Coaches Elbows

[WavyNavy8]

I need help with a gymnast who has hyper extended elbows. She’s struggling to understand how to not lock them out vs when it’s actually very bent. Does anyone have any good exercises that work to help strengthen her ability to not lock them out, but also not just collapse?

The struggle is often in her tumbling, mostly her BHS, unless she has good power, a standing bhs is impossible, But also I’m noticing on bars.

Links to videos would be appreciated but hoping for things other coaches know work well to help this problem.

Thank you!

 

[sun]

IMO gymnasts with naturally hyper extending elbows should be cautious, but learn to lockout on everything that calls for straight elbows so they can become stronger in that vulnerable position.

I think if you practice everything with a slight bend, then you accidentally lock-out or have no choice but to land something locked out- weakness in that position will be exposed and injury occurs.

Hyper extending elbows are definitely more fragile- but I think this means you need to spend more time in lockout not less... it is possible to put extreme loads on hyper extended elbows without injury... but you have to expose yourself to that extreme range of motion slowly and cautiously.

 

[WavyNavy8]

IMO gymnasts with naturally hyper extending elbows should be cautious, but learn to lockout on everything that calls for straight elbows so they can become stronger in that vulnerable position.

I think if you practice everything with a slight bend, then you accidentally lock-out or have no choice but to land something locked out- weakness in that position will be exposed and injury occurs.

Hyper extending elbows are definitely more fragile- but I think this means you need to spend more time in lockout not less... it is possible to put extreme loads on hyper extended elbows without injury... but you have to expose yourself to that extreme range of motion slowly and cautiously.
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Thank you!!