Episode 52: The Gymnast Injury-Burnout Cycle and Nutrition

Injury and burnout are all to common for gymnasts. I view part of my role as a peds/adolescent sports dietitian to help gymnasts not just perform their best but also have longevity in the sport AND feel good in their body. Which is possible when parents and gymnasts approach nutrition as a key factor in preventing injury and burnout.

In my last few years of gymnastics I spent more time injured than not, and while I would never have owned up to this at the time…part of my love for the sport was starting to wain due to the burnout of always being injured, always on the comeback, etc. 

On the outside, so many high level gymnasts look happy, successful, etc. But we can’t see what’s going in internally. Too often what we see presented by the gymnast is not the case due to injury or burnout. 

In this episode you’ll learn: 

• Why the burnout-injury cycle is such an issue in this sport
• What burnout has to do with nutrition 
• What you can do as a parent to help your gymnast stay as happy and healthy in this crazy sport as you can (especially if they have dreams of doing elite or NCAA gymnastics)  

Links & Resources 

• The Balanced Gymnast®  Program for level 5-10 female gymnasts 
• Podcast Episode 4: RED-S
• Connect with Christina on Instagram @the.gymnast.nutritionist or support@christinaandersonrdn.com