How many "aches and pains" are normal?

[LizzieLac]

Hi,

Question about how much is normal in the way of aches and pains for a level 5 gymnast. Let give you some background.

My DD has been complaining about feet pain (and on occasion ankle and lower shin). It has not prevented her from practicing yet, but the complaints are becoming more frequent. She does a good job of icing and elevating on days when it bothers her. But she went from doing 4 or 6 hours a week of gym in PREP Opt to 7.5 in June and now 9.5 hours/week training level 5.

And we have noticed certain activities bothering her - such as the cool new trampoline her friends have. After bouncing and flipping on that for 20 minutes she thought she couldn't even walk and as aggravated by jumping off a diving board one afternoon. I don't want her to have to give up these fun things, but I think the difference in hardness and springiness from what she is used to at her gym causes this strain.

Last thing is that with summer she wears flip flops ALL THE TIME. I have to fight with her to wear sneakers, which I keep telling her is better because of the support it offers. Now after running around barefoot, she is complaining her feet hurt even more.

What do you think - Are these kinds of aches and pains normal when training? Could it be the lack of support with the flip flops? Should she tape her feet in practice? Do you think it is more serious and I should take her to an orthopedic? Thanks so much!!

 

[ginnymac]

Sounds like you are trying to do the right things. From the way you are describing it, it sounds like general muscle soreness/fatigue~not really a specific injury.

In the short term, I'd definitely encourage her to wear sneakers with support instead of flip flops. They really are not good for support, especially if she is having some pain. Even hanging around in the house I'd suggest that she wear supportive sneakers.

Ask her coach if they do specific foot and ankle stretching and strengthening and what they suggest for stretch/strength at home.

Continue icing and supported shoe wearing. If this continues another week or two, I'd have her checked out. HTH

 

[NGL780309]

My DD is a level 4 and works out 10 hours a week. When she first made the jump from 4 hours to 10 hours she complained about leg/foot pain. For her it was beam. They really made them do everything in releve and she was sore. She adjusted pretty quickly.

Her only other complaint has been some back pain this past week. That worried me a little so she just avoided doing the things that hurt and after this weeked she says it's all better.

A few days of rest can never hurt.

 

[Deleted member D3987]

have her feet checked by an ortho or podiatrist.

 

[CreateMagic]

have her feet checked by an ortho or podiatrist.

Beat me to it, dunno. That sounds like she's in pain--not just sore from a workout. Better safe than sorry.

 

[LizzieLac]

Wrapping feet or using neoprene compression support wraps?

Thanks for the replies. I do think DD needs to take better care of her feet generally and what she wears on her feet will go a long way to that end.

She is at practice right now and DH is going to pick her up. I told DH to talk to the coach about this, so I will get a full report this evening. I think I will wait and see how the week goes before calling the doctor.

I also was also wondering what you all thought about the neoprene compression support wraps. They slide over the foot, toes stick out there is usually an opening for the bottom of the heel. My gut tells me they provide more support for the ankle. But might that help?

Thanks again!

 

[CreateMagic]

I also was also wondering what you all thought about the neoprene compression support wraps. They slide over the foot, toes stick out there is usually an opening for the bottom of the heel. My gut tells me they provide more support for the ankle. But might that help?

Thanks again!

I would ask a podiatrist or an ortho. Better to spend $15 on a copay and then the correct brace than to spend $15 on the wrong brace, then pay a copay, then buy the correct one. KWIM?

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

How long has it been since she increased her hours? How old is she? I wouldn't think that increasing the weekly workout by 2 hours should make that big of a difference. Severs Disease can become an issue once the girls start to hit puberty. I would have her feet/ankles checked out for peace of mind anyway.

oh.... and flip flops are the WORST!!! I know if I wear mine for a few hours, my feet hurt the rest of the day. There have been actual reports/studies done that show those types of shoes contribute to foot pain.

 

[NGL780309]

I wanted to add when I mentioned my DD having foot/leg pain it was right has she increased her hours from 4 to 10 hours and it was right after practice that she complained. It definitely wasn't something that was ongoing like your DD's sounds. I'd take her to the Dr too.

