Exercises/drill at Home for DD bent elbows?

[Gibby]

Looking for any exercises to do at home for my almost-7-year-old DD for bent elbows. She is extremely stong - huge arm muscles - but always has bent elbows on handstands, back handspring, and bars.

Coach mentioned that it could be that she is so strong in her biceps that she has always relied on those muscles for her skills, so isn't utilizing her other arm muscles, which in effect is causing the bent elbows.

Any tips/exercises to help her straighten her arms that we can do at home? Any other ideas as to why she might always have bent elbows?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!!

 

[Deleted member D3987]

coach is incorrect. she's 7. and might be a bit hypomobile. this means when she straightens her arms as tight as she can with her arms extended in front of herself, her elbows will not go all the way straight.

and in fact, 7 year olds are not generally strong to begin with. what you described above is common across the board for 6-8 year olds and boys and girls both.

 

[GetaGrip]

One of my friends broke her arm and had this problem for a couple years. It took a lot of physical therapy to get it back (previously she could hyperextend it a bit) but she's back to where she was.

Your DD probably won't need this much help, but if it doesn't go away it might be a possibility.

 

[pattymello]

coach is incorrect. she's 7. and might be a bit hypomobile. this means when she straightens her arms as tight as she can with her arms extended in front of herself, her elbows will not go all the way straight.

and in fact, 7 year olds are not generally strong to begin with. what you described above is common across the board for 6-8 year olds and boys and girls both.

Hey dunno. Is this something they grow out of? I coach a gymnast who can't straiten his arms properly and it is affecting a lot of his skills.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

no. only surgery can alter the anatomy in this instance.

 

[pattymello]

That's rather disappointing.

 

[Gibby]

Thanks for all your comments. We actually took DD to her doctor, who took xrays. Turns out she has bowing of her ulna and radius bones in each forearm, which was causing the "bent" elbows. Dr said she has "remarkable" muscles which probably developed to compensate for the bowing of the bones. So we know that it wasn't the muscles causing the bent elbows - it's the bones themselves. Waiting to see a peds orthopedic specialist to determine next steps....

 

[Deleted member D3987]

there are no next steps short of surgery. certainly not necessary on order to do gymnastics.

 

[mimi]

I would seriously think twice about surgery unless it is painful for her. Doesn't seem worth the risks just to have straight arms.