WAG Is it normal to have to ice your back after practice?

[cadybearsmommy]

I'm hoping we can skip the xray and go straight to the MRI.

I was a little surprised to hear she was doing that many BWO when I told them her back was bothering her months ago.

I can imagine and especially since they think she has the "perfect build" for a stress fracture. I wonder why they didn't try to start teaching her something different that didn't cause back pain (like BHS) or at least work with her on her shoulder flexibility? Hard to see why ANYONE would need to do that many in practice and especially someone with known back pain. I'm not sure that someone with a perfect back and perfect form/shoulder flexibility etc, wouldn't have at least some pain with that number of BWO in every practice.

 

[Seeker]

My DD went through a phase where she was doing 40-60 BWO per rotation and her back was always hurting- everyday, all the time. Her coaches were dismissive and unfortunately so was her dr (just skip a week or two of practice has been her advice for every gym related issue we've had). When she stopped doing all BWOs altogether (when she quit artistic) her back felt better in a couple of weeks. I still wish the dr would've checked it out, but it seems to have worked out ok.. I'm glad she has an appointment to check on it further.

This is exactly what I was referring to in my prior post -- dismissive Dr's not taking the issue seriously and/or not really caring to help keep them in or get back into their activity. Don't get me wrong, there are some great Dr's that can and do offer great assistance. But there are also pretty crappy ones and those that don't/won't go too far out of their way to help you. Been there and done that....

 

[AgingHippie]

I can imagine and especially since they think she has the "perfect build" for a stress fracture. I wonder why they didn't try to start teaching her something different that didn't cause back pain (like BHS) or at least work with her on her shoulder flexibility? Hard to see why ANYONE would need to do that many in practice and especially someone with known back pain. I'm not sure that someone with a perfect back and perfect form/shoulder flexibility etc, wouldn't have at least some pain with that number of BWO in every practice.

DD competed the bhs in L5 due to back issues and had been doing the bhs, bhs but then she got blocked. She recently has been competing the hs bhs but her coach really wanted her to do BWO BHS at States so they have been pushing it. She lacks consistency with the BWO since she never really learned or competed it until the block the season.

 

[Aero]

She also said DD has been doing 50 to 70 BWO each beam rotation..

This is way too many repetitions! With skills like the back walkover, a few good quality reps are more important and desirable than just hitting numbers. If a gymnast were to do only ten back walkovers each day, but each one is thought through and concentrated on and attempted with a coach watching each turn, she will learn far better and it will spare her spine from the repetitive stress. Quality over quantity is key for skills with inherent danger of overuse injuries.

They are now limiting her to 10 per practice and we have an appointment on Wednesday.

When we went thru this with my son, they said NO back flexibility things until cleared. No back walkovers, nothing, until the mri was cleared. I would be extra careful

I totally agree with skschlag. Any skills that involve back hyper extension should not be done at all until a diagnosis has been achieved. It's not worth the risk!

 

[Seeker]

I agree with the prior 2 -- tell them no BWO (or front) at all until she is cleared and completely pain free. That may well be never and that is okay. We have a highly successful L10 who cannot do any back flex/extension at all. Good and creative coaches can work around it.

 

[duyetanh]

This is way too many repetitions! With skills like the back walkover, a few good quality reps are more important and desirable than just hitting numbers. If a gymnast were to do only ten back walkovers each day, but each one is thought through and concentrated on and attempted with a coach watching each turn, she will learn far better and it will spare her spine from the repetitive stress. Quality over quantity is key for skills with inherent danger of overuse injuries.



I totally agree with skschlag. Any skills that involve back hyper extension should not be done at all until a diagnosis has been achieved. It's not worth the risk!

I cannot like this post enough.

 

[CrazyCatLady]

DD L9 had to do 40 BHS-Layout Step Outs on beam two nights in a row this week and came home in agony both nights (the girl almost NEVER has back issues). This amount of reps seemed a little insane to me, but hey I'm just a parent - what do I know? I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks this seems high.

 

[justanothergymmom]

Sorry I haven't been back. I talked to the coach and she said DD has the perfect build for a streds fracture. Low shoulder flexibility and very strong upper body strength. She also said DD has been doing 50 to 70 BWO each beam rotation.

They are now limiting her to 10 per practice and we have an appointment on Wednesday.

To echo everyone else here, back pain is not normal, and 50 to 70 BWO during each beam rotation is DEFINITELY not normal.

I have multiple gymnasts in my family, including level 10s who have trained in all different types of programs (including "elite training"). They were never asked to do this many back walkovers during a single beam rotation. Frankly if your DD's coach told you that she would be at high risk for a stress fracture, I would be questioning why she was ever even asked to do this skill... let alone this many at a time! That seems a bit irresponsible as there are other options for a beam flight series at this level. They should limit her to ZERO BWOs until they know what the source of her pain is.

I would seek out a pediatric orthopedic specializing in sports medicine to have her evaluated. Xray AND MRI are pretty much standard for back pain in gymnasts because not all types of fractures will not show up on an Xray. Unfortunately I know this from experience.

I hope they figure out what is going on and that she starts to feel better soon!

 

[duyetanh]

To echo everyone else here, back pain is not normal, and 50 to 70 BWO during each beam rotation is DEFINITELY not normal.

