Gymnasts Tiger paws

[charsgymnastics]

I've seen many different answers to this question so I would like as many answers as possible lol.
I am a 14 year old Xcel gold gymnast, this is my 2nd year in gymnastics competition and 3rd year of gymnastics in general. I have noticed that while on floor and vault I get major discomfort in my wrist however I have seen threads where tiger paws are reserved for upper level gymnasts. If that is the case is there anything else I can use to help it? I am also very skinny which doesn't help i weigh about 103 at 5'7 and my wrists are very boney

 

[NYGymfamily]

Tiger paws are not reserved for upper level gymnasts. DD started using them in xcel gold. Our gym has been starting to switch over to a different style wrist brace, something like the picture i put in. You can find them on amazon, they are great and keep the wrist from hyperextending, and provide general support. Tiger paws are also great, it really just depends on the person.

 

[Gymgirlx]

There is this "myth" going around that once you start wearing tiger paws/wrist support, you will never be able to tumble without it. That's bs. Especially old style coaches often recommend not using them sO yOu bUiLd StRenTh the pain usually isn't because you are too weak, it's because you are too weak and put too much pressure on your wrists. So the solution isn't to just do strength training (which I would 100% recommend to do!), taking away the pressure with wrist support is just as necessary. You don't want to wear down your wrist until your only option is to wear wrist support

 

[GymnastGirlypop]

My coach said that same thing about using them and then not being able to tumble without them, so I’m not allowed to wear them on floor. However she does allow me to wear them for vault. As long as you’re allowed to I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t. There are excel golds at my gym that use them.

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

Imo if your wrists need the support, you should wear the support. They shouldn't be used as a substitute for good wrist strength/prehab, but the simple fact is that our wrists are not evolved (or designed, whatever your beliefs on the matter) to handle the sort of demands we put on them in this sport. Just like we use grips to help our fingers hold onto the bar when needed, we should use wrist supports to help our wrists handle the force and impacts of tumbling and vault if needed.

 

[HopefulGymnast]

I dont know how many hours you train for gold at your gym, but if you're 103 pounds at 5 foot 7 and having joint pain it may be worth checking in with a nutritionist/dietician. It can be perfectly normal to have a low weight as you are going through growth, but its good to check that its not an issue. Low weight does tend to be associated with injury risk, and can be an indication you have some shortages which happens a lot with growing athletes.

Again not saying it's a problem per se but its worth checking out.

Also, as the others say: use tiger paws.