Gymnastics Stretches and Flexibility Exercises
Gymnastics stretches to improve your performance and do away with gymnastics injuries for good.
by Brad Walker | First Published October 24, 2008 | Updated October 17, 2018
The first records of gymnastics-like movements appear around 7000 B.C. in Egypt. Women were depicted performing acrobatic stunts for nobility.
It started spreading around 800 BC when the Chinese, Persian and Indians began using gymnastics in their military preparations.
In 776 BC the first Olympics was held and consisted only of a footrace but later gymnastics was added.
The word “gymnastics” is from the Greek word “gymnos” meaning naked. The reason why woman were not allowed in the competition is because Greek men trained and competed nude.
The Greeks build the first gymnasium where scholarly topics were learned: Kitharistes taught music and Paidotribe taught physical fitness concept.
The Romans made gymnastics their own during their year of conquest and used it to train warriors and entertainers.
Today, World championship put the best gymnasts in front of international audiences as part of the Olympic Games.
Anatomy Involved
Gymnasts have to be strong and agile to perform the moves on the floor or the various apparatus. Although most routines are short in duration, the gymnast must have a good deal of muscular endurance to avoid fatigue and ensure good form.
Gymnastics encompasses many different activities and each involves a varying degree of muscle use. A balance between upper and lower body strength is important for the well rounded gymnast. The legs must be strong to jump and flip, and provide a solid base for the beam and other activities. The upper body must be strong enough to support the body during flips and rolls, and lift the body during bars, vaults, and rings activities.
Gymnastics use the following major muscles during the various events:
- The upper torso; the deltoids, pectorals, rhomboids, and latissimus dorsi.
- The core muscles; rectus abdominus and spinal erectors.
- The hip muscles; the gluteus maximus, hip flexors, adductors and abductors.
- The muscles of the legs; the quadriceps, hamstrings and the calf muscles.
- The muscles of the arms; the biceps, triceps and the flexor and extensor muscles of the forearm.
It is important for a gymnast to follow a good strength and flexibility program for these muscles to keep them ready for competition and practice.
Most Common Gymnastics Injuries
Gymnastics is a high flying, high impact activity that often requires split second timing. Any miss and the entire body can come crashing down. An awkward turn or twist and the joints are subjected to excessive force. When elevated off the ground a fall could mean serious injury.
The most common injuries experienced by the gymnast are dislocations, ankle sprains, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, and muscle strains.
- Dislocations: Dislocations in a gymnast often occur from a bad landing or a fall when the arm is extended. Shoulders are the most common dislocation, with elbows and wrists next, and knees occasionally. A dislocation happens when the bone in a joint is either pushed or pulled out of the normal range of motion and separates from the joint. It may return to normal on its own or it may require medical attention to reduce it. Treatment for a dislocation includes immobilization, ice, rest and NSAIDs. Recovery time for a dislocation depends on the involvement of the ligaments, tendons and bones of the joint and how much total damage occurred.
- Ankle Sprains: An ankle sprain happens when the joint is rotated through an extended range of motion, causing tears to the ligaments that support the joint. It can occur from rolling of the joint, either in or out. Jumping and running put the ankles at risk of sprains. Landing from a dismount or other activity can easily result in an ankle sprain. Common treatments for ankle sprains include rest, ice, and immobilization. Time to full recovery may be as long as 8 weeks depending on the amount of damage done to the ligaments.
- Plantar Fasciitis: The plantar fascia is subjected to a lot of stress during gymnastics floor moves and during the landing of a dismount. The plantar fascia is a strong ligamentous band that runs along the bottom of the foot and supports the arch of the foot. This band can become inflamed when it is under constant, excessive stress. This inflammation usually occurs at the heel end of the fascia. Rest and anti-inflammatory medication are the best treatment for this injury.
- Joint Pain: Gymnasts are constantly pounding their joints during jumps, tumbles, flips, and other activities. The cartilage in the joints helps cushion some of the impact; however it can only do so much. The joints, and the bones of the joints, can become inflamed and cause pain. This pain is usually the body’s first warning sign that it is time to take a little rest. With rest and NSAIDs the pain will usually subside. If it does not then there may be another, underlying, problem that must be addressed with medical intervention.
- Muscle Strains: Muscle strains are common in gymnastics. The muscles must contract forcefully to push the body through the movements of a routine. This forceful contraction may result in excessive tearing of the muscle, a muscle strain. This causes inflammation and pain in the muscle. The tears may be minor, with tears in a small number of fibers, to major, that involve large numbers of fibers and a larger area of the muscle. Initial treatment usually includes rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medication. (For more treatment information, visit R.I.C.E.R.)
Injury Prevention Strategies
A gymnast must be conditioned to ensure injury prevention.
- Practicing the form of each new move to ensure proper form and correct body position will help reduce injuries.
- Learning the proper form of each new move before trying it; and then practicing it to perfect it will help ensure proper form.
- The use of spotters when learning a new skill will also reduce the number of injuries.
- The use of well maintained equipment and a safe practice area is essential in injury prevention.
- A strength and flexibility program that covers the entire body, making sure the body is strong and flexible enough to perform the various moves will help the gymnast reach peak levels and avoid injury.
The Top 3 Gymnastics Stretches
Gymnastics stretches are one of the most under-utilized techniques for improving athletic performance, preventing sports injury and properly rehabilitating sprain and strain injury. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that something as simple as stretching won’t be effective. Below are 3 very beneficial stretches for gymnastics; obviously there are a lot more, but these are a great place to start. Please make special note of the instructions below each stretch.
Arm-up Rotator Stretch: Stand with your arm out and your forearm pointing upwards at 90 degrees. Place a broom stick in your hand and behind your elbow. With your other hand pull the bottom of the broom stick forward.
Standing High-leg Bent Knee Hamstring Stretch: Stand with one foot raised onto a table. Keep your leg bent and lean your chest into your bent knee.
Squatting Leg-out Adductor Stretch: Stand with your feet wide apart. Keep one leg straight and your toes pointing forward while bending the other leg and turning your toes out to the side. Lower your groin towards the ground and rest your hands on your bent knee or the ground.
While the recommendations on this page are a good starting point, you'll get a lot more benefit when you include a wider variety of stretches.
To do away with stiff, tight muscles and joints, and become loose, limber and pain free, grab a copy of the Ultimate Stretching Video & Book Guide.
In no time you'll... Improve your freedom of movement and full-body mobility. Get rid of those annoying aches, pains and injuries. And take your flexibility (and ease of movement) to the next level.
You'll get 135 clear photographs and 44 video demonstrations of unique stretches for all the major muscle groups in your body. Plus, the DVD includes 3 customized sets of stretches (8 minutes each) for the Upper Body; the Lower Body; and the Neck, Back & Core. And the Handbook will show you, step-by-step, how to perform each stretch correctly and safely.
Get back to the activities you love. Whether it’s enjoying your favorite sport, or walking the dog, or playing with the grand kids. Imagine getting out of bed in the morning with a spring in your step. Or being able to work in the garden or play your favorite sport without “paying-for-it” the next day.
About the Author: Brad is often referred to as the "Stretch Coach" and has even been called the Stretching Guru. Magazines such as Runners World, Bicycling, Triathlete, Swimming & Fitness, and Triathlon Sports have all featured his work. Amazon has listed his books on five Best-Seller lists. Google cites over 100,000 references to him and his work on the internet. And satisfied customers from 122 countries have sent 100's of testimonials. If you want to know about stretching, flexibility or sports injury management, Brad Walker is the go-to-guy.
