Gymnastics for kids

[jax]

I've just started my 10 year old son (who has HMS) in gymnastics. I thought it would be good to
try and develop some core muscle strength and help improve co-ordination. He has only been to
the one lesson and although I cringed when he rolled on his head (and had a chat
to the instructor about it!) he really seemed to enjoy it and teacher said he picked
up really quickly.

[paw]

We had gymnastics in school for about 10 weeks each school year. We had a lot of things to work on, trampoline, tumbling, balance beam, uneven parallel bars, and the regular parallel bars. They also had the pommel horse and the rings but the guys used those more than the girls did. It has been a long time.... I can't remember if that is all of it.

I loved it and of course it was very easy for me to do. One day the instructor had a broom stick and he held it in front of him with both arms extended. He wanted to know if anyone could climb through the stick (between the arms and around the back and over the head so the stick is behind you and you have not let go). I was able to do that as soon as he asked. No one else could do it.

I would have really enjoyed more classes in gymnastics but we lived in a rural area that did not offer them. I hope your son likes it too. Just make sure he knows and the instructor knows that he could injure himself and that if he is hurt he needs to stop and make sure to tell you about any injuries. An injury to an ankle or knee needs to be watched on a bendy kid to make sure he heals properly and that he does not try to keep exercising on an injured joint.

[jax]

Paw,

Thanks for your response. My son did enjoy the first lesson and
gymnastics at school too.

That sounds amazing about your broomstick feat - it's cool when you can
do those things. Not sure I would have been able to do that actually - maybe.
I was quite good at breaking into my own house.
I remember being asked to jump head first over a broomstick and fall otherside
into a roll, in martial arts - it was a bit scary as the broom stick kept getting
higher.

I will be very very careful with him though and have already chatted to the instructor
about it.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice.

Jax

[gila]

in my case I'd also say that 'gentle kiddies gymnastics" was good for me- it indeed helped me loads with co-ordination, balance and even general posture awareness- and all whilst having fun
xxg

[Fiona-Jane]

hiya,

i did gymnastics for years and years and found it really useful although i have a few injuries from those days! it made me dead strong so when i went through puberty and my eds flared up it wasnt that noticable as my muscles were strong enough to deal with the extra bendyness. i'd pay extra attention to any injuries that he may develop and rest until they are healed- i didnt rest and trained through my injuries and so i permanently damaged some joints. oops!

i still do a lot of the conditioning that we did at gymnastics and it's one of the main reasons why i'm able to walk as my SI joints and my hips are so loose i'd not be able to stand up if i wasn't so strong. so i think its a great idea that he's starting gym as he'll learn exercises that'll keep his joints nice and stable. maybe it'll be a good idea to write these down so he can refer to them later in life if he chooses to stop gym? i've forgotten some of the ones i used to do and i'm rather annoyed at myself for not making notes when i had the chance!

it also helped my balance, posture and coordination and i dont fall over as often if i remember to do the little balance & coordination exercises from my gym days (dead basic stuff like closing your eyes, lifting up a foot and trying to touch it with your hand, it's amazing how much that one helps.... dunno why though!).

it aslo taught me lots about the importance of stretching and gentle daily conditioning as we all learned our new skills faster if we did our conditioning and stretching at home inbetween our training days, and we also advanced on to new, cooler skills faster so we learned to do them everyday and i still do now! it's become a habit that i intend to keep for as long as possible.

i hope he has as much fun as i did at gym!

fi xx

[Finarda]

Both of my kids do gymnastics for recreation. I won't let them do the competitive gymnastics as I think that's putting too much pressure on their joints, but the recreation gymnastics is great. Both of them started late in the year but within one term (10 weeks) they were caught up with the rest of the class and both got "outstanding" as a grade.

Fiona

[jax]

Both of my kids do gymnastics for recreation. I won't let them do the competitive gymnastics as I think that's putting too much pressure on their joints, but the recreation gymnastics is great.
Fiona

I totally agree Fiona, although with my son I'm not sure I would have much of
a say in the matter

FJ and Gila - thank you too for your comments and experiences - I think it will be good for the muscle strengthening,
social and recreational benefits. Will let you know how he gets on.

Jx

[pookie]

hi there! my 8 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with hms and we have so far seen a doctor and 2 physios who all say that gymnastics is a very bad idea for children with hsm as it can cause damage to their lax joints. my daughter has been doing her gymnastics for 4 years now and enjoys it. just wanted to know if you have had any medical advice for or against gymnastics? i dont want to make her give up something she likes if i dont have to.
thanks kelly x

[jax]

Hi Pookie,

It might be that gymnastics is helpful in that it builds muscular
strength to support joints and helps improve balance. My son,
turning 11 has HMS and has been doing it for about 9 months
and enjoys it. I think if it's not causing them loads of problems
I'd be inclined to say it's a good activity to be doing. My son
does not do forward rolls as he's quite hypermobile around
the neck/shoulders and was rolling in awkward positions and we avoid
headstand - otherwise he does all the other moves. I hope I'm not
giving adVICE - so far he seems to have been fine with it.