 

[LizzieLac]

Thanks everyone.

She is 10 and last season she did PREP Opt because she was on swim team. Most of the time she only practiced 4 hours a week, sometimes 6.

In June she started working out with the level 4s who were moving up to level 5 in the fall doing 7.5 hours. Summer schedule has her doing 9.5 hours.

The flip flops are KILLER. I have had my share of foot issues/injuries as a runner. I specifically do not wear sandals if I know I will be walking much. So she will be wearing sneakers a LOT more from now on!

DH just called me at work to give me the low down on practice. Head coach was coaching her group today and the only thing she had to modify was BHS and FHS. She did WOs instead. They did a fair amout of bars which was good and she said beam didn't bother her much.

Head coach thinks it is due to increase in hours and lack of shoe support. There is probably a little bit of inflamation in there. Not doing gym for a while is the only way to make it go away, but she will NOT do that. So, we have to ice every day and take advil, and modify workouts a bit. When we go away on vacation in August and she doesn't do any gym for 1 1/2 weeks to will probably improve.

But I will watch it and if there is no improvement in the next week or two, I have an othro that did my ACL surgery and will take her there.

I guess this is only the beginning, huh? Is this what I can expect when they get somewhat serious about the sport?

 

[IrenicMom]

Sounds like you have a plan for the pain.

About the flip-flops:
What about having more supportive ones to wear as a compromise for those times she just needs to throw something on quick? Teva, Earth, Reef, even Fit Flops or Crocs all offer at least some support. I know they're more than the ubiquitous rubber/plastic ones, but they may be an option.

Good luck! I've had ankle issues most of my life - foot pain is no fun!!

 

[gym monkeys mom]

I have had foot pain for awhil and i am not a gymnast lol.

My DD had pain for awhile and wore some things that wrapped her arches ( i think we got them fro ten-o ) for extra support when tumbling. They seemed to help and she did seem to grow out of it.

However DD always has pain some where that is just the kind of kid she is i have learned over the years ice and tape is our best friend. LOL I do beleive the pains are real she just has lots of them.

. Oh lastly I wear flip flops (yeah I know bad mom) but I only only only wear the Chaco brand. I swear by these they are expensive but the only one allowed in my house anymore. I used to have orthotics but with chacos and Dr. Scholl arch supports my feet are much better too.

Best wishes to your DD foot pain is no fun.

 

[UnoMas]

My 9 year old DD is having issues with her knee...same kind of scenario as your daughter's pain but in the knee instead of the foot. It got worse over the past week and she has camp at her gym this week so I was very worried. I took her to a sports medicine doc this morning who xrayed it and examined it and said it is not an acute injury but is an overuse injury (I think the L5 vault is what's killing her, much different pounding-wise than the L4 vault). Anyway...he told her to ice, use ibuprofen, avoid the painful activities at gym as much as possible, and gave her a list of very specific exercises to help strengthen the muscles around the knee. She is still having pain, but I feel much better now that a doc has looked at it and hope the exercises will help. I wonder if there might be some exercises that a doc could recommend for your DD if her pain does not go away? I hope she feels better...it's hard when you hurt doing the thing you love!

 

[Tumblequeensmom]

Unfortunately, gymnasts are definitely prone to getting injured!!! And you need to get those minor injuries taken care of before they become HUGE injuries!! My DD has had a broken collarbone, severely sprained ankle (lasted about 3 months incl. PT), and has now injured her knee ... just great. Anyway, that doesn't even count all the ripped hands, minor bumps, etc. that come along w/this sport!

I think that maybe just keeping her out of the flip flops, icing and motrin may help. Of course, skipping gym a few days is probably a good idea as well.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

 

[sportyspice]

I think vigilance is key with this sport - if in doubt, check it out! Some gymmies won't say when they are in pain until it gets really bad - I watch my DD and DS carefully for signs such as wincing/favouring one leg etc. And I have had x-rays done just to be sure. Also, be weary of treating an injury with a brace or strapping without specialist advice as sometimes that can make it worse. Ice and advil are great though!

