight leg raise (SLR) (p < 0.05). No significant flexibility differences were observed among athletes with hip or thigh complaints. Conclusions Both limited and excessive flexibility were associated with increased injury risk, depending on the anatomical region. Regular assessment of flexibility profiles may help guide individualized training and injury prevention strategies for rhythmic gymnasts.