MUTigerMom
Proud Parent
- Jan 17, 2017
- 79
- 205
My daughter was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her l4 vertebrae on 9/23. She has been restricted from all activity except PT since then. The PT has cleared her this week to do some swimming. We go back to the orthopedic doctor on Wednesday 11/6. He indicated that even in the best case scenario that he wouldn't clear her for activity for another 6 weeks after that appointment.
She was to compete Level 5 in the Fall and Level 6 in the Spring. That didn't happen, so the new plan is for her to compete Excel platinum this Spring. Her coach is asking if I want them to register her for the January meet. To me, this seems like too much too soon. Even if she is cleared in 6 weeks, that puts us at the Christmas holiday. I am also sure that she shouldn't just jump right into full on practices and trying to do all the skills she was working on. I actually had wondered about skipping competition this Spring entirely and focusing on getting BHS on beam to score out of 5 next Fall (and minimize the need to do back walkovers.) FYI- I think the plan was for her to do BWO-BWO as her beam series for Level 6. (That seems like a very bad idea given her current back issues.)
To be honest, I have reservations and fears about her going back at all. I am so worried that she will go back, push too hard and we will be right back where we started. She is very active and athletic, I don't want her to end up not being able to do any sports, or even worse, end up with life-long back pain. She is a very hard worker, but not a naturally talented gymnast. She has to work hard for every skill she gets. (So no dreams of college, etc. She just wants to make it to optionals.)
Any advice? Anyone been through this that can tell me what is reasonable in terms of her coming back and how much to allow her to do and how quickly?
The coaches are good about following instructions, but I find that I have to be VERY explicit about exactly what she is allowed to do and not do or they (her and coaches) will push the limits. (Ex. When she first hurt her back and before we knew it was a stress fracture, I had requested that she not do anything that might hurt her back. No tumbling, etc. I picked her up and she was so excited because they let her work her front layout on the tumble track ( a skill she had never done before. It just didn't seem like the time to be trying a new skills even on tumble track.)
She was to compete Level 5 in the Fall and Level 6 in the Spring. That didn't happen, so the new plan is for her to compete Excel platinum this Spring. Her coach is asking if I want them to register her for the January meet. To me, this seems like too much too soon. Even if she is cleared in 6 weeks, that puts us at the Christmas holiday. I am also sure that she shouldn't just jump right into full on practices and trying to do all the skills she was working on. I actually had wondered about skipping competition this Spring entirely and focusing on getting BHS on beam to score out of 5 next Fall (and minimize the need to do back walkovers.) FYI- I think the plan was for her to do BWO-BWO as her beam series for Level 6. (That seems like a very bad idea given her current back issues.)
To be honest, I have reservations and fears about her going back at all. I am so worried that she will go back, push too hard and we will be right back where we started. She is very active and athletic, I don't want her to end up not being able to do any sports, or even worse, end up with life-long back pain. She is a very hard worker, but not a naturally talented gymnast. She has to work hard for every skill she gets. (So no dreams of college, etc. She just wants to make it to optionals.)
Any advice? Anyone been through this that can tell me what is reasonable in terms of her coming back and how much to allow her to do and how quickly?
The coaches are good about following instructions, but I find that I have to be VERY explicit about exactly what she is allowed to do and not do or they (her and coaches) will push the limits. (Ex. When she first hurt her back and before we knew it was a stress fracture, I had requested that she not do anything that might hurt her back. No tumbling, etc. I picked her up and she was so excited because they let her work her front layout on the tumble track ( a skill she had never done before. It just didn't seem like the time to be trying a new skills even on tumble track.)