WAG Gymnasts with Duane Syndrome

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RangerDad

Proud Parent
I am wondering if there are gymnast with Duane Syndrome that have reach Level 10 or Elite.

My daughter is a extremely gifted gymnast currently level 3 but she is having trouble with the beam (which is normal). I cannot stop wondering if her condition which could also affect depth perception will not allow her to progress when things get more serious.

She has an ophthalmologist and at this time everything is ok. But I haven't found any doctors that can speak about the condition in reference to gymnastics.

Thank for the help.


"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"
 
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My dd has Duane Syndrome and just finished her L9 season. Through the years, I often wondered whether the depth perception might be an issue but it really hasn't stopped her. She does "get lost" sometimes in twisting her tumbling and the Duane's might be partially affect this but other gymnasts have similar issues with getting lost, so I am not sure how much the Duane's plays. She also tended to take longer learning new skills, particularly those involving turning (pirouette, overshoot - both on bars)

dd has type 1, left eye - can move from nose to midline, but no further. She does not have any noticeable head tilt or turn, though there is a slight one medically, opposite of what we would expect. Dr feels this is because she also has very slight type 2 as well, which technically makes her type 3, but since type 2 is so slight, she is classified as just type 1. yeah - confusing...

Her ophthalmologist also has Duane's which has been great because we had first hand experience with her doing sports and other things (driving, etc)...

wonderful to find another Duane's parent! I don't come across many.
 
forgot to add - make sure the coaches know about it, incase she has a bad fall - the first they will do is have her follow their finger with her eyes - they may get really concerned if one eye stops at midline...
 
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I am wondering if there are gymnast with Duane Syndrome that have reach Level 10 or Elite.

My daughter is a extremely gifted gymnast currently level 3 but she is having trouble with the beam (which is normal). I cannot stop wondering if her condition which could also affect depth perception will not allow her to progress when things get more serious.

She has an ophthalmologist and at this time everything is ok. But I haven't found any doctors that can speak about the condition in reference to gymnastics.

Thank for the help.


"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"



"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"
 
Wow! Thank you for the information. This really motivates to keep supporting her gymnastics goals. I let her read your post and she was very excited. The thing she like the most was about your doctor having Duane's.

I haven't met anyone in gymnastics openly speaking about Duane's but I notice some kids/parents, but I don't think is adequate to ask someone directly unless they bring it up.

Looking forward to hear about your DD achieving L10. Good luck in everything!




"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"
 
I've known a level 10 with a form of strabismus, not sure if it was this one or not. She did say beam was kind of a struggle but she learned to adapt surprisingly well, just wasn't her best.
 
I've known a level 10 with a form of strabismus, not sure if it was this one or not. She did say beam was kind of a struggle but she learned to adapt surprisingly well, just wasn't her best.

Strabismus deals with the eye muscles. Duane's Syndrome deals with Cranial Nerves 3 and 6 in which the communication is broken not allowing the person use peripheral vision on the affected eye (TYPE 1). There are three types but 1 is the most common.


"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"
 
I don't really know much of anything about Duane syndrome, but I know a few years back there was a level 10 who competed an Arabian on beam and was legally blind. That story amazed me.
 
Technically, a person with Duane's has peripheral vision - meaning if they are staring straight, they can see in their periphery. They just can't lateralize the affected eye to see extend that peripheral vision.

Strabismus and Duane's may present similarly - which is why it is often missed early in life - but medically, it is very different. Strabismus results from uneven strength and pull of opposing eye muscles but both the muscles and nerves work. In Duane's, the nerve root doesn't develop. It happens around 8-10 wks gestation. The muscles develop but are connected to other nerve roots. This causes abnormal pulling on the eye. A person with type 1 often displays an upward diagonal shift when attempting look outward and show a retraction of the eye, with lid narrowing when looking toward his nose. Over time, the double muscle action can cause the eye to pull inward (or outward for type 2), resulting in an inability of the eye to reach midline. Surgery can help realign the eyes if needed.
 
My daughter who competes national novice in Canada (L10 usa) has strabismus. She also gets lost a bit in her twisting but has no issues with tucking.
She has had it for years so she knows how to deal with her eye muscles. Her coaches are well aware of it.

Your daughter can still be a accomplished gymnast.
 
Thank you All.
As pretty much a direct result of this thread I shipped my daughter off to the optometrist and suddenly a lot of things fell into place with regards to depth perception etc.
Very greatful. I don't think I would have realised what was going on if I hadn't come across this thread.
 
Thank you All.
As pretty much a direct result of this thread I shipped my daughter off to the optometrist and suddenly a lot of things fell into place with regards to depth perception etc.
Very greatful. I don't think I would have realised what was going on if I hadn't come across this thread.
Does she have Duane syndrome? It would be very odd that it wasn't diagnosed at a much younger age. I recognized my dd's when she was 3 months old.

regardless, glad you have some answers now.
 
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No, extropia. She's been seeing double, except when she ignores an eye at gym.
Shows how much time I spend talking to her face to face, doesn't it!
Now I'm remembering all the times that I've turned around in the car whilst talking to her and said "are you looking at me?!"
 
But, I think it has gotten worse recently. An optometrist didn't pick it up when she was 4 and in the space of a week since realising, she's managed to work hard enough to see single vision and converge her eyes for extended periods of time (which of course has given her headaches). No one else had noticed it either although when I ask now, they all remember her tilting her head (helps her to align images).
 
But, I think it has gotten worse recently. An optometrist didn't pick it up when she was 4 and in the space of a week since realising, she's managed to work hard enough to see single vision and converge her eyes for extended periods of time (which of course has given her headaches). No one else had noticed it either although when I ask now, they all remember her tilting her head (helps her to align images).

I am very happy for you! As a dad when my daughter was diagnosed it was frustrating but after informing myself and learning about the different ways to help her it got better. Additionally, I am very lucky to have such an amazing baby. We talk about her condition, how it makes her feel when someone asks, etc... Not a big deal! She is very confident, even at times makes fun of it by doing "crazy eyes". That's all I wanted. We continue taking her to the specialist and if someday she decides to do surgery (I think she won't have too), I will support her as necessary.

Good luck to all, and check FB that's where I found a Duane's Syndrome support group and their stories are inspirational.


"Strive for perfection, Achieve excellence"
 
I have no depth perception whatsoever. I have my problems in the gym, especially when I'm very tiered and my vision does funny things. But it's not that big of a deal, other people have other problems.
It was a bit of an issue with my driving license though, there was a lot of bureaucratic this and that until I got permission to even take classes. But I'm driving now and I'm doing gym and I'm doing just fine. :)
 

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