Upper Extremity: Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist- Gymnastics Injury Prevention, Predisposition, Common Injuries, Treatment and Return

Course overview

This course is part 5 of a 10-part series which may be taken independently or as a part of Gymnastics Sports Medicine Certification (GSMC) offered by MedGym (For further details regarding the GSMC click HERE.) Upper extremity injuries in gymnastics are prevalent uniquely because of a combination of both weight bearing and non-weight bearing activities. They can be decreased with identifying strength, movement, flexibility, and stability risk factors, proper body alignment and preparation, and adherence to body mechanics in the arms and spine. Both acute and chronic upper extremity pain exists throughout the sport and can vary with practice volume and skill difficulty. Identification of the etiology from performance analysis to movement pattern identification is equally as important as diagnostics and subsequent protocols. This course will bring awareness to movement patterns and trends related to wrist, elbow, and shoulder diagnoses and a niche, sports-specific return-to-performance that combines proper rehab techniques and future re-injury reduction.