Leg joints traumatology in gymnastics: comparative analysis, descriptive investigation and prevention hypothesis in training

In the last ten years all the sport technique has improve the athletic requests. Gymnastics technique, as is codified by the Gymnastics International Code of Points, is demanding new solutions to reach the highest competitive level results. The consequence is the increase of number of the traumatic events, comparing the literature, due to the excessive load on training and to the rise of performance risk factors. The aims of this article are to point the attention on and analyse: a) the up-to-date data base, coming from several international researches, comparing with our descriptive investigation, done among 22 members of Artistic Gymnastics Italian Team, past and present ones; b) the best training hypothesis to prevent the joints leg traumas and pathologies are more statistical frequent in gymnastics. In 2005 the authors of this article investigate among 22 gymnasts, member of the Italian Artistic Gymnastics Team, to know which are the most frequent legs' traumas in applying the new International Code of Point. The result shows such as the female sample was more predisposed to the ankle and foot traumas than the male group was. The main cause of traumas in sport is the incorrect training that pushes young athletes to get higher level of ability. Here are some prevention rules to apply in training, to avoid risks of traumas.