Athlete Health and Wellness
USA Gymnastics is committed to the health and wellness of our gymnasts. This page serves as a resource for medical professionals who serve the gymnastics community and for those working with or who have a desire to work with USA Gymnastics’ National Teams and developmental track programs.
Athlete, Coach and Parent Resources
- Body Image in Gymnastics: Keeping it Healthy
- Medical Staffing at Events: What's Required?
- When Trauma Impacts the Athlete - A Coach's Guide to Recognize & Respond
- Injury Guidance for Gymnastics Coaches and Club Owners
- The Impact of a Gymnast's Growth Spurt
- Athlete Hygiene in Sports - More Than Just the Yuck Factor
- How a Coach's Leadership Style Affect Results
- Incident Reports - The 5 Ws
- Vomiting Before Gymnastics Competition — Is this normal?
- Youth Sport Mental Health - How Coaches Can Help
- Language Around Depression and Suicidal Athletes
- Recovery After Practice and Competition
- The Importance of Rehabilitation After an Ankle Sprain
- Concussion Awareness
- Back Pain in Gymnasts
- The Coaches' Guide to Supporting High School Athlete Mental Health
- Shoulder Maintenance 101: A beginner's guide to shoulder mobility & warm-up
- Injury Prevention: Ankle Sprains
- Supporting Injured Gymnasts' Mental Health
- Sport Mental Health Recognition Tool 1 (SMHRT-1): How to recognize and respond to a mental health problem
- USOPC Nutrition
- Nutrition Concerns for Gymnasts
- Fueling Strategies - Performance
- Fueling Strategies - Snacks
- Vegan and Vegetarian Nutrition
- Altitude Factsheet
- Recovery Factsheet
- Hydration Factsheet
- Travel Nutrition Factsheet
- Nutrients that Fuel Performance
- Nutrients for Bone/Joint Injury Recovery
- Nutrients for Soft Tissue Injury Recovery
- Immune Function
- Injury Prevention
- Mental Health
- Imagery
- Confidence
- Goal Setting
- 14 Days of Focus: Developing Mental Resilience & Strength to Peak in Gymnastics
- Mental Toughness in Gymnastics
- Energy Management Skills
- Gymnastics Parent Survival Guide
- Mindfulness Manual
Webinars
- How to Manage a "Crash" in Your Gym
- What to Expect: Gymnastics During Athlete Maturation | PDF
- How to Navigate the Topics of Gymnast Nutrition, Weight, and Body Image as a Coach or Parent
- Introduction to Sport Psychology: Using Mental Skills to Get the Edge
- Mindfulness Training for Performance Excellence
- Recovering from Injury – Return to Gymnastics Smarter, Stronger, and Safer | PDF
- Using Imagery in Gymnastics to Get the Mental Edge | PDF
- Early Sport Specialization and Preventing Injuries in Gymnastics | PDF
- Men's Program: Annual Training & Periodization Cycles to Maximize Competition, Recovery and Skill Development
- Red Flags: When to send your gymnast to a medical professional
Club Resources
- Club Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Template (Word document)
- Event Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Template (Word document)
- USA Gymnastics Concussion Policy
Gymnastics Research
Useful Links
About the USA Gymnastics Medical Team
USA Gymnastics Medical Team Policies
- USA Gymnastics National Team Healthcare Services Position Description
- USA Gymnastics Healthcare Services Provider Position Description
- USA Gymnastics Medical Director Position Description
- USA Gymnastics National Team Physician Position Description
- Dry Needling policy
- Return to Gymnastics Clearance Policy
How can I be part of the USA Gymnastics Medical Team?
- Recruiting and Training New Medical Providers Policy
- Apply to join the team
- If you meet the qualifications listed in the position description and have reviewed the "Recruiting and Training New Medical Providers Policy" and would like to be considered for a volunteer position with USA Gymnastics medical team, please click below to email your cover letter and resume to medicalvolunteer@usagym.org