MAG Why is making DS take time off so HARD!!!!

[munchkin3]

So DS has been dealing with a wrist injury for 4 months....he was casted practically up to his neck 2 months ago and had it removed after 4 weeks. He has been without the cast for 3 weeks and trying SOOOO hard to keep up and stay with the team, and GO to practice etc. He does not want to miss. He hurt it last night doing something stupid, and was freaking out....He is having 'other' pains, in other parts of his body which I think are psychosomatic...

He is stuck on L6 working L7...this has been for 1 year. He has had many injuries, including a patellar sleeve fracture, elbow tendinitis, and now the TFCC ligament injury....this one has been a doozie. Not enough to really take him out of gymnastics, but just enough of an injury to prevent him from progressing.

After a long talk with a relative who happens to be a Physical Therapist, (he asked me when the off season is and of course I said, 'never') he looked at me like I was crazy! But I did take away a REALITY CHECK....He said that DS is a growing child and that his joints and bones are delicate and under huge stress. He must be allowed to heal. Puberty is around the corner and is a GREAT thing especially for male gymnasts!!

DS is 12 3/4.....He loves gymnastics and wants to continue....He has NEVER taken a sustained amount of time off for ANY reason....His body has never really been able to heal. I want to pull him out altogether for 3 weeks.

Hand specialist TOTOALLY agreed.


WHY do I feel SO terrible about taking him out completely for 3 weeks????? Why does it feel like I am ENDING his gymnastics??? He needs to rest! He needs to heal....The only way for him to get better is to REST and STOP....

I have seen plenty of kids do it with no consequense....If anything, they return with real motivation and fire...But I still hear those voices...'1 week = 1 month' 1 month = 1 year....

This is really a crazy sport! I guess I am just the crazy one!!!

Coach will NOT be happy.

Any advice??

 

[skschlag]

I think the 3 weeks is a good idea, and if presented correctly, hopefully your son will too. I know it is hard for him, but it will help him be more successful. He can still stretch at home, which should help. we had a boy take a month off, and compete almost immediately, so the 1 week=1 month may not hold true. It sounds like he needs a break for his body to heal and be healthy enough that he can start to work his new stuff!!!! You are not ending anything. YOu are giving him a chance to continue. WIthout a break, the injuries could continue for a longer period, which would be worse!

As for the coach, eh will just have to understand!

 

[Deleted member D3987]

simple. you work with the coach to modify his work outs. and if your son or coach break the agreement of managing his gymnastics during this period then you take him out. your son still needs to do as much conditioning and flexibility as he can. i am not a proponent of taking time out. the body turns to mush. you come back and get injured cause your out of shape. it's the way it is.

 

[gymmomof1]

simple. you work with the coach to modify his work outs. and if your son or coach break the agreement of managing his gymnastics during this period then you take him out. your son still needs to do as much conditioning and flexibility as he can. i am not a proponent of taking time out. the body turns to mush. you come back and get injured cause your out of shape. it's the way it is.

I agree with dunno. When on of the gymmies is injured at dds gym , even with casts, they come in to condition and do what ever they are able to do. It also keeps them as part of the team and connected with their friends. Wishing for a speedy recovery for your ds

 

[munchkin3]

Yes, we have done all of this....My son has not missed practice through elbow tendinitis and 4 casts in the last 5 years.
I think he needs this time to heal completely and totaly. It is the only conclusion I have been able to make....
He can keep in shape at home but in the end it is up to him. I am certainly not going to MAKE him do gymnastics....Maybe this is a time for him to own up to this sport. His body will be changing very soon.

His coach actually agreed. By him 'staying' in, he has dragged out this injury for 3 months...Anyway, summer training is 6 hrs a day. He has 1 1/2 months to get better so that he can make the most of his time...He has been working out on modified training for weeks and the coach has had him working separately . I think it is worse actually because he sees all his buddies working on awesome skills and he cant. Not fun.

He has the best years in front of him.....This is a drop in the bucket.