Gymnastics
By Anya Martins

History of Gymnastics
Gymnastics as a sport has been around for about 2,000 years. The word gymnastics comes from the Greek word for display exercise. Greek civilizations gymnastics to promote through exercise, like jumping, throwing, and weight lifting. Ancient Greeks used gymnastics as a way to prepare for war. Fredrich Jahn was one of the three people that invented gymnastics and became known as the father of gymnastics. He invented and designed and introduced the horizontal bar, the parallel bars, balance beam, side horse with pommels, ladder, and vaulting horse.

Most Famous Female Gymnast Through History

• Larisa Latynina (Russian)
• Svetla Khorikina (Russian)
• Nadia Comanec (Romanian)
• Vera Claslavska (Zechoslavian)
• Agnes Kelet (Hungarian)
• Polina Astakhova (Ukrainian)
• Ludmilla Tourischheva (Romanian)
• Lavinia Milosovici (Romanian)
• Maria Gorokhovskaya (Russian)
• Daniela Silivas ( Romanian)

Gymnastics Injuries

Gymnastics injuries in the upper body are worse than football injuries in the upper body, and the number of injuries in gymnastics is equal to the number of injuries in basket ball and hockey. Each year more than 86,000 gymnastics injuries are treated by doctors. Because the upper body is used as a weight bearing joint in gymnastics injuries to the shoulder, elbow, and wrist are common. The most common injuries in the lower body involve the knee and ankle, lower extremity usually result from the landing and dismount activities. Lateral Tears may occur during any gymnastics exercise, but ring and bar specialists seem practically vulnerable. In gymnastics the wrist is subjected to force that can exceed twice the body weight, this may cause wrist sprains.

Gymnastics Injuries Part 2
ACL injuries can result when a gymnast lands " short " or is over rotated while tumbling, dismounting, or vaulting. Achilles Tendon injuries are a result of the repetitive stress of jumping and landing. Foot and ankle injuries, chronic ankle pain or repeated injuries are worrisome and require evaluation before continuing with participation. Lower back injuries worsen with activity especially with extension such as arching your shoulders backward. A sprained ankle may occur floor routines or falls of the beam or parallel bars. To help prevent common gymnastics maintain fitness, warm up and stretch, cool down and stretch, and hydrate.

Types of Gymnastics

• Woman's Artistic Gymnastics ( female only
• Men's Artistic Gymnastics ( male only )
• Rhythmic Gymnastics ( female only )
• Power Tumbling ( both genders )
• Acrobatic Gymnastics ( one gender can compete at a time )
• Trampoline ( both )