Gymnastics for kids

[mobilemum]

Speaking as a mum of 2 'squad' gymnasts, one with HMS who has had some difficulties with joints etc:

Main thing, as you have already noted is that, as it stands she is just bendy, no problems so far and quite possibly never any HMS related issues - so a great pity to stop her because of something that might never happen.

That said, the main potential problem with HMS and gymnastics is that the mucles lack the strength and 'knowledge' or 'muscle training' to support the joint in it's abnormal range, resulting in a relatively unstable joint. However, gymnastics has 2 main elements, 1) learning all the moves and skills 2) strength and conditioning training. Your coach could possibly be advised that she MAY suffer from unstable joints and that special attention should be paid to strength and conditioning (ie she may need to do more than the others). She may benefit from extra work on this at home.

My personal thought are that the work that my daughter does in the gyym, while it occasionally results in injury actually means she is able to function much better in daily life that she would otherwise have been able.

[Itigo]

Thanks for that Mobilemum! She has now been doing gymnastics for just over a year. This year she was chosen for the state stream team and has done 2 competitions - 3 left. She absolutely LOVES it and wants to do competitions next year, but she'll have to be back in the squad for a couple of terms and then see if she's chosen.

I have noticed that compared to some of the others her joints are more wobbly - not great on the beam, so she tends not to be as straight and tight in an effort to stabilise (her ankles roll all over the place). The coach she's with is lovely but not overly hot on the strengthening aspect so I'm hoping when she goes back into squad it'll be ramped up again. Tiredness wise she does fine and again this will improve next term as she'll go from one 3 hour session to two 2 hour sessions spread over the week.

My physio said she's at the highest end of normal for her flexibility and hypermobility and he is going to give us a sheet of pilates style strengthening exercises that we can do together next week......

So, so far it's working out really well, and at her level, there aren't really any big impact moves etc. We'll let her keep doing it until she wants to stop or the training gets too onerous (interferes with school work or causes pain issuesx).....

[ames06]

my daughter was diagnoised with hypermobility at 20 months and her consultant told me to get her in gymnastics asap to help strenghten her joints and said it will help lessen the pain as she gets older, she is 2 1/2 now and being doing it for just under a year and she loves it and is amazingly good at it for her age, and i have found its helped, she doesn't fall over as much and seems to have slightly more control over hr legs

[Smol]

Hi Guys n Gals
I was a competitive gymnast in my youth and spent at least 15 hours a week training. I gave up at the ripe old age of 15 as stress incontinence was became a problem for me as soon as the old nasty hormones took a grip. since I started having joint problems I always blamed it on the high impact landings, and osteo arthritis on the extra wear & tear from repetitive movements. As a result I wouldn't allow my girls to get serious about gym in case they suffered like me.
Since the HMS diagnosis I'm having to rethink and now wonder what state I'd be in if I hadn't done all the conditioning. Mind you even way back then at my fittest I had next to no core stability and used to shake on certain exercises, couldn't hold a handstand for more than 5 seconds but could walk on my hands. Some girls core stability was so good they could lift (without a bounce) their legs from a seated straddle or standing straddle position up into handstand, something which, no matter how much I tried to do I never accomplished, I always needed the bounce to lift me legs off the floor.
I personally wouldn't let my girls compete or do anything like the training I did, but would let them do Gym recreationally and for general strengthening.

[Itigo]

My daughter has just been moved to the next level, but still state, not national (thankfully!) level so there's less pressure. Having said that, it's still 5 hours a week at 7 years old and muchas money! She is adamant she wants to continue with the competitive stream and said she'd be really cross if I move her to the rec class (still with little comps)!! As long as she is happy, we are.

One of her coaches pulled her out just before selection the other week and told her she has to do extra practice in her dish position and in front support. Her dish, because her core strength is low and is affecting her handstand ability and the front support as she keeps placing slightly incorrectly - she's not aware where her body is as she said she thought she was in perfect line. After the next holidays (soon here) she is going to do the pilates with me when we have time and we'll get stronger together!

I really relate to your post Smol! She does 4 hours a week atm and has a 6 pack nearly but still the core is weaker......the physio told me to do the Beighton with her every 6 months to see if she's getting more bendy etc. I'll do it around her 7th birthday............although I can't really see much reason to do it, as surely she'll be bendier than last time purely due to the gymnastics - won't be able to tell the cause?!