Parents No gymnastics in the immediate future

[Daisy]

my daugter broke her arm (both ulna and raduis) Around the start of summer, and had to get rods inserted to stabilize and straighten. she recently got her cast off, but the rods are staying in until at least the end of 2022. She can not do gymnastics with the rods in, as she can barely do a handstand or a cartwheel, and her doctor does not think it is a good idea. She was so excited to go back to gymnastics after she got her cast off, and she is learning it is going to be a while before she can go back. She was rec, and hoping to join xcel silver/gold before she broke her arm, but she is losing hope that she can (she's 13)
What should i do? Are there things she could do safely with the rods in? How do i keep her hope up?

Thank you!

 

[rjb123]

My daughter had this injury and surgery as a level seven. She was allowed to do everything once she had her cast off (maybe three weeks post rod insertion). The plan was for the rods to stay in for almost a year but she healed so quickly they pulled them after four or so months. She did full gymnastics the whole time and in fact her surgeon said the weight bearing actually helped the healing and recalcifi action of the breaks. He assured me her bones were going nowhere with the rods-( they were titanium) and he was right! Maybe seek another opinion?

 

[Daisy]

My daughter had this injury and surgery as a level seven. She was allowed to do everything once she had her cast off (maybe three weeks post rod insertion). The plan was for the rods to stay in for almost a year but she healed so quickly they pulled them after four or so months. She did full gymnastics the whole time and in fact her surgeon said the weight bearing actually helped the healing and recalcifi action of the breaks. He assured me her bones were going nowhere with the rods-( they were titanium) and he was right! Maybe seek another opinion?

Wow!
The rods can come out, as the bones are healed, but due to other circumstances, she has decided to keep them in.
We will be sure to get a second opinion

 

[Dahlia]

I agree with a second opinion. I also recommend PT by a PT who has experience working with athletes.

 

[ZB55]

No experience with rods, but I've been through 5 broken arms and multiple sports injuries between two athletic kids, and I learned that there is a huge difference between a general orthopedic doctor and a PEDIATRIC orthopedic doctor. The recovery plans given were drastically different, and my children received such better treatment once we switched to the pediatric specialists who gave very age specific healing timelines, nutritional information, exercises to work towards getting them back to their activities, etc. Kids are not miniature adults when it comes to bones healing. I'm convinced that if we had stayed at the regular local orthopedic doctor and not sought the second opinion from the pediatric practice, as well as worked with the pediatric PT at their clinic, that my daughter would have had lasting deficits that limited or even ended her gymnastics career. Best wishes for your daughter's full and speedy recovery.

 

[JPC13]

See someone who specializes in sports medicine NOW. A generalist is not trained to support injured athletes. Their methods aren’t ideal and they are not informed of modern best practices.

 

[Caesarea]

Pediatrics or sports medicine specialization in orthopedics (or even better, pediatric sports medicine). Not general. Meanwhile, see if you can get in her in dance or something else that's not inverting and arm-weight-bearing until you can get that second opinion!!!

 

[Daisy]

Pediatrics or sports medicine specialization in orthopedics (or even better, pediatric sports medicine). Not general. Meanwhile, see if you can get in her in dance or something else that's not inverting and arm-weight-bearing until you can get that second opinion!!!

Thank you! will look into dance!

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

Thank you! will look into dance!

I'd also try Trampoline if it's an option in your area.

 

[Daisy]

I'd also try Trampoline if it's an option in your area.

Thank you! She broke her arm on tramp though, so :/

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

Thank you! She broke her arm on tramp though, so :/

Sounds like she needs to be taught how to fall safely. A good T&T program will do this.

 

[Tammie]

Sounds like she needs to be taught how to fall safely. A good T&T program will do this.

Do normal gymnastics programs not teach kids how to fall??

My kiddo was taught to fall at her previous gym. I know all her current coaches are always impressed by that ability, but I always assumed it was because she came from what was, in their eyes, a lesser gym. But maybe it is because they don't even teach it-or because most gyms don't teach it? What do I know, Ive got the one kid in the sport, weve been at 2gyms in 2 states(plus a 3rd in a 3rd state for mommy&me), so i have no reference for normal or even if some things might be regional/area specific-lol. My kiddo was taught to fall at 4/5yrs old, we were told it was important because it was harder to learn the older kids got. No clue if there is any truth in that either!!

I joke that the most important skills my kid learned at her previous gym were how to condition like a boss & how to fall....since those seem to be the 2 things her new gym found so impressive-lol.

 

[Daisy]

Sounds like she needs to be taught how to fall safely. A good T&T program will do this.

thank you