Parents X-Brace

[GymmieC]

Has anyone had any experience using the X Braces? DD is experiencing heal pain, and she has asked to get these heal braces. It seems that a couple of her teammates use them, and they say they work very well for them. I just want to get a more wholistic view if possible.
These are the ones we may consider. I will talk with her orthopedic doctor before buying of course.
http://www.thexbrace.com

Thank you in advance.

 

[ascarter1]

When my dd was diagnosed with severs disease, she used cheetah cups.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000M...SX200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=41FkbVp8cZL&ref=plSrch

When they were really hurting, she would tumble in her tennis shoes (with gel heel cups).

We have never used the x braces but they look interesting.

 

[leotardmakermum]

We have used them, but it is hard to give you an accurate idea of whether they helped because at the time my daughter was using them, she wasn't responding to pain relief properly. Her brain was stuck.

However, I did show them to our physio (who is well acquainted with gymnasts and gymnastics) and she thought they were great.

When my daughter gets severs pain now, she uses her cheetah cups, which are so well used they're starting to fall apart...

 

[gotgym]

My gymnasts use the Xbrace. I had not seen them until we went to developmental camp. They say it helps and you can feel difference in support right away. We had always used the cheetah heel cups but, unfortunately they do not fit everyone properly and many were experiencing heels sliding around,putting strains on other body parts.(knees, ankles etc)

 

[mariposa]

My daughter that did dance and had heel pain loves hers.

 

[thefellowsmom]

Dd has them and cheeta cups. She says that one works better for one way her heel hurts and the other works better for another way it hurts. I think it is when the back/bottom of her heel hurts then the cheeta cup works better and when it hurts more on the side of her heel the x braces work better. She uses them both periodically, usually when something is growing.

I will say that the most effective thing we have done for heel pain is massaging trigger points in her calves and ankle/Achilles. The minute she starts having pain we go after the point causing the pain wherever she is feeling it and she starts wearing the appropriate brace and we usually have it nipped within the week.

I highly recommend this book. It has literally changed my life and not because of my daughters aches and pains, although it helps a lot with all those as well.

Link Removed

 

[B.Gold]

I will say that the most effective thing we have done for heel pain is massaging trigger points in her calves and ankle/Achilles. The minute she starts having pain we go after the point causing the pain wherever she is feeling it and she starts wearing the appropriate brace and we usually have it nipped within the week.

Yes...us too. Generally we treat flares by massaging, rolling out and also stretching her achilles, calf and hamstring a couple times a day. This last heel flare I was surprised how tight her hamstring on the affected leg was. She will also throw her boot on during non-gym hours which helps keep her foot flexed and her achilles stretched out. She can usually reverse the pain in a week with this protocol.
OP I know this wasn't your question, so I apologize for unsolicited advice- we have just had such great success doing the above I felt compelled to share...severes has been my dds biggest health challenge in gymnastics, having cracked her growth plate in her heel during her first episode..... Leaving her on the sidelines for 8 weeks. Now she can feel it coming on and we can reverse it within days.

 

[Canadian_gym_mom]

We have used them, but it is hard to give you an accurate idea of whether they helped because at the time my daughter was using them, she wasn't responding to pain relief properly. Her brain was stuck.
.

Can you elaborate on this a little bit? I have never heard of anything like this and i am curious.

How do you know this, and how did you resolve the issue?

 

[profmom]

DD is also one who goes with both the heel cup and the X brace. It's not a miracle cure by any means, but it does help. We do massage for ankle and tendon as well. She's had Severs off and on, but also some Achilles tendonitis. Either way, the bracing, massage, and occasional day or two off hard landings seem to help a lot.

 

[gasrgoose]

Yes...us too. Generally we treat flares by massaging, rolling out and also stretching her achilles, calf and hamstring a couple times a day. This last heel flare I was surprised how tight her hamstring on the affected leg was. She will also throw her boot on during non-gym hours which helps keep her foot flexed and her achilles stretched out. She can usually reverse the pain in a week with this protocol.
OP I know this wasn't your question, so I apologize for unsolicited advice- we have just had such great success doing the above I felt compelled to share...severes has been my dds biggest health challenge in gymnastics, having cracked her growth plate in her heel during her first episode..... Leaving her on the sidelines for 8 weeks. Now she can feel it coming on and we can reverse it within days.

I like the X brace and think it does help. But massaging as others have said is the real key. This video helped me learn how to massage my daughter's feet, heels. and calves. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrjTbJ0vefQ we usually did it at bedtime (make sure to move the foot back and forth while you massage). Also having her sleep in an orthopedic boot that keeps the foot flexed while they sleep makes a huge difference. The boot keeps the calf and achilles from tightening up more at night, but it does require a little adjustment to learn to sleep in it.

 

[NewtoGym]

My dd uses xbraces and loves them! We were lucky enough to work with Dr Josh in the past and he showed us how to massage properly. She has been wearing them for two years and they have helps immensely!

 

[2G1B]

I'm ordering a pair for my sin, hopefully it will help with his fallen arches...

 

[GymmieC]

Thank you all so much. I did buy the XS's. My next step is to call her PT and make an appointment. I just want to make sure I am not missing anything. Heather from XBrace sent me the Gymnast Protocol which is a lot like I have read from some of you.
If I can reduce pain for DD now, I know she will benefit. Again, Thank you so much everyone. Please keep the comments coming. I really am reading them all and learning from you.

 

[leotardmakermum]

Can you elaborate on this a little bit? I have never heard of anything like this and i am curious.

How do you know this, and how did you resolve the issue?

@Canadian_gym_mom: It all started with severs that was really persistent. My daughter had been having significant pain (7 or 8 out of 10, where 10 is the worst pain you can imagine) for months and months, and pain generally for about a year. Nothing we tried really helped - and we tried EVERYTHING.

It's hard to see your child in that much pain.

She was in and out of a boot, and severely limited in what she could do at training. Eventually, the specialist sports doctor said, "Right! 5 weeks out of the gym, doing nothing. No strength, no conditioning. Nothing."

In the first week or two, nothing much changed - it may have dropped off a little bit, but not greatly. At about the 4 week mark, she suddenly realised one day that she had no pain! She then started back at gym at about the 5 week mark, increasing the days and load slowly.

She's now been back at gym for several months. She'll very occasionally have a day of severs pain, but now, icing and a single dose of anti-inflammatories (topical cream or oral) works! Because her pain level was "zeroed" her body now responds to pain management properly. We do also have a really understanding coach who backs off on her tumbling and vaulting for a day or so at these times. None of us want her back in pain again!

I have heard of this before. Her 3rd grade school teacher had a similar thing (different cause) where her pain persisted long after the injury. She had to have time off to zero her pain levels too. So while it is unusual, it is not unheard of.