Gymnastics athletes are exposed to a high risk of injury, but also of developing musculoskeletal pain. These data are still little investigated in the available scientific literature. An online survey was distributed to 79 professional athletes who practiced artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. The survey collected demographic and anthropometric data, information about the sport practice, the training sessions, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain gymnastics-related, and lifestyle habits. Musculoskeletal pain had a high prevalence, involving 65 of 79 athletes (82.3%). A significant correlation was found between musculoskeletal pain and the duration of sports practice, both for general pain (p = 0.041) and for specific districts: right wrist pain (p = 0.031), left wrist pain (p = 0.028), right shoulder (p = 0.039), left hip (p = 0.031), right thigh (p = 0.031), and left knee (p = 0.005). Another statistical association was found between right wrist pain and BMI (p = 0.001), and hip pain and BMI (p = 0.030). Hours spent in a sitting position were also correlated with the incidence of pain (p = 0.045). Wrist pain and right shoulder pain had a statistically significant association with the age of the athletes (right wrist pain: p = 0.038; left wrist pain: p = 0.004; right shoulder pain: p = 0.035). The more the gymnasts practice this sport, the more likely they are to develop musculoskeletal pain. Increased age and a higher BMI, as well as daily prolonged sitting position, seem to be potential risk factors for the onset of musculoskeletal pain. Future studies could plan training strategies aimed at preventing musculoskeletal pain associated with gymnastics, in order to promote its further spread.

Musculoskeletal Pain in Gymnasts: A Retrospective Analysis on a Cohort of Professional Athletes

Background: Although a knee valgus position is related to the increase in injury risk in volleyball players, there is a lack of studies on the relationship between knee valgus and vertical jump (VJ) performance. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a postural exercise program on VJ height in young female volleyball players with knee valgus. Methods: This pilot study included 19 young female volleyball players divided into the following groups: the Valgus Experimental Group (VEG); the Valgus Control Group (VCG); and the Neutral Control Group (NCG). All three groups carried out the same volleyball training program. In addition, only the VEG underwent a 3-month postural exercise program of 30–45 min/session, twice/week. VJ performance was measured through the Sargent test before (T0), at 6 weeks (T1), and at 12 weeks (T2). Results: A significant effect from T0 to T1 (p = 0.0017) and from T0 to T2 (p = 0.0001) was found in the VEG. No significant differences were found over time in the VCG and in the NCG. Conclusion: An integrated postural exercise program might lead to a more balanced muscle efficiency inducing athletes to obtain a higher VJ performance.

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Effects of a Postural Exercise Program on Vertical Jump Height in Young Female Volleyball Players with Knee Valgus

Objective: This study aims to analyze the effect of core strength strengthening training on exercise-induced lumbar injuries. Methods: Sixteen athletes suffering from lumbar injuries were randomly divided into two groups, group A and group B. Group A performed core strength strengthening training, while group B only performed normal study and life. Before and after the experiment, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, lumbar spine mobility, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and overall effect evaluation of the two groups were recorded and compared. Results: After the experiment, the VAS score of group A decreased to 2.78 ± 1.89 points, the anterior flexion distance was 0.85 ± 0.03 cm, the left lateral flexion distance was 4.97 ± 0.02 cm, and the right lateral flexion distance was 3.32 ± 0.02 cm, and the ODI was 15.68 ± 6.73% (p < 0.05 compared to group B before and after the experiment). Overall, in group A, two athletes were cured, four athletes had significant improvements, and two athletes had a mild response, while the treatment was ineffective in group B. Conclusion: Core strength strengthening training enhances lumbar muscle strength and improves lumbar stability, showing a significant improvement effect on lumbar injuries. 

A Study on the Effect of Core Strength Strengthening Training on Exercise-Induced Lumbar Injuries

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to evaluate the impact of adding the Mézières Method (MM) to the standard rehabilitation protocol for the elite athletes with low back pain (LBP) in reducing lumbar pain rather than only using the traditional rehabilitation protocol treatment. The disciplines considered in this study were soccer, rhythmic gymnastics, and basketball. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Training Camp. Participants One hundred and thirty-nine elite athletes with low back pain of whom 69 were assigned to the experimental group. Intervention The intervention consists of treatment with three lying postures in a 40-minute-long session twice a week. The session's goal was to focus on breathing exercises, spine mobility, and stretching of the back muscles, with particular attention to the diaphragmatic, paravertebral, and latissimus dorsi muscles. Outcome measures Assessments such as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Sit and Reach flexibility test, Roland-Morris Questionnaire, and health status questionnaire (SF12) were used. Results The evaluation of all outcomes in four measurement periods of the study (baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks) showed a significant difference between the groups. Also, at the 6 months of the intervention, a significant difference in the means (SD) was observed in pain (VAS), back flexibility (Sit & Reach) and back disability (QRM) outcomes in favor of the experimental group with a medium-large effect size compared with the control group. Conclusion The MM approach can also be applied to established conventional protocols to alleviate pain and functionality. The obtained results include improving the quality of life of the athletes and their physical and emotional states.

