Simultaneous bilateral elbow dislocation in an international gymnast.
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Elbow dislocation is a rare injury in elite athletes. We report an unusual case of simultaneous bilateral elbow dislocations with a unilateral radial head fracture in an international female athlete competing on the asymmetrical bars. These injuries require prompt reduction and immediate mobilisation if an abrupt end to a promising career is to be prevented. (+info)
Immediate effect of respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics and diaphragmatic breathing on respiratory pattern. Respiratory Muscle Conditioning Group.
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We investigated the immediate effect of respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics (RMSG) and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) on the respiratory pattern in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sixteen patients with COPD (age, 71.3 +/- 3.9 year) were entered in the study. DB was performed for 10 minutes in supine position. For RMSG, 5 patterns were repeated 10 times each. Respiratory variables were measured in sitting position before and after both RMSG and DB, performed in random order, patient to patient, with a 20-minute washout period in-between. After RMSG, but not after DB, there was a significant overall prolongation in expiratory time. After DB, but not after RMSG, there was an overall decrease in minute ventilation, carbon dioxide output, respiratory gas exchange ratio, end tidal O2 fraction, end tidal CO2 fraction and tidal diaphragmatic volume. The results suggest that RMSG may have a beneficial effect on the respiratory pattern. On the other hand, DB may provoke post-hyperventilation hypoxemia. (+info)
A rare fracture-dislocation of the hip in a gymnast and review of the literature.
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Posterior fracture-dislocation of the hip is an uncommon injury in athletics and leisure activities. It is more commonly seen in high energy motor vehicle accidents and occasionally in high energy sporting activities. A rare case is reported of posterior fracture-dislocation of the hip joint that occurred in a young athlete during gymnastics. This unusual mechanism of injury illustrates the great forces sustained by the hip joint of gymnasts. Early reduction and operative treatment led to a congruent and stable hip joint. After rehabilitation, she returned to light sporting activities after six months. (+info)
Epidemiology of injury in elite and subelite female gymnasts: a comparison of retrospective and prospective findings.
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OBJECTIVES: An 18 month prospective injury survey was conducted on 64 Australian elite and subelite female gymnasts. The aims were to determine the rate of injury, anatomical location, and types of injury incurred by female competitive gymnasts, and to compare the findings with data collected retrospectively from the same sample of gymnasts. METHODS: The gymnasts recorded (weekly) in an injury record booklet the number of hours trained and information on any injuries suffered over that week. RESULTS: The sample reported 349 injuries, a rate of 5.45 per person (6.29 for the elite and 4.95 for subelite gymnasts) over the 18 month survey. Injuries to the ankle and foot (31.2%) were the most commonly reported, followed by the lower back (14.9%). The most prevalent type of injury were sprains (29.7%), followed by strains (23.2%), and growth plate injuries (12.3%). The elite gymnasts reported that, for each injury, they missed fewer training sessions (p = 0.01), but modified more sessions (p = 0.0001) than their subelite counterparts. Further, the elite gymnasts spent 21.0% of the year training at less than full capacity because of injury. Although a significantly higher number of injuries were recorded in the prospective study (p = 0.0004), no differences were found between the distribution of injury by anatomical location or type between the two methods of data collection. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have important implications in terms of training procedures and periodic screening of gymnasts. (+info)
Silent meniscal abnormalities in athletes: magnetic resonance imaging of asymptomatic competitive gymnasts.
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BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces exceptionally detailed images of the intra-articular structures of the knee. Recognising the range of MRI appearances within a normal population is therefore necessary in order to avoid attributing a greater significance to these than is clinically justified. OBJECTIVE: To compare MRI appearances in asymptomatic gymnasts with those in a less active population in order to identify findings that may be seen in the absence of significant pathology and thereby aid the clinical management of this athletic group. METHODS: MR images were obtained from 24 knees of asymptomatic competitive American collegiate gymnasts aged 18-22. The menisci were evaluated according to established grading criteria, and compared with a group of controls matched for age and sex. RESULTS: Grade 3 intrameniscal signal abnormalities are considered to be highly correlated with meniscal tears. When compared with control group, the experimental group of gymnasts had a significantly different distribution (p<0.001) of grade 3 intrameniscal signal changes, preferentially involving the lateral meniscus. The overall incidence of grade 3 changes (13%) in gymnasts was not, however, significantly different from the incidence in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: A knowledge of these MRI appearances is important when evaluating the lateral menisci within this group of athletes to prevent unnecessary treatment or intervention. This is particularly pertinent when the imaging findings do not closely correlate with the site of symptoms. (+info)
Effects of short-term pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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Although the rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves both exercise capacity and quality of life, a standard protocol for COPD patients has not been established. To clarify whether physiologic and quality-of-life improvements can be achieved by an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program 5 days per week for 3 weeks, 18 patients with COPD were enrolled in a rehabilitation program. The physical exercise training regimen consisted of respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics and cycle ergometer exercise training. Pulmonary function tests, an incremental ergometer exercise test, a 6-min walking test, and a quality of life assessment by the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire were administered before and after the program. The peak VO2, an indicator of maximal exercise capacity, did not increase, although the 6-min walking distance, an indicator of functional exercise capacity, increased significantly after rehabilitation. There was a significant improvement in the quality of life in terms of dyspnea, fatigue, and emotional state. These findings suggest that even a 3-week program may be beneficial for COPD patients. Increases in functional exercise capacity, even without an increase in maximal exercise capacity, are helpful for reducing dyspnea and improving quality of life parameters in patients with COPD. (+info)
Balancing the risk of injury to gymnasts: how effective are the counter measures?
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BACKGROUND: To minimise injury risk and maximise gymnastics performance, coaches, parents, and health professionals working with young gymnasts need to understand and practise safe gymnastics. AIMS: To (a) identify the various injury counter measures specific to gymnastics, (b) critically review the literature describing each injury prevention measure, and (c) assess, using available risk factor and injury data, the weight of evidence to support each of these counter measures. Specific recommendations for further research and implementation strategies to prevent injury and improve safety are also given. METHODS: The relevant literature was identified through the use of Medline (1966 to May 1998) and SPORT Discus (1975 to May 1998) searches, hand searching of journals and reference lists, and discussions with key Australian gymnastics organisations. RESULTS: The key gymnastics injury counter measures identified in this review include coaching (physical preparation, education, spotting, and performance technique), equipment, and the health support system (medical screening, treatment, and rehabilitation). Categorisation of the type of evidence for the effectiveness of each of these counter measures in preventing injury showed that most of it is based on informal opinion/anecdotal evidence, uncontrolled data based studies, and several prospective epidemiological studies. There is no evidence from formally controlled trials or specific evaluation studies of counter measures for gymnastics. CONCLUSIONS: Although gymnastics is a sport associated with young participants and frequent high volume, high impact training, there is a paucity of information on injury risk factors and the effectiveness of injury practices. Further controlled trials are needed to examine the extent to which injury prevention counter measures can prevent or reduce the occurrence of injury and re-injury. Particular attention should be devoted to improving training facilities, the design and testing of apparatus and personal equipment used by gymnasts, and coaching and the role of spotting in preventing injury. (+info)
Stress fracture of the clavicle in a young female gymnast.
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Stress fractures of the clavicle are rare. This is the report of one such fracture in a 10 year old female gymnast, who presented with a six week history of medial clavicular pain. Radiographs and a computed tomography scan showed an undisplaced fracture through the medial third of the clavicle extending inferiorly to the rhomboid fossa in the inferior aspect of the clavicle. Pathological fracture was excluded by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was treated conservatively and was able to return to full training eight weeks later. (+info)