Overview
The goal of this observational study is to understand how injury risk is related to dynamic and static balance, foot posture, training characteristics, and sleep quality in competitive acrobatic gymnasts of different ages, sexes, categories, and positions (base, middle, top). The main questions it aims to answer are:
Do acute and overuse injury occurrence and severity differ by age, sex, acrobatic category, and position in the pyramid?
Are injury risks associated with balance performance, foot posture index, overuse injury questionnaire scores, and sleep quality scores?
Participants will:
Complete online questionnaires including a sports injury/overuse questionnaire (OSTRC-O) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Provide information on age, sex, training history, acrobatic category and position, and previous injuries.
Undergo balance and foot posture assessments according to the study protocol.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Competitive acrobatic gymnasts training at a club recognized by national or international federations in Bulgaria, Italy, and other European countries.
- Age range 11 - 30 years old
- Currently training regularly for at least 2 years.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Gymnasts unable to complete questionnaires or balance tests.
- Acute medical conditions preventing participation.
