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Elite level rhythmic gymnasts have significantly more and stronger pain than peers of similar age: a prospective study

Rhythmische Gymnastinnen auf Eliteniveau haben signifikant mehr und stärker Schmerzen als eine Vergleichsgruppe gleichen Alters: eine prospektive Studie

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Summary

Purpose

Rhythmic gymnastics (RG) unites aesthetic, ballet-like motion, and all aspects of gymnastics. To reach elite level, girls begin at early age the intensive training. To date it is unclear if such demanding training influences the incidence and intensity of painful overuse injuries. The purpose of this study is to analyze anatomical painful regions and pain intensity in elite level rhythmic gymnasts (elRG) and compare results with an age-matched control group (CG).

Methods

This prospective field study was carried out at the European Championship in RG 2013 (218 participating athletes, Vienna, Austria). Volunteering athletes were interviewed according to a preformed questionnaire. As CG secondary school pupils without any competitive sports experience were analyzed accordingly.

Results

Overall, 243 young females (144 elRG/66 % of all participants and 99 CG) were observed. ElRGs were significantly (s.) smaller, lighter, and had s. stronger pain (p < 0.001). A total of 72 % of athletes reported to have at least one painful body region compared with 52 % of CG (p < 0.001). ElRG had nearly three times more serious injuries than the CG. In all 23 % off all elRG reported to have had no access to professional medical care. ElRGs were s. more frequently (25 vs 9 %) affected at the lumbar spine and the ankle joint (17.4 vs 7 %).

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this trial analyzes the largest cohort of elRG to date. Hence, it is clearly alluded that intensive training in RG is a significant factor causing more and stronger pain than in a CG.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Rhythmische Gymnastik (RG) vereint ästhetische, Ballett-artige Bewegungen mit allen Elementen der Gymnastik. Um Eliteniveau zu erreichen, beginnen die Mädchen bereits in jungen Jahren mit dem intensiven Training. Aktuell ist nicht geklärt, ob dieses intensive Training die Inzidenz und Intensität schmerzhafter Überlastungsreaktionen beeinflusst. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, bei Eliteniveau rhythmischen Gymnastinnen (eRG) schmerzhafte anatomische Regionen und das Schmerniveau zu untersuchen und mit einer gleichaltrigen Kontrollgruppe zu vergleichen (KG).

Methodik

Die Daten dieser prospektiven Feldstudie wurden an freiwilligen Athletinnen während der Europameisterschaft der RG 2013 (218 Teilnehmerinnen) in Wien, Österreich mit vorgefertigten Fragebögen erhoben. Als Kontrollgruppe dienten Mittelschülerinnen ohne sportlicher Wettkampferfahrung.

Ergebnisse

In Summe wurden 243 Mädchen (144 eRG/66 % aller Teilnehmerinnen, 99 KG) untersucht. ERG waren signifikant (s.) kleiner, leichter und hatten s. stärkere Schmerzen (p < 0,001). 72 % aller Athletinnen beklagten zumindest eine schmerzhafte Körperregion im Vergleich zu 52 % der KG (p < 0,001). ERG hatten nahezu dreimal so viele schwere Verletzungen wie die KG. ERG hatten s. häufiger Schmerzen in der Lendenwirbelsäule (25 vs 9 %) und am Sprunggelenk (17,4 vs 7 %).

Schlussfolgerung

Nach unserem Wissensstand untersucht diese Studie die gegenwertig größte Kohorte ERG. Es wird klar gezeigt, dass das intensive Training in der RG zu mehr und auch stärkeren Schmerzen führt als bei einer KG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Orthopedic Surgery, General Hospital of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18–20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Manuel Sabeti MD & Lusine Jeremian

  2. Center for Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Medical Universtiy of Vienna, Spitalgasse, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Alexandra Graf MSc

  3. Traumatologic office, Niederbairingerstraße 33, 4203, Altenberg bei Linz, Austria

    Robert Kandelhart MD

Authors
  1. Manuel Sabeti MD
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  2. Lusine Jeremian
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  3. Alexandra Graf MSc
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  4. Robert Kandelhart MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manuel Sabeti MD.

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Sabeti, M., Jeremian, L., Graf, A. et al. Elite level rhythmic gymnasts have significantly more and stronger pain than peers of similar age: a prospective study. Wien Klin Wochenschr 127, 31–35 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0623-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-014-0623-4

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