Ok, so I can sympathize with the big toe fracture. My dd broke her 5th metatarsal back on Jan. 19. Unfortunately her's is a Jones' Fracture, which is the worst possible 5th metatarsal fracture as the recovery time can be very lengthly. She was in a plaster cast up to her knee for 4 weeks, then went to a air cast boot for 4 weeks and is now in some heavy duty brace for 4 weeks, can walk on it, but no hard impact stuff. She will be starting PT next week for 4 weeks too and is only 75% healed. Her season is completely over as States are this weekend (bummer!)
This entire time she has still been in the gym. Up until this week she could only do bars (limited, no less - no dismounting and has to have a coach near by to spot in case she didn't make it over on her giants, which she could easily do, but if she feel on that foot - that would not be good). She could also condition and do strap bar. With the plaster cast, she would just put a weight on the other foot. With the boot, which she said was much heavier than the plaster cast, she would wear the weight and also a tennis/running sneaker to help balance out the weight and the height difference that the boot had (probably about 1 - 1.5 inch difference.)
Now she can do no impact stuff. She can do cartwheels, but no round offs. she can do a BWO, but no BHS - you get the picture. She used to come and do the warm-up/conditioning, which was the 1st 45minutes to hour. Then she would do a rotation of bars and a rotation of conditioning/work the strap bar.
Just this week she has started to stay 3 rotations. She still rotates with her group, but when they are on floor, she does what she can and then also does toe ups to build up her calf, which has atrophied from being in plaster cast (she was on crutches the entire time she was in the plaster cast.) She works on full turns, double turns. She fills in the time.
She can now walk on beam (which is something she hasn't done for 2 months). Do turns on beam, nothing major though.
Usually when her group goes to vault, which there is nothing she can do for vault, she goes to strap bar, which is near the vault and the coach can see her and give her some tips.
One thing I can say though, that by being injured she is left more to herself, especially with States then Regionals and potential Nationals coming up. she sort of has to do things herself. Ex/ She took the lead to go to strap bar, none of the coaches told her to go there. It's one of the few things that she can actually do without hergetting hurt and she can actually work on some skills that are upgrades for her there. She also has to be the one to speak up and tell the coaches if she shouldn't be doing something. Granted, she is 13 and a little older than your dd, but the coaches will push.
Since last night was her first night back with the brace, I stayed to watch the warm up. After practice I told her there were a couple of things that I don't think she should be doing. Anything that puts full body weight on her one foot I think is a no-no right now because she isn't a 100% healed. Also what made me nervous about the few things she did that I didn't like was the position her foot was in when she was putting that weight on the foot.
I guess my novel here, if you choose to stick with it just reinforces what others have said that she can still be in the gym and actually getting a decent workout. Something that would probably be a good idea if her goal is to get back for States. She wants to be in the best possible shape so the return won't be that hard!
Good luck to your dd, I totally understand how she feels - at least she has a shot at States, my dd knew she was out back in Feb. Oh well, there's always next year!
The doctor feels she should be healed by April 5th. She has a meet 4/21 and states are 5/16 so it should be fine. Thanks again for the words of wisdom and info.