Jax
x

[WinonaLemonade]

obviously you shouldn't take anything i say as medical advice but i would have thought that as long as she isn't stretching to increase the range of movement in her joints and isn't doing anything that puts stress on vulnerable joints, like jax said, then it shouldn't be too bad. if she has poor muscle tone and has very bendy joints then i would have thought she could injure herself easily. also it might be bad if she got carried away and tried things that are too difficult. exercise is good for kids with hms though because she can build up muscle strength which can help with pain, fatigue and stabilising joints.
it is also good if she is practising balance.
maybe you should keep an eye on how things are going and wether the type of stuff she doing at gymnastics is suitable. i used to go to dancing lessons when i was younger and i stopped enjoying it because hip pain so i didn't go anymore, if she is having problems going then she'll probably pick up on them before you do.

[Finarda]

I'd say that if she's getting injured or in pain from the gymnastics then it might be time to stop. Otherwise, I'd be on the watchout for moves that you think could be harmful. With my son I had to run into the gym the other day as he was running then leaping onto his head and tucking into a forward roll - it looked extremely dangerous and looked like if he made one slip he'd break his neck. This wasn't something that his coach had told him to do - just my reckless son's own idea. I also wouldn't let him do headstands, and I'm a little concerned about the rings they hang from - when they flip around his shoulders (which are hypermobile) look like they're in a god awful angle.

My son really wants to do competitive gymnastics but fortunately is only 6 so hopefully either it would be a couple of years before he'd be invited to do competitive or maybe he won't make the grade (which I'd be happy about but am doubtful about after watching him - he's flexible (well, duh!), strong, and daring and is easily the best in his class.

Fiona

[mobilemum]

This is why we are going to GOSH on Wednesday. My HyperMobile (but not necessarily HMS) DD ( age 9.5) has been doing competitive gymnastics for a few years now (up to 20 hours traing per week). She has had a mysterious hip injury since November, has had a little trouble with shoulders, now has a swollen knee and a probably unrelated problem with her foot. One (of the many) Orthopedic Surgeons she has seen thinks her HM is to blame. I had alreay had her reffered to Prof G as I need to know if I can allow her to continue or not - she is desperate to.

[Itigo]

Hello All

I have been diagnosed with global hypermobility/ligamentous laxity but fulfil the criteria for HEDS. As yet I haven't gone to ask as I'm a wuss! My son who is nearly 2 is VERY bendy and has elastic skin. My daughter (5) is quite bendy especially in her legs and shoulders.

Her school provide 4 weeks worth of professionally coached gym at the local centre using the great equipment. There's lots of them so they just do a circuit but it's great fun. Anyway, yesterday was week 2 and she came home with a letter (only 2 girls got them) inviting her to an assessment session tomorrow and she may be invited to join the accelerated learning talent squad which is part of the National Development Squad of Australia. This would mean 2 hours squad each week and an hour's recreational gym - quite a commitment. I think they liked her flexibility and the fact she can act on instructions. We are obviously bowled over that she has been asked but a bit wary - partly about the commitment money and time wise (ballet would have to go too!) and partly because I am happy for her to build her strength but don't want her to knacker herself. I have a c**p knee and a permanently out of joint shoulder myself and generally wobbly everything else and it's no fun.........

We are going to let her do the assessment and I guess if she is successful (she just thinks she's having a freebie - I am not a pushy mum!) then I'll chat to the coach about my concerns. We are in a quandry because obviously it would be a great opportunity but at the same time, it seems so young to be getting serious about this stuff!!!

Having read your replies has calmed my fears a bit...we'll just see how she goes tomorrow....

[Itigo]

Well she apparently impressed them and they want her to start on the squad asap. She also has to do another class - I thought this would be an hour rec class - turns out they want her to fast track to the pre level 1 class which is an hour and a half. So that's 3 1/2 hours a week. We are a bit reticent to let her do it as she's only 5 for goodness sake but also want her to have a go - she's very keen.

I spoke to my physio this morning who suggested I take her in with me one week and he'll have a quick look to see how bendy she is with a view to letting them know. He said it's best to proceed with caution so I'm glad I asked him.

What would you all do? Give her the opportunity of a lifetime or hold her back for injuries she may not suffer?

[Rosie]

Hi Itigo

Such a hard decision! I do think you have done the right thing in asking the physio for advice. It may be possible to let her start it if she is keen, but just carefully monitor her in how tired she gets, any pain it causes her, any injuries she gets etc against any benefits to her like strengthening muscles, enjoyment etc. As you are aware of the possible problems you willk be able to react quickly if anything does go wrong for her.
Gymnastic coaches will appreciate her natural flexibility so that is probably why she has been picked. Have you explained the situation to them? It would give you more confidence to let her try it if her coach is willing to talk about it with you, and maybe learn about HMS so she knows what to look out for?



Rosie