Coaches Splits problem!

[CoachKat]

Okay so I have a gymnast who is competing level 4 this year and her splits are so far off the floor but I know she is trying her hardest. This lil girl was born without hip sockets and had to have surgery as a baby to fix it I mean she has the scars to prove it. Anywho she was in a body cast till she was like 5 so her leg flexibility is not there. It really hurts her to do splits somedays. I mean the doctors didn't even know if she would walk. Now she is doing round off back handsprings. She is one of the hardest workers I have in the gym and she has been doing splits at home trying to get them but she is no where close to haveing them . But of course they are required in level 4. They have really been hurting her hips lately and I don't know what to do. Could use a lil help.

 

[ryantroop]

If she has a physical limitation, she has a physical limitation.

While we may have to accept it, we dont have to settle.

If her other skills are on par with everyone, or above theirs, let her talet speak for itself throughout her time as a gymnast. This sport is never about pain, but overcoming our own disadvantages. If she can do a beautiful routine without splits, do a beautiful routine without splits.

But that's just my opinion.


Ryan

 

[gymdog]

Okay so I have a gymnast who is competing level 4 this year and her splits are so far off the floor but I know she is trying her hardest. This lil girl was born without hip sockets and had to have surgery as a baby to fix it I mean she has the scars to prove it. Anywho she was in a body cast till she was like 5 so her leg flexibility is not there. It really hurts her to do splits somedays. I mean the doctors didn't even know if she would walk. Now she is doing round off back handsprings. She is one of the hardest workers I have in the gym and she has been doing splits at home trying to get them but she is no where close to haveing them . But of course they are required in level 4. They have really been hurting her hips lately and I don't know what to do. Could use a lil help.

Has the specific stretching activity been cleared to that extent by the kind of specialists who originally handled her injury? I would be concerned she is hurting her hips. If she was born without hip sockets did they use titanium or something else to support reconstruction? If so I would imagine this could create a permanent limitation in the range of movement. I think this is an area for someone who knows about the surgery she has to clear the activity. If her hips are hurting I wouldn't have her near anything that hurts until it's cleared as okay as long as she can work on it. A physical therapist might be able to give her exercises or work with her to increase the ROM. Being able to do full splits like we do in competitive gymnastics is not typically handled as a necessary ROM so I think it is important to get that looked at by someone with more familiarity with the details and implications of her specific situation.