 

[LizzieLac]

Thanks everyone. I agree that this foot thing is probably not an acute injury like a sprain or pull, but an overuse injury. Rest, ice, elevation, ibuprofen and more supportive shoes.

She is going to modify her workouts as needed for the next couple of weeks and we'll keep an eye on it. I am hopeful that the week and a half we are on vacation in August gives her the rest she needs to come back feeling healthy. Butwe'll see the doc if it does not improve.

She LOVES gym and just can't bear the thought of being injured and missing practice. DD even iced by putting her feet in a tub of ice water last night. If you have never had the pleasure of doing that, I can tell the cold hurts more than the injury!!!

Thanks All!!

 

[Panda-girl's Mom]

My daughter has gone through this and it is really difficult because you do not know if it is just soreness which will go away or an actual injury. My daughter started getting pain last season also she was level5 and 9yo. Her wrists were hurting and we both put off seeing anybody until it was evident that she could barely do a her backhandspring. It turned out that she had bilaterally stress fx of her wrists. Now she is training more in the summer and she has complained of heel pain on and amongest other things so once again I am starting to wonder is this real but her coach said yes I am sure it is and told me it is her age they are just prone to this because of them growing which was the reason for her wrist injuries. Just because it is an overuse injury does not mean it is going to go away. I would just keep an eye on it and if it continues I would see a sports medicine orthopedist who will be more likely to understand and be supportive of these type of injuries.

 

[cher062]

aches and pains, bruises and rips are all a part of this sport and as she progresses to harder and harder skills you will see more. With that said however any time my DD starts to complain I will break out the motrin and Ice for a week and if things don't improve its off to the DR's we go just to make sure - better safe than sorry.

Also with regard to the shoes at 10yo I am assuming you are in total control of what shoes and clothing are purchased. My DD doesn't have flip flops as there is no such thing as a supportive flip flop. When my DD had some over use issues a few years ago the Dr said a good running or hiking sneaker type shoe with arch support in it would be best for her to wear so that is what she has. It's either her school shoes or supportive sneakers in her closet no other choice of flip flops. Yes she complains she doesn't have flip flops when all her friends have them but that's just the way it is and the way it's going to be so long as I am the one paying for things and she is living in my house. I just don't buy them

 

[cher062]

Thanks everyone. I agree that this foot thing is probably not an acute injury like a sprain or pull, but an overuse injury. Rest, ice, elevation, ibuprofen and more supportive shoes.

She is going to modify her workouts as needed for the next couple of weeks and we'll keep an eye on it. I am hopeful that the week and a half we are on vacation in August gives her the rest she needs to come back feeling healthy. Butwe'll see the doc if it does not improve.

She LOVES gym and just can't bear the thought of being injured and missing practice. DD even iced by putting her feet in a tub of ice water last night. If you have never had the pleasure of doing that, I can tell the cold hurts more than the injury!!!

Thanks All!!

Dont be fooled here overuse injuries are serious and can become chronic. My DD had an over use issue in her ankle and it took a good 6 months for it to completly resolve. During that time she had a modified practice and Physical Therapy. The Sports Med Dr wanted her to stop for at least 4 months but I told him that isn't going to happen. he told me well it will take longer to heal if she isn't and she will have to modify her practice and what is done. We did that and now there are no signs of the injury. With that said there was another girl at her gym that ignored treatment and though a week of rest would be enough and within a year the overuse injury got worse to the point she couldn't land on her foot and had to quit gymnastics or risk crippling damage. Her mom didn't want her to loose ground in her skills. Better to get a little behind now then risk never being able to do gymnastics again.

 

[IrenicMom]

there is no such thing as a supportive flip flop

I disagree with this statement, as it applies here. If you're looking for ankle support, then yes, there isn't a flip flop in the world that will help.

But arch support? Different story. I double checked the American Podiatric Medical Association for their thoughts, and wanted to offer up their list of footwear that offers their Link Removed.

On that list, you'll find the Chacos that Gym Monkeys Mom recommended, as well as FitFlops, Orthaheel, Reebok EasyTone Flip, SOLE, as well as a few different Crocs (though admittedly, not their flip flops).

Anyway - just wanted to provide the OP some options.