Physical and Psychological Benefits and Risks of Competitive Gymnastics Competitive sports have been around for as long as history, and most people have participated in one at some point in their lives. Competitive sports are not for all people, however, because not everyone feels the pros outweigh the cons. One popular sport is competitive gymnastics, which has always had controversy as to whether it is more beneficial or harmful. While gymnastics is a potentially dangerous sport, if taught or performed improperly, its benefits, both physical and psychological, are far greater than the potential risks. Physical effects of competitive sports range anywhere from a potential death of an athlete if they are unable to perform skills properly …show more content…
According to Foust, “Flexibility reduces the risk of hyper-extension of joints and ligaments, regulates blood flow, and stimulates muscle growth and development.” Wm A. Sands, Ph.D. from the Departmen of Exercise and Sport Science says: “It is believed that flexibility can be an effective aid to the reduction of injury, preventing athletes from forcing a limb to an injurious range of motion” (2). Controversy Foust says: “On the other hand, if an athlete pushes themselves too far in order to achieve their goals, they could potentially increase the risk of hyper-extension, or even tear a ligament.” “However, the research on gymnastics' contribution to spine disorders and disc degeneration has been mixed” (Sands …show more content…
While many are endomorphic body types, (Tall and slender more likely to have a high metabolism), there are also a fair number of mesomorphs, (Average build in both high and strength), and endomorphs, (Shorter, slightly more inclined to have a heavier body).
Many competitive sports also come with the temptation of using performance enhancing drugs. “There will always be athletes at the highest levels willing to use banned drugs and other substances. The allure of fame, money, power, and position for the successful will see to that” (536). Performance enhancing drugs have very little appeal for a competitive gymnast. Competitive gymnastics is an anaerobic sport, meaning high physical endurance is not needed reducing the desire to improve it through drugs, and since the strength required is based off of a bodyweight ratio, strength enhancing drugs also carry little value.
Gymnastics is also a reasonably safe sport. In 1997 only 33,378 gymnasts required an emergency room visit. In comparison baseball, another typically safe sport, had 326,569 emergency room visits (Sands 3). According to statistics provided by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin since sports as a whole has become safer. In 1998 only around 25,500 gymnasts required an emergency room visit
Sweat. Blood. Tears. Fruit punch Gatorade. Many people all around the world play sports whether it is Football, Baseball, Tennis, Swimming, Wrestling or Track. People have come together and played sports since the begging of time; the Olympics unites people all over the world. However, once in a while shocking and sometimes fatal injuries can occur. Although sports teams prior to sports medicine have employed team physicians for numerous years, the field of sports medicine did not arise until about the 20th century. The first textbook on the subject of sports medicine was published in 1910 to help athletes avoid fatal injuries. Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. There is danger in almost any sport and athlete participated in; sports have caused many life altering injuries and sometimes even death. Due to sports medicine becoming a new and growing health care profession, many injures have went undocumented. The common athletic trainer may deal with minor cuts and bruises, muscle cramps, ACL sprains, ankle sprains, shin splints and maybe even a broken bone; but once in a while they can experience extreme injures. There has been various outrageous and gruesome injuries throughout sports medicine history.
For years gymnastics has been a sport that many children participate in. But as the years have gone by it has turned into something other than a place for kids to grow and learn. Its overwhelming commitment has continued to replace kids’ childhoods with stress, mental and physical pain and eating disorders. Many results have come from this change in the gymnastics society. Gymnasts have come to a point where they have been told and directed to understand that winning is the only important factor in gymnastics. “ It’s about the elite child athlete and the American obsession with winning that has produced a training environment wherein results are bought in at any cost, no matter how devastating. It’s about how cultural fixation on beauty and weight on youth has shaped the sport and driven the athletes into a sphere beyond the quest for physical performance.” (Ryan 5)
In all areas of sports, professional, college, and even high school, there is widespread illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs. Although there are many reasons for athletes to choose to use these drugs, the cost of such use, both to the athlete and to society can be extraordinarily high. It is important to understand why performance-enhancing drugs are used and what are the consequences of their use to the athlete and society.
