Top Tips For Staying Safe During Your Gymnastics Performance
Posted on - 20th June 2023
Whether it’s the thrill of spinning and swinging in the air or the excitement of winning competitions that makes you passionate about gymnastics, there’s no denying that gymnastics is a challenging yet rewarding sport. However gymnastics is one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Like many other dangerous sports, there is a high risk of experiencing a serious injury and every gymnast knows the risks involved. To reduce this risk as much as possible, here are a few tips you can follow to ensure your safety while you continue doing what you do best.
1) Follow The Gym Rules
All gymnasts need to comply with the rules and regulations set by the gym or gymnastics venue they are performing in. Some of those rules and regulations include:
- Never perform or train without any supervision
- Wear the appropriate attire
- Only one person is allowed on each gymnastic apparatus at a time such as the vault, uneven bars or balance beam
- No jewellery
- No chewing gum
- Respect other gymnasts
2) Have An Emergency Plan
In the event of an accident or injury, it’s important to have an emergency plan in place with your team. This includes stopping if you encounter an injury during your performance, having a first aid kit, getting it checked by your trainer, coach, doctor, or nurse before returning to performing, or in more serious cases, calling an ambulance. In gymnastics, things can go wrong quickly, an easy mistake can cause life-threatening injuries.
3) Stretch and Warm Up
Prior to every performance or training session, it’s essential to complete a stretching session and warm up session to prepare your body for a workout. Stretching improves flexibility of joints, lengthens the muscles and increases muscle blood flow and helps calm the mind. A warm up session increases the heart rate and boosts the blood & oxygen flow to the muscles. Not only does a warm up and a good stretch prepare your body for a workout, it can be key to preventing injuries during the performance.
4) Use Safety Gear
To perform gymnastics safely, it’s essential to make use of the safety gear available to you. Floor mats or mattresses are used to cushion a landing after a performance. Wrist bands, straps, guards and grips are worn by gymnasts for performing on the uneven bars. They are designed to improve a gymnast's grasp on the bars while protecting their hands from painful blisters and tears. Most grips are made from a piece of leather attached to a wrist strap. Other options include wrapping the hands in athletic tape.
5) Wear The Right Attire
Along with using safety gear is wearing the right attire. Special shoes for performing on the vault usually have a reinforced toe to help absorb the pressure of landing. Some gymnasts wear gymnastic shoes with rubber soles to prevent slipping on the balance beam. All gymnasts wear some form of leotard while performing. Leotards are tightly-fitted but stretchy, allowing the gymnast to have full motion. Clothing with loose material or buttons can get caught in gymnastic apparatus, causing a harmful accident.
Have A Look At The Gymnastics Attire From Olympique
The last thing to keep in mind while performing gymnastics is to have fun! Once you have followed all of the above top tips, you can enjoy gymnastics in a safe manner. If you happen to be looking for new gymnastics attire, check out the fantastic range from Olympique. Our talented team manufactures long-sleeved and sleeveless leotards, as well as gym shorts, training leotards and gymnastics accessories for both girls and ladies of all ages in a broad variety of vibrant colours and eye-catching designs.
We are just as passionate about gymnastics as you are, this is why we wanted to design a range of gymnastic leotards which are both appropriate and stylish to perform in. For any questions, please contact us.