WAG Double Jointed... Help!

[tooootsie]

I wasn't sure if I should post this here or parents area. But I figured gymnasts would know.
My 6 y/o DD is double jointed in her elbows and her shoulders. She has recently started saying her shoulder is hurting, and I am unsure how she can stretch the right way to help her. Also I worry about her elbows a lot because they hyper extend (if that's what its called?) all the time. I mean just walking on beam her elbows poke the wrong direction. So two part question..

1. any suggestions on how to stretch the shoulder that's bothering her?

2. her elbows look weird to me when she does everything.. And some parents have mentioned that a lot of gymnasts with double jointed elbows break them easily? Is that true? And when she starts competing will the elbows affect her scores?


Thanks!

 

[Deleted member D3987]

it's called "hyper-mobile" not double jointed. and looking wierd may have something to do with "popeye arm" syndrome. you need to see a good PT and her coach should be following and monitoring the conditioning she will have to do to make those joints stable. short of reconstructive surgery, there is nothing else that you can do. it's how some of us are born.

yes, this condition is more prone to elbow problems including dislocations. and no, scores are not affected by how their elbows look.

 

[tooootsie]

Thanks for the advice!!
I thought of taking her to an orthopedist. I think I will now

 

[Deleted member D3987]

you're welcome, my pleasure.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

my daughter is hypermobile ( and looking back I probably was too as a child).

Her coach actually pointed it out to me and was very good at making sure she kept her joints at "180 degrees" during stretches etc and didn't over extend. She also tried to teach her where "neutral" was.

We have had a course of PT due to knee problems and the PT gave her exercises to strengthen her muscles in her legs and bottom to help stabilise her knees, plus taping and now, touch wood, we seem to be okay.

One ray of hope is that we all stiffen up with age and, although I can still do the splits one way, the hyper-mobilty does fade with age !


'Margo

 

[Deleted member D3987]

i know what you mean ^^^^^^^^it's called decay!

 

[sglemon]

Yes we have couple at the gym with that, it is tough. One girl broke both of her elbows, over the past two years. The second time it was a simple back handspring on the tumbletrac, it broke, separating a growth plate from the bone. It didn't even look like anything serious at the time it happend, she is a level 6. A level 5 on my dd team, is starting to have trouble with hers. They get hyperextended during back handsprings. I would really have a discussion with her doctor and her about it, because it will be an ongoing concern during her gymnastics career.

BTW, both girls are extremely high scorers, mid 38 s.

 

[CoachGoofy]

I'm hypermobile & was always prone to dislocations. Seeing a competent PT who knew hypermobility, knew the demands of gymnastics, & knew what muscles to strengthen did me more good than learning new stretches tended to. Stabilizing things was what helped.

They told me it was important to pay attention to which way my hands were looking-a kid whose elbows only go to 180 can get away with ridiculous placement on a backhandspring, but that's a sure trip to dislocationville for a hypermobile kid.

 

[thefellowsmom]

My dd is hypermobile in her elbows and dislocated her elbow doing a simple backwalkover. We did a stint of PT and then spent six months with a "specialist" and he taught her how to stop the motion before she hyperextends (lots of neuromuscular communication stuff) and strength exercises for all the muscles surrounding the elbows. Those surrounding muscles need to get really strong to support the loose joint. This helped a ton and she says she barely has to think about it any more. I can tell a big difference when watching her gymnastics.

According to the people we talked to it is really about not letting the elbow turn out when extending. You need to stop it before it rotates. If you have her do a push up you can see what I mean. As her arm straightens and is just about to go past 180 degrees you will see the elbow rotate out before it pops out. She needs to learn to stop before it turns. I agree that a good PT that understands gymnastics can help a lot with all this.

Her coaches also work very hard with her to make sure her form and hand alignment are correct when she is tumbling. Seems to be back tumbling that is the biggest issue. She has some fear around skills where she has to go backwards and put her hands down.

 

[Coloradogymmie]

My dd is hypermobile in her thumbs...I don't think it will affect anything ( I hope), it's just odd so I wanted to throw it out there. She had to get an x-ray of her wrist a couple years ago and the Dr. said she had the largest thumb bones he'd ever seen on a child...

 

[Gymmommy71]

I don't know if this is true, but I heard the risk of hyperextended elbow breaks drastically decreases around age 8 or 9. My DD's elbows go beyound straight (like in a beyond 180 way) too...they don't really affect her gymnastics negatively (at least as far as I know they don't), but whenever she salutes or presents its very obvious that her arms go "beyond straight".

 

[BlairBob]

lots of bent arm strength involving the elbow: pushups, pullups in supinated "chin" grip, rope climb, DB curls, etc.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

Pink and fluffy has learned now after 2 1/2 years of gym where neutral Should been.


Bit when I ask her to staighten as far as possible, this is how it looks


Both pictures taken with arm outstretched, palm upwards.

Sent from my CnM Touchpad 9.7 using ChalkBucket mobile app

 

[Iwannabemargo]

Oh just seen then background - lol, I used to have a lounge floor before gymnastics.

Sent from my CnM Touchpad 9.7 using ChalkBucket mobile app

 

[BlairBob]

It's not the end of the world. One of my L5's a few years back (who also happened to be on the weak side) complained about it and used it as an excuse. Kendrick, one of the guys from the UC club and a coach there had elbows with just about those angles posted above...and could cross.

Everyonce in awhile you'll see a rings guys doing Ring HS and it seems his elbows are just above his head. Freaky looking.

Get strong.

 

[gymgurl]

I'm very hypermobile in pretty much every joint except my elbows. My shoulder has subluxed twice and my PT has told me if it subluxes again I have to get surgery. The best thing is strengthening the muscles in the area, for me it was my shoulder muscles so that they could hold my shoulder in place. Basically she should get as strong as she can to reduce the risk of dislocations.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

Pink and fluffy has learned now after 2 1/2 years of gym where neutral Should been.
View attachment 3856

Bit when I ask her to staighten as far as possible, this is how it looks
View attachment 3857




Both pictures taken with arm outstretched, palm upwards.

Sent from my CnM Touchpad 9.7 using ChalkBucket mobile app

yes! pic 2 is a "popeye" arm. wow!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Iwannabemargo]

arms, knees fingers, you should see her shoulder blades when she pops them back, they are like razors. Good PT and good coaching has helped her control the condition, but she still has to really concentrate on were straight is, as to her it "feels bent|"

 

[BlairBob]

Yes, gymgurl, that's basically all one can do. Get stronger in the hopes it will pull everything in and keep it together.

 

[tooootsie]

Wow... That is almost how my DD's look when she is just extending her arms out on the beam. I call them "Alien Arms" LOL
I haven't noticed while she does BWO or bridge or anything like that. But I will take her to her PCP right away so we can get a referral for her. Thanks for all the input!!!