"Young Gymnasts Tumbling and Vaulting Their Way to the ER"

Through this article about young gymnasts (U.S. News, 4/4/08)we see that the pressures of competition are being placed on children at younger and younger ages. This certainly has negative impacts on their growth, not only physically, but socially, psychologically, and emotionally. Sure a full twisting double layout is cool to do by age 10, but what about the detrimental effects that it’s training places on the body? Not so cool by age 30. The article outlines the different injuries and their frequencies. The study’s results showed that about five out of every 1,000 gymnasts between the ages of 6 and 17 acquired injuries “serious enough to require acute care.” The research shows that emergency rooms have been incredibly busy tending to strains, sprains, fractures, and dislocations. And let’s be reminded that this study only observed the ER.

As Grudziak says, “"It's unbelievable what kids are doing now compared to 20 years ago, but kids' bodies are still the same.” 6- and 7-year-old gymnasts perform like teenagers. Teenagers are expected to be professionals. These expectations ultimately have detrimental consequences, stunting and perhaps even eliminating the “growing up process” that is of great importance to all of us.