Injuries can be common while participating in organized sports, competitions, training exercises, or fitness activities says Darice Britt. “Poor training methods, inadequate warm-up, and lack of conditioning are a few of the causes of sports injuries.” (Britt) Although on the other hand, Apostolos Theophilou, DPT, clinical coordinator of the Physical Therapist Assisting program at South University says that Injuries can be caused by a combination of those things, not necessarily the only reasons. “Fatigue and overuse are also significant contributors to an injury, and not excluding also the psychosocial aspects and dehydration that cause athletes to be prone to injuries.” (Theophilou)
Each day, professional and amateur athletes and body builders thrive to achieve their goals and dreams of winning gold medals or representing their country worldwide. The sports or games in which they participate require physical strength, athleticism and stamina, and due to the tough competition they face, some of these athletes decide to take performance enhancing drugs, an act called doping.
Youth sports can be a learning experience or it can be a health risk to the athletes. Youth sports can teach young children the value of hard work and discipline or it can be emotionally and physically damaging. Three main points are how sports keep you healthy, how they build character, and the values that they will learn from sports and how they will use in the future. These three ideas prove that youth sports can be healthy, they build character, and can teach them the value of hard work and discipline for your kid.
In conclusion, athletes playing only one sport or multiple sports can result in good and bad effects. You have
High school sports are one of American student’s favorite extracurricular activities. High school sports provide a sense of school pride and dedication to the athlete’s school. Many students play in hopes of a college scholarship in their desired sport. Despite the dreams that come with sports the sad truth is that many sport careers end short by some sort of injury. Injuries in high school sports vary from a range of things. High school athletes suffer from damage to the brain, spine, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Sports also take a mental toll of the athlete putting them at risk of cardiac arrest. Student Athletes are also pressured to take harmful performance enhancing products and take up harmful dietary patterns to try and gain an edge. Sports have many beneficial qualities but can be harmful to the body if performed in an unhealthy fashion. The truth is that anytime an athlete engages in physical activity they are at risk.
An important part of every sport is the physical toll it takes on it’s participants and the
Partaking in school sports can have benefits and drawbacks. A student could be gaining confidence or wearing out their body. Sports is like betting, you win big or lose big. Winning meaning earning friends, gaining confidence, and maintaining better health. Losing meaning visits to the emergency room, countless injuries , and not being
It’s an amazing way to keep your body fit, healthy, and strong. Gymnastics is an individual sport which depends on the player’s skills, you may see a team but each player specialized on a type of gymnastics. Moreover, according to Webster, there are our basic skills of educational gymnastics are rolling actions, balancing actions, step-like actions, and flight actions. This sport depends on both balance and poise. The players are trained to develop the enthusiastic awareness of how the body react and move in the air and on the ground in case not to get injured, nor falling off. In addition, they must be well attentive and focused. Unfortunately, this sport didn’t have enough popularity in our Arabic world; on the other hand gymnastic is one of the most popular sports World
Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, performance enhancing drugs have become a religious practice in “the lives of some sports figures.” The use of these supplements has given the user an edge, an edge to perform at maximum capability. Most major athletes all agree on the fact that the competitive drive to win can be quite intense. Besides the satisfaction of personal accomplishment, athletes commonly pursue high hopes of attaining a medal, a college scholarship or the once in a lifetime opportunity to play on a professional team. In such an environment, the use of performance-enhancing drugs has become increasingly common (Athletes & Drug Use).
Performance enhancing drugs in sport is a controversial topic. The nature of sports raises a desire to win, and some athletes will do anything to become the best. Every elite athlete wants to get an advantage over their opponents. Many athletes have started to use performance-enhancing drugs to gain this advantage and the use of these drugs has increased dramatically. Performance enhancing drugs can leave players with long-term harmful side effects, is considered as cheating and sets an unrealistic expectation for younger viewers.
My heart is beating rapidly. I am filled with trepidation. Can I perform? Will I remember my routines? Will I stick the landing? Will I keep my legs straight? What if I fall off the beam? What if I disappoint my coaches? What if I’m not the best? What if…?
The way gymnasts present themselves is very important; no one wants to watch a gymnast that looks sloppy and unclean. When someone first starts this sport, it is hard and painful. The more a person practices, the more she/he can build stability to do the core exercises and warm-ups. The gym that gymnasts work in is very spacious and usually organized for specific events. The events in gymnastics all fit together in some way. This sport is fun to learn and experience for any young child or anyone wanting to propel themselves into the air.