Epidemiology of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Female Gymnasts

• Published in: Physical Therapy Japan Vol. 48; no. 5; pp. 490 - 496
• Main Authors: FUJIWARA, Takahiro, UCHINOKURA, Masahiro, MIYAUCHI, Hidenori, OKADA, Toru, SEKIGUCHI, Takahiro, OHNO, Tatsuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Physical Therapy Association 2021; 公益社団法人日本理学療法士協会
• Subjects: Anterior cruciate ligament injury; Epidemiology; Female gymnastics; 前十字靭帯損傷; 女子体操競技; 疫学
• ISSN: 0289-3770; 2189-602X
• DOI: 10.15063/rigaku.12051

Objective: While anterior cruciate ligament injury in female athletes are generally well documented, there are a lack of reports for female gymnasts. The purpose of this study was to clarify the occurrence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female gymnasts.Method: The subject number were 283 female gymnasts who visited in Funabashi Orthopedic Hospital and were diagnosed with knee joint diseases and disorders. The incidence and age of each disease were investigated. We investigated the height, weight, Body Mass Index, complications, level of competition, event (vault, uneven bars, balance beam, floor exercise) at the time of injury, injury mechanism, injured side, direction of twist at the time of skill execution, and type of skill performed at the time of injury in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, and examined the relationship between injured side and direction of twist.Results: ACL injuries occurred at the second highest rate among knee joint diseases, with the most common age of occurrence being 16 and 17 years old. The majority of injuries occurred on the floor exercise, and the majority of injuries occurred on the landing. The most common complication was lateral meniscus injury. The relationship between the injured side and the direction of the twist was observed, and the injury on the opposite side of the twist direction was significantly more frequent.Conclusion: The relationship between the injured side and the direction of twist was characteristic of ACL injuries in female gymnastics, reflecting the specificity of the sport.