Parents Inward-toeing gymnasts??

[virgogal1979]

Does anyone have a child who does gymnastics that is pigeon-toed or what they call inward-toeing?

My daughter is just that, and well I am concerned about it. She has a doctors appt at the end of the month to see a pediatric ortho to see. It could be nothing that they do, but I am concerned as I feel it is affecting her ability to do gymnastics better. She is 7 and I have questioned it in the past to her ped, and she told me that she would outgrow it and well that hasn't happened.. Does anyone know any infor out there on gymnasts who are pigeon-toed or if anyone can give me some insight!
It would be greatly appreciated

 

[gamom]

Hi,
My older daughter toes in. It was much worse when she was younger, but it has gotten better. That was one of the reasons that we started gymnastics very early (mommy and me classes). It was recommended by our pediatrician to get her active as she also had a loose hip socket. As an infant, we were told that she might have to wear a brace to help her feet, but she never did. I did research on it once before and I believe Shannon Miller had to wear the brace before she turned one year old for her feet which also turned in.
My daughter who is now a 10 year old level 6/7 gymnast is doing well and we really don't think about her feet much anymore. Her biggest problem has been getting her feet straight when she does a handstand. I have a picture of her as a 6 year old that shows her feet crossed doing a handstand on the beam, but not sure how to post it. She has also had a couple of tripping episodes during practice where she just trips on her feet.

 

[canadiangymmom]

My daughter toed in a lot when she was younger. My doctor said it was because her tibias were twisted and discussed sending us to an orthopedic surgeon if it didn't correct itself over the next year. Fortunately for us it has mostly resolved itself. She still toes in a bit, but her legs look much straighter now then they did back then.

It really hasn't affected her gymnastics other than the fact that she has to be very conscious of her foot position when in a lunge.

Good luck at the doctor's appointment, let us know what they say.

Canadian Gym Mom

 

[virgogal1979]

Thank you so much for your input. I didn't realize how common it really is in the world of gymnastics. I am concerned about it as I see it affecting her ability in gymnastics. I see it affects the way she lands her cartwheels. I mean it could be my imagination, but I rather be safe than sorry. She of course doesn't know about the appt as I do not want to upset her or scare her. I have also been told by her ped that she it should correct itself with all the activities she will do, but it hasn't so far and well the main reason we are going..
I will keep you all informed as the appt is at the end of the month.

She does start her gym back tonight. She goes for 90 mins. We will see how she does. She will go tonight and Thurs.

 

[midwestgymmom]

Hi!Hope it goes well. After 1 1/2 yrs in gymnastics we couldn't figure out why our daughter couldn't get her splits(on the one side she couldn't even get her leg straight). I took her to my chiropractor who did x-rays and found out her pevis is twisted off to one side. When she was a toddler we had her hips checked because she would throw her her leg out to the side when she walked. It went away so we didnt think about it again until the Dr figured it out. She gave us specific stretches to do on her that worked! She had her splits down in two months. She was also checked by an orthopedic dr who agreed with the chiropractor. Dont know if this helps at all. Good luck!

 

[midwestgymmom]

Hi!Hope it goes well. After 1 1/2 yrs in gymnastics we couldn't figure out why our daughter couldn't get her splits(on the one side she couldn't even get her leg straight). I took her to my chiropractor who did x-rays and found out her pevis is twisted off to one side. When she was a toddler we had her hips checked because she would throw her her leg out to the side when she walked. It went away so we didnt think about it again until the Dr figured it out. She gave us specific stretches to do on her that worked! She had her splits down in two months. She was also checked by an orthopedic dr who agreed with the chiropractor. Dont know if this helps at all. Good luck!

 

[virgogal1979]

I never thought about her going to see a chiro.. Is a chiro considered a specialty doctor, or no? Do you need a referral to see one?? I got the referral to see the ortho as I knew I had to do that.. I would be interested in seeing what a chiro has to say. Thanks for letting me know that!

 

[midwestgymmom]

I don't think the chiro is considered a specialist. I suppose that it depends on the insurance company and what they require. Luckily our insurance co covers the chiropractor. Our pediatrician is amazed by what our chiro can do. But a lot of drs think it's a waste of time. She figured out which muscle was the one that was holding it too tight, last time we were there she gave us really great shoulderblade streches to help with her bridges & shoulder flexibility.

 

[virgogal1979]

Thanks!! I have to look into her insurance company to see what is required and what not. I am assuming with her insurance I will need a referral! I will keep you posted!

 

[gymbabisMom]

I coach preschool and rec classes. Lots of kids are pigeon toed when they start, It makes it much harder for them on lots of things, particularly beam, because it basically narrows thier "base". But we do lots of "ducky walks" where they walk with an exagerated heels in, (like ballet first position sort of?)toes out posture. It really helps, and once they get it down, if a kid is having trouble with a particular skill, like landing in a lunge, you can remind them to use thier duck feet, and they get it right away.

 

[gracefulone]

It makes beam really scary to watch. There was a girl I knew who was pigeon toed until she took dance for gymnasts. The insructor really helped her with exaggerating her outward point. Btw, I'm a gymnast, not a parent, but I like to give my input as often as possible.

 

[virgogal1979]

She will be taking ballet in about 3 weeks, we are hoping that will help with the toeing-in... I figured either way that ballet will help with gymnastics all around.. Will def help with the toe pointing.

 

[canadiangymmom]

My dd has never taken any dance, but there's a place nearby that offers a "dance for gymnasts and figure skaters" class I may look into down the road. Only problem is $$$$! I'm not sure if it's because they have made it a narrow class focus, as opposed to say "intro to dance" but they want almost double the money to enroll. Guess I'll wait and see if the dance type stuff taught at the gym is enough to make her graceful before going ahead with anything more.

I hope your dd likes her ballet.

Canadian Gym mom

 

[gracefulone]

I was supposed to try dance and gymnastics when I was little, because of my flexibility, but I started gym and that was it! I hope it's fun. BTW my dance for gymnasts class was about twenty dollars or so, and it was for about six weeks.

 

[virgogal1979]

Wow, been a few weeks since I posted..
My dd now has all her stuff she needs for ballet, we got it yesterday. She starts Oct 16, and I think she now understands the importance of it, and how much it will help with gymnastics.

 

[gracefulone]

That's good. I hope she enjoys it!

 

[LasswadeCoach]

Your daughter does not have a serious problem, she has closed hips, which basically means her hip-flexors (muscles connecting legs to hips) are too strong, and her hips are beggining to close, this could greatly effect her gymnastics performance, particulary on beam, as the correct position is with the feet turned outwards, i would recommend that you daughter do D-hold's (kneeling up, and grabbing her toes, pushing her hips forwards) and lunges with her back leg straight and up on her toe at the back, these exercises will gradually open her hips, as long as she does them often, and correctly, however i regret to tell you its a slow process and can take from 6 months to two years to fix (depending on the severity)