Women Itty bitty wrist supports

[mommyof1]

Wrist supports have been suggested for my tiny 7-year-old. The size charts make Golden Hands and Tiger Paws look awfully big. Will either of these brands fit little tiny kids? I would rather not go the tape route if we can avoid it, since I don't know the proper way to do it and would like my daughter to be able to handle it on her own.

 

[coach.e]

Wrist supports? Isn't she like on pre team? Or level 3?
This seems like a bit of a red flag to me if coaches are already trying to brace her up. Not that I'm against them but I personally don't believe they should be used until either they start on yurchenkos (sometimes not even needed then) or until they are older and have been in the sport so long to where overuse injuries start showing up.
A 7 year old lower level child should not be experiencing pain enough to need wrist supports.
Could be a lack of technique on the back handspring..broken shoulder angle creating a hard impact on her wrists? I don't know the problem and of course there could be a million different reasons why but the point is she shouldn't be needing these at 7 years old. That's why they seem too big. They're made for bigger kids.

 

[coach.e]

Not trying to say anything derogatory about her gym or coaches..just giving my opinion!

 

[mommyof1]

Yes, she is still only on preteam (level 3-ish). It is the pediatrician suggesting wrist supports. Coach recommends more handstands against the wall. Pediatrician says her wrists are very "bendy" and suggested trying supports while she continues to work on building strength. She is concerned about limiting the pounding, especially with an upcoming increase in hours. It was not my idea, but it makes sense to me.

 

[mommyof1]

Wrist supports? Isn't she like on pre team? Or level 3?
This seems like a bit of a red flag to me if coaches are already trying to brace her up. Not that I'm against them but I personally don't believe they should be used until either they start on yurchenkos (sometimes not even needed then) or until the
Could be a lack of technique on the back handspring..broken shoulder angle creating a hard impact on her wrists? I don't know the problem and of course there could be a million different reasons why but the point is she shouldn't be needing these at 7 years old. That's why they seem too big. They're made for bigger kids.

I am sure there is a lack of technique on many things, not limited to BHS. It seems like her current coach is working hard on that aspect. But she has been complaining of wrist pain after handstands for 2 years. Just trying to figure out how to implement the pediatrician's suggestion...

 

[KVallin]

I personally think that long term use of wrist supports weakens the wrists, making them even more "bendy". I believe that it would be more beneficial to your daughter to do some wrist strengthening exercises, instead of using braces to compensate for lack of strength in the muscles surrounding her wrists.

 

[coach.e]

I believe that it would be more beneficial to your daughter to do some wrist strengthening exercises, instead of using braces to compensate for lack of strength in the muscles surrounding her wrists.

Exactly.

 

[gymgal]

Has she only been seen by the pediatrician? If so, I would recommend seeing a specialist. There may be something going on that its not immediately apparent. So before buying some, I would definitely seek out further answers. You do not want to mask an underlying problem by just putting a bandaid on it. If, after dr consults, you do end up going that route, I would just order the x small. You would be surprised how adjustable they are.

Btw, dd started in an x-small at 7yrs old after a wrist fracture and I recall them being big on her but at the low level she was in, it didn't matter much. They still worked well. She is 13 now and still in the x-small, though she doesn't use some of the padding anymore. I am sure when she is ready for her next pair (likely soon), she will go to a small.
.

 

[Kiwi]

Wrist supports are great, they are preventative, you don't want to wait until you already have overuse injuries. If she has been having pain doing handstands for 2 years, you should get her wrists checked out by a sports physician or physio who knows about gymnastics. Wrist supports do not weaken wrists, however she should be doing wrist strengthening and stretching exercises in any case, the physio should be able to provide suitable exercises.

My DD wears Tiger Paws for tumbling and vault. Some of her wrist pain on tumbling was from bad technique - she was turning her hands out - but sometimes it is just the amount of training, i.e. repeated impact - some people's wrists are more robust than others. I think your DD would need the extra small Tiger Paws. My DD is 11 now and still wearing her extra small Tiger Paws, though she should really have moved into a bigger size by now. You also need to replace the pads in them every so often.

 

[wgagym]

I got My daughter. A very tiny 7 years old (35lbs) XS Tiger Paws for when she needs them and they work great size wise.

Also Tiger Paws and Wrist Supports are different than a wrist brace. Supports help protect the wrists. They do not make them weaker. Some kids have naturally have weaker wrists than others. I would rather have a child use the support and save their wrists an avoid and real wrist issues.

 

[gymdog]

I personally think that long term use of wrist supports weakens the wrists, making them even more "bendy". I believe that it would be more beneficial to your daughter to do some wrist strengthening exercises, instead of using braces to compensate for lack of strength in the muscles surrounding her wrists.

You personally think this or you have some sort of evidence or convincing physiological explanation for it? Been there done that...broken wrist. Don't recommend this logic.

That said I would be extremely surprised if any of my 7 year olds required them and I didn't have problems until I was at least 12. I've never had this be an issue in the circumstances you describe. Does she have pain? I'm really not sure it's needed. Wrist strengthening exercises would likely be better. And range of motion really doesn't hurt in gymnastics. Especially in lower levels where they're doing more static things like handstands.

 

[raenndrops]

Until I was sure she needed them (wasn't going to up and quit shortly after buying them), I got my gymmie ACE wrist wraps. They are adjustable... neoprene with velcro - there is a thumb hole and it wraps around (as far as she needs it to go to be secure). They worked great until I got her the Golden Hands.

If you do go with Golden Hands, consider buying the "seconds" version. She is only in pre-team, no need to spend up to $50 when you can get the same thing for less (they have minor imperfections in the leather-such as tanning stains, small fat marks or creases in the leather, scracthes or dying imperfections). We got a pair and we can't find the flaw. Currently, they are available in Gold or Sand in the X-Small. Good luck.

 

[mommyof1]

Thanks to all for the input. I ordered seconds of the Golden Hands in XS just to try. I will also have a more detailed discussion with the pediatrician next time we are in the office.

 

[2G1B]

I just wanted to pipe in that my ds's physical therapist has said that she thinks starting with these earlier rather than later is a good idea, that they should be prevention, not for use after an injury has occurred.