World Gymnastics Championships Liverpool 2022: Overview

The world’s greatest gymnasts are going to appear on a global stage between October 29^th and November 6^th, 2022. Liverpool, England, is happily going to host the World Gymnastics Championships 2022, and the M&S Bank will be the venue for this championship. World Gymnastics Championships is one of the oldest sports or gymnastic events in the world. The first edition of the championship was planned and organised in 1903, and Antwerp, Belgium, first hosted this event or championship. Right from that time, the championship has been organised by different host countries, which is organised after one or two years. The recent championship was organised in 2021 and was held in Kitakyushu, Japan. However, China, Japan, and Italy were listed in the first, second, and third medal tables, respectively. For the 2022 championship, more than 400 athletes from across the world are going to participate in several actions.

Competition schedule

The given competition schedule is announced officially for the 2022 world championship:

Common injuries found in gymnastics

Undoubtedly, gymnastics is one of the most watched and exciting games. In every world championship, hundreds of gymnasts participate to show their exceptional capabilities. As gymnasts are involved in repetitive movements, overuse injuries are possible in gymnasts. It has been reported that gymnasts experience overuse injuries and can hurt any part of their bodies. A study about gymnastic injuries from 2001 to 2011 has reported that 64 male gymnasts experienced 240 injuries; however, 55 female gymnasts experienced 201 injuries.

The injury incident is estimated to be 8.78 per 1000 athlete exposures for men and 9.73 per thousand for women. Female gymnasts are more prone to injuries than male gymnasts. However, studies have also shown that 24.4% of female injuries require surgery, and the ratio of surgical treatment in men is 9.2%. The anatomic structures most often injured in men are the wrist and hand; however, in women, these are the foot and ankle. Moreover, overall injury rates were highest in freshman-eligible athletes. Here we come with the possible injuries found in gymnasts:

1.         Labral Tear

Labral tear, also known as a SLAP tear, may occur in gymnasts during any gymnastic practice. However, ring and bar specialists are more vulnerable. The injury is characterised by pain that initially resolves but tends to recur when you return to your practice. In order to establish a absolute diagnosis, an MRI is helpful. Nonsurgical treatments for a SLAP tear may include rest, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and platelet-rich plasma injection. Healthcare professionals also suggest wearing shoulder support braces to relieve pain and other symptoms. However, more severe conditions may require surgery – an arthroscopic procedure.

2.         Wrist sprain

During gymnastic practices, your wrist may be subject to force, exceeding twice the body weight. The common symptoms of a wrist sprain may include pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, loss of motion, and weakness. Reducing the training volume helps relieve the symptoms. Wearing wrist support braces helps immobilise your wrist, helping speed up recovery.

3.         Anterior cruciate ligament, ACL tear

Anterior cruciate ligaments run through your knees, helping connect your thigh bone to your shin bone. As well as this, they play a vital role in stabilising your knees. The common cause of ACL tear is a sudden pivoting or cutting manoeuvre during any gymnastic activity. The ACL tear may result in severe pain, swelling, inability o putting weight on your knees or legs, and a significant change in the range of motion. The treatment process depends upon the severity of the injury. Grade I and II level tear may recover through a progressive range of motion, physical therapy, and other exercises. However, grade III-level tears may require surgery and take up to 15 months to heal properly. Healthcare professionals advise wearing knee support braces to relieve pain and speed up recovery.

4.         Achilles Tendinitis

Gymnasts can experience several problems with their feet and ankle, and Achilles tendinitis is a common complaint by many gymnasts. Achilles tendinitis is an irritation and inflammation of the Achilles tendons – tendons just above the back of your heel. The condition usually results in calf soreness that exacerbates with jumping and landing. The initial treatment options for Achilles tendinitis may involve stretching, activity adjustment, and calf or leg exercises. However, foot immobilisation with the best ankle support braces helps with acute symptoms.

5.         Ankle sprain

Gymnasts often experience foot or ankle sprain, which generally happens during an awkward landing or when gymnasts roll their ankles inwards. However, gymnasts have a high chance of rolling ankles as they are involved in continuous jumping or tumbling. Popping sounds at the time of sprain and dark bruising are the common symptoms. Treatments may vary depending on your condition. However, wearing ankle support braces helps with mild to moderate symptoms.

How to prepare well for gymnastics meet

Whether you are a professional gymnast or occasionally appear as an amateur gymnast, injuries are possible. Injuries usually happen due to carelessness, overuse, and wrong techniques. However, experts suggest some effective tips and preventive measures by following which gymnasts can save themselves from overuse injuries. So, let’s have a look at these tips and preventive measures to help you get an injury-free gymnastics experience:

1.         Prepare yourself physically

• Practice well the routines you have to perform in your meet. For the time being, ignore learning new skills and trying to advance your gymnastic level. You have to practice well for the existing skills to perform well in the competition.
• Focus on the details, such as dancing, landing, and dismounts. Professionals point out that gymnasts win or lose the match by 0.1 points, a step on a landing or checking a balance on the beam.
• Plan or arrange your warm-up time. You need to warm up your body as long as you need before a practice or competition.
• Have an actual practice meet, allowing you and your coaches to run through your routines in the same manner as the meet. Having teammates and supporters during training will help and encourage you to perform well in front of an audience.
• You need to modify your audience. Spend most of your time in practice before a meet. For example, at the end of the practice, you need to cut down your conditioning from 30 minutes to 10 minutes.
• Stay hydrated and eat well. Ensure that you have a good intake of carbohydrates that will maximise your energy level for your meet. However, avoid fatty foods that may slow down your performance.    

2.         Prepare yourself mentally

• Visualise the gymnasts you want to be at your turn. Close your eyes and do your routines or practice in your mind, helping you examine how they will look when implemented perfectly.
• Practice mental chronology, boosting your confidence and helping you focus.
• You need to adopt or follow pre-competition rituals to help you prepare mentally. These rituals may include positive visualisation, practising your beam on a piece of tape, and any other ritual that will tell your mind that it’s a time of competition.

3.         Prepare yourself logistically

• Pack your gym bag a day or night before your meet. Ensure that you have all the things necessary for your practice. Usually, the gymnasts need bar grips, floor exercise music, athletic tape, warm-up suit, water, and snack.
• Ensure you arrive at the meet at the possible early time to have enough time to prepare and warm up.
• Ensure that you have all the equipment that is well arranged and prepared.
• Always focus on the meet and ignore all distractions.