A randomized controlled trial concerning the implementation of the postural Mézières treatment in elite athletes with low back pain

BACKGROUND Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for visiting the doctor. The Mezieres method (MM) emphasises body awareness and uses a global postural rehabilitation approach. It is used in the management of LBP, but its effectiveness has received limited formal evaluation. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of MM on quality of life, pain and functional disability in people with LBP and understand the patient's bodily experience during the MM intervention. METHODS This single-blind randomised controlled trial with a mixed methods design will include 54 people with LBP aged 18 to 65 years. Participants will be randomised into two groups, one will receive MM and the other will receive a control intervention, administered through 10 treatment sessions. Participants will also construct a narrative to provide an understanding of their bodily experience. RESULTS The assessed outcomes will include pain, back pain-related disability assessed using the Roland Morris Questionnaire, and quality of life related to health assessed using the SF12. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after the intervention and at a 6 weeks follow-up.

Effects and experience with the Mézières method in people with low back pain: A mixed methods study.

Context One of the main reasons why athletes with a high physical condition suffer from low back pain disease is because they often participate in sports that involve disc compression movements during flexion, lifting loads, or torsion movement. Objectives This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the postural treatment of the Mezieres method on elite rhythmic gymnastics athletes with low back pain. Design Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Setting The sports hall of "Puente Tocinos," Murcia, Spain. Participants Ninety gymnastics athletes were randomized into 2 parallel groups (intervention: n = 39; control: n = 51), of whom 98.9% were women (women = 89; man = 1). Intervention The Mezieres method postural therapy was implemented. It lasted about 60 minutes in repeated sessions of 2 to 3 meetings per week by counting in overall 60 sessions during a 24-week period. Main outcome measures Visual analog scale of pain, sit and reach flexibility test, Runtastic (pedometer performance android application), Roland-Morris Questionnaire for the physical disability, and the Health Status Questionnaire were used. Results The univariate analysis of variance and independent sample t test revealed a significant improvement in the intervention group concerning the visual analog scale pain assessment scale (P 0.8) compared with the control one. The same situation persists even for Roland-Morris Questionnaire (P 0.8). Conclusion The Mezieres method treatment performed on athletes with low back pain has caused positive effects on all the outcomes analyzed compared with the ones of control group.

The Effectiveness of the Mézières Method in Elite Rhythmic Gymnastics Athletes With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: The Mezieres is a postural therapy which consists in improving anatomical postures and mitigation until disappearances of muscular contractures while reducing back pain through the most important muscle recovery by positively contributing in the individuals balance. The combination of this therapy with rhythmic gymnastics results very interesting by demonstrating the balance of posture and training, the modification of exercise type and tries to contribute in the achievement rates for competitions. Methodology:The experimental study was conducted on 35 young athletes of National Rhythmic Gymnastics who train five days per week with a duration of three hours per each session from 50 athletes in total in Sports Palace during a two months period (from 15 November 2016 to 15 January 2017) in the city of Murcia. Precisely, the Mezieres therapy was conducted in an experimental group of 20 athletes (from 15 to 30 years old) while other additional data were received from the control group consisted in 15 girls (from 8 to 14 years old) after signing the informed consent from the athletes and their families. The above mentioned therapy was conducted for 2 consecutive months with two weekly individual sessions for each athlete with duration of 30 minutes. The postural evaluation of athletes was done through a meter tape in order to measure the elasticity and muscles tone, the pain scale-VAS while the gymnastics evaluation plan was handled on three dimensions including the dance height and the movement’s amplitude. Results: From the realization of pre and post-tests regarding the performance of Mezieres therapy it was observed in 15/20 athletes: a reduction of VAS (pain scale) with a minimum of 2 grades; an improvement in the height of the jump by 3 cm; a visible palpable contractures reduction; a postural improvement; a backpack angles improvement; an increase muscles elasticity in lower posterior limbs and the realization of a movement amplitude with 20 additional degrees. Discussion:The rhythmic gymnastics is a sport that is practiced on the examined athletes by at least 10 years considering that the smaller accession gymnastics age is 5 years old. While their training is very tough and rigorous as each year the achievement rates are revised by requiring the examination of different sportive recovery and adaptation methods. Conclusions: Consequently for all these reasons the implementation of Mezieres therapy in National rhythmic gymnasts of Murcia results fruitful almost being that they emerged sixth in the national competition during last year which confirms that their level of professionalism is very high and a positive prospective can be handled through the exercise of the proposed therapy.

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Jasemin Todri

Papers

The Effectiveness of the Mézières Method in Elite Rhythmic Gymnastics Athletes With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The effectiveness of mézières therapy in the athletes with low back pain: the case study of national rhythmic gymnastics team of Murcia