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Factors Associated with Wrist Pain in the Young Gymnast

Division of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles

James C. Puffer, MD

Division of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles

Bert R. Mandelbaum, MD

Santa Monica Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Group, Santa Monica, California

Sabrina Mar

Pacific Athletic Club, Pacific Palisades, California

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 52 nonelite gymnasts (32 girls, 20 boys; average age, 11.8 years) to assess their history of training and wrist pain within the last 6 months. An intensity index was created using the number of training hours per week and the athletes' skill levels. Wrist pain was prevalent in 38 (73%) of the gymnasts. Gymnasts with wrist pain were older (12.6 years versus 9.7 years; P = 0.0002), trained more hours per week (13.5 versus 7.7; P = 0.0002), trained at a higher skill level (P = 0.01), and began training at an older age (7.0 years versus 5.1 years; P = 0.006). Analysis of intensity versus age suggested that a threshold of training intensity may be important in the development of wrist pain. Logistical regression found these factors to be independently associated with wrist pain: intensity (P = 0.036), age >10 years (P = 0.018), age <14 years (P = 0.016), and the age of initiation of training (P = 0.020). This study demon strates that wrist pain is a common problem among nonelite young gymnasts. Training intensity, relative to the age of the participant and the age when training was initiated, appears to be an important determinant of the development of wrist pain in this population.

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