I have multiple gymnasts in my family, including level 10s who have trained in all different types of programs (including "elite training"). They were never asked to do this many back walkovers during a single beam rotation. Frankly if your DD's coach told you that she would be at high risk for a stress fracture, I would be questioning why she was ever even asked to do this skill... let alone this many at a time! That seems a bit irresponsible as there are other options for a beam flight series at this level. They should limit her to ZERO BWOs until they know what the source of her pain is.

I would seek out a pediatric orthopedic specializing in sports medicine to have her evaluated. Xray AND MRI are pretty much standard for back pain in gymnasts because not all types of fractures will not show up on an Xray. Unfortunately I know this from experience.

I hope they figure out what is going on and that she starts to feel better soon!

likelikelikelikelike

 

[l.c.o]

I also think that's quite a high amount of BWO per practice.

My DD is not super flexible, so BWO are rough in her back. She ALSO had fear of a BHSBHS on beam... Ended up nearly quitting this summer. Ended up with a beam series of BWOBWO (w/ isolated BHS) and started having back pain. Sticking an assigned 10 series in a practice was a minimum 20 total BWO, often much more with warmups, plus falls... too many (is largely why coaches had pushed the BHSBHS).

She of course developed some back pain (to one side, seemingly not spine itself), and it started throwing off her BWO (pulling to side due to pain). After months of it slowly worsening, she switched to BWOBHS... fewer BWO reps at practice.

Her back has been better with the exception of bad beam days (extra BWO), but the moment she tells her coach she has any pain, they have her stop working them. Now, that's not to say she always tells them when it starts to hurt, but that's a separate issue.

So I agree with others, your DD should stop doing them for the meantime, especially if it hurts. If it doesn't respond pretty quickly with rest, I'd definitely take her in. The risk of stress fracture is just too great. You don't want her to suffer on the long term. She only gets one spine.

 

[flowerchild]

Ask her where it hurts. Is it her spine? Muscles along one side? Equal pain on both sides? It matters how & where it hurts because that may help you determine what sort of Dr to pursue. If it is muscular, PT could help a lot as it can strengthen weak areas and teach her to engage the proper muscles at the right time. If it is pain in her spine, that's a totally different thing.

Going to disagree here. My DD just had pain along the left side of her back. ( in the muscles that run along the backbone). She had 2 fractured vertebrae. Those back stress fractures are nothing to mess with!

 

[ayyyrial]

I had back pain consistently from when I was 12 to when I quit competitive gymnastics at 18. I have moderately flexible back and shoulders, no scoliosis. I got it checked out by a doctor multiple times but nothing turned up. Beam was especially rough. The only thing that actually made my back (and knees, and ankles) stop hurting was quitting gymnastics.

As I got older, I learned to pay attention to my back pain and I was able to do things like ask my coach to modify my assignment depending on back pain. For example, when we had to do a lot of routines, and I had two back-heavy skills in my routine, I would do half of my routines with both skills, but then do the rest of the routines with only the back-heavy skill that was less solid. I understand that it's hard to ask for a modification, though, especially when you're younger.

 

[Seeker]

Going to disagree here. My DD just had pain along the left side of her back. ( in the muscles that run along the backbone). She had 2 fractured vertebrae. Those back stress fractures are nothing to mess with!

Of course you get an x-ray and/or MRI to rule out fractures -- that is step 1. If nothing is found, figuring out where to go from there isn't always a clear path (see my other comments on this). Point being, that once an ortho has cleared you, it doesn't mean you go can back to what you were doing. You still have to address the underlying cause of the pain.

 

[UnoMas]

Reading this late but please please get not only an X-ray but also an MRI/CT and see a specialist! My DD has been in an ordeal with her back for almost 18 months now and looking back I wish I had been so much more proactive! Also I would suggest no BWO or BHS if she has even the slightest bit of pain with either of these. My DD's back first started hurting after serious BWO BHS work on the beam and it has never been the same since. She is now still trying to come back from it 18 months later and now can't do any BHS or BWO at all on any event. Not trying to scare you but please be VERY careful and please no more BWO until she is cleared AND pain free! Hoping for the best for your DD!

 

[AgingHippie]

We are not taking her to practice today. Dr's appointment is tomorrow. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[Rockygym]

Good thoughts for a positive outcome from the Dr's appointment

 

[AgingHippie]

Good thoughts for a positive outcome from the Dr's appointment

I have been meaning to message you. I can't get on from work anymore. Message me your email address, we have so much catching up to do.

 

[NY Dad]

Hope it goes well tomorrow.

 

[AgingHippie]

Minor update. Had xray today and saw the Orthopedic, she does have Spina Bifida Occulta which we didn't know but they don't think that is causing the pain. We have an MRI on the 29th.....Kaiser can be a pain.

They believe it may be muscular.

 

[UnoMas]

Minor update. Had xray today and saw the Orthopedic, she does have Spina Bifida Occulta which we didn't know but they don't think that is causing the pain. We have an MRI on the 29th.....Kaiser can be a pain.

They believe it may be muscular.

Very glad you are getting answers from an ortho and are getting the MRI. Hopefully it will be nothing of major concern!