bridges

[ihraxhunnie]

i our pre-school classes, our directors told our coaches just at our last meeting that we can allow the kids to do bridges and position their hands a feet correctly but we aren't allowed to help pull them up into the full bridge or anything. 6yo is when they can move from kindergarten class up to rollers (lvl 1) and that's when we are allowed begin helping them.

not only does it save their backs in the lower levels but it really helps to build muscles all over

[gymnasticcoach]

I have been involved in the sport of gymnastics for 50 years and have been a coach for 45 of those years.

Bridges in my opinion should never be done by a pre school age child because their arms and legs cannot hold their own body weight except in a table top position.

You can also contact Dr. Keith Russell at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and Rick McCharles at gymnasticcoaching.ca

It is up to you parents to protect your children from harm.

Don G. Anweiler

[~ beth]

This is a long standing issue...with alot of explanation.

The current industry standard for bridging recommends that children do not start bridging until age 5. The industry standard USED to be based on the concept of "developmentally correct" in which the child was allowed to do a bridge if they could place themselves into the bridge position on their own. This, however, is no longer the standard. The standards can be found in the old USAG KAT book, and it remains the standard within the Preschool Fundamentals and HOT courses.

Here's a little background on the issue..

About the same time that FIG upped the international competition age, our sport started really looking at the various ways we could increase the longevity of athletes within our sport. Among the things we started addressing in a serious manner, for example, was how we could decrease the incidence of eating disorders within our sport. Serious consideration was given to what our standards should be and how we should handle athletes to avoid such things.

Another thing that we looked at as a sport was how we could decrease the incidence of injury to keep the athletes healthier. Long term injuries caused by overuse, strain and micro-trauma were some of the injuries addressed. The focus became trying to avoid long term injuries as much as possible so that athletes would be able to go on in life without living with injury post-sport career for the rest of their lives.

That is when the standards changed. We wanted to decrease long term injuries for the overall health of the kids within our sport and we wanted to increase the time an athlete could participate in the sport as well as the athlete's health post-career.

Spinal injury caused by overstressing the back was one of the areas addressed. While the "developmentally correct" standard was in place, many of us who teach the courses for USAG were consistently asked for clarification. So, in response to the request for clarification, USAG went to various sports physicians, pediatricians as well as other sport science people to get a consensus on what the best approach to training young children should be.

In regards to bridging, they came back with the consensus that age 5 was the earliest a child should begin bridging.

There are several reasons for it, but the main concern is a condition called Spondolysis which is the pars fracturing within the spine, usually around the 5th lumbar vertebra. Left untreated, it can become a condition called Spondylolisthesis which causes chronic back problems for the rest of the athlete's life.

Spondolysis can be caused by impact injury as well as overstress injury. In football players, it can be caused by impact to the back. In ice skaters, it can be caused by falling on their backsides on the ice. In gymnastics, the way it is usually caused is by overstressing the spine in the abnormal positions we use within our sport.

Like someone said in an earlier post, preschoolers' anatomical build, ie. physical size and proportions make bridging difficult since their heads are often too big for their arms to lift off the floor.

Strength is also an issue. A child who is not strong enough to lift themselves into a bridge will often have poor positioning, sometimes even attempting bridge with their head on the floor, stressing the neck in particular.

Lack of flexibility within the shoulders is a huge part of it as well. If the shoulders are not flexible enough for a proper bridge position, the stress is placed on the lower back in the upside down U formation. Any beginning gymnast, no matter what their age, should begin their bridge with feet elevated at least 8 inches. This forces the stretch into the shoulders where it belongs while decreasing the stress on the lower back, making the bridge position a non-symmetrical elongated U, pushing the stretch through the chest and shoulders.

What children under age 5 CAN do are tabletops (crab position), abdominal sags and seal stretches, SUPPORTED bridge work over barrels and on panel mats (hands on floor, laying on panel mat) as long as the entire length of the back is supported. They can do strengthening drills as well, to prepare for bridge work.

As a coach, I want to do whatever I can to avoid any injury in any of the children under my care. Bridging is no different, and spinal damage is something I don't care to mess with if I can avoid it. I do not allow children to bridge in my gym AT ALL until age 5, and even the beginning gymnasts start with elevated feet.

A sidenote to that is ..when I visit gyms, I can tell alot about the level of coaching education they have on staff simply by watching the types of drills they use with their kids. I also caution any parent who is moving to another city about the things to watch for in a gym. If I don't know a gym to recommend in the area to which they are moving, I send them out with a list of certifications to look for, a list of questions to ask, and I tell them to watch to see if the gym bridges preschoolers...that will tell you alot about that gym in a hurry.

[~ beth]

Just a quick note and correction to spelling. I can never spell the word without looking it up..I should have looked it up before I posted.

The condition is spelled Spondylolysis for anyone looking it up.

Sorry for my brain spasm there...hope that helps anyone looking for more information.

[DynamicMom]

I've been reading this post about the bridges and am a little concerned. DD is 4.5 and has been doing bridges forever. She has a back walkover and is now starting to learn the form for her back handsprings. This is our second gym and other than this post we have never even heard of bridges being dangerous for them. Is teaching back handsprings at this age uncommon? I know of at least three other smaller kids learning them at our gym, they are all intermediate or level 2 preteam kids. She has been to a bunch of exhibitions at her old gym and one at the new gym and both had a bridge kick-over in the routine.

[JBS]

Quote:
Originally Posted by DynamicMom Is teaching back handsprings at this age uncommon?

Not uncommon...unnecessary. There is so much else they could be learning.

[littlekateskate]

OKay, so DD has started working on these on her own at home. I saw her in her room the other day and she can get herself up quite well great arch. But she is still resting her head on the ground. If you looked at quick glance then you would think she was doing it correctly.

Should I not let her do these. (she is big for her age and quite mature body wise-will be 5 next month). Or should I let her keep working on them until she gets it. I dont know that if i tell her not to that she will quit and not do it behind my back. So possibly supervising would only be smarter.

Now, if i help her pull up a little more to get her head off the ground she can hold it there on her own. Its just getting it up. I honestly think in a week she will have it on her own.

Just worried after this thread that she shouldnt practice it at all thanks. (pm me if you want)

[gym law mom]

If she is still putting her head on the floor/ground then alot of her body weight is going on those cervical vertebrae(neck) and thats one thing you want to avoid. From what I've heard and read, the arch of the back is not as important to a beginner as the proper placement of the feet and hands.

Tell her if she will hold off on practicing at home, you'll ask her gym instructor about when is the best time to start bridges and tell her that dd is trying some at home. That way, she can get proper instruction in the gym and learn the progressions that will make her bridges safe and correct.

[~ beth]

Before I say anything else, let me say this..I do not EVER recommend a child do gymnastics at home without the supervision of a coach...ever. So, I would tell you to discourage your daughter from doing any gymnastics at home. Stretching can be good, regular outside play is also good because it develops movement naturally.

If you were a coach in a gym...this is what I would tell you..The problem with "helping" a child into a bridge position is this...

If they do not have the shoulder flexibility (and a big misconception is that bridging is for back flexibility..it's not. It's for SHOULDER flexibility) and you pull her into the position, you could inadvertantly be causing injury by forcing the issue and pulling her back into a position that she is simply not ready to perform. I never ever ever lift a kid into the position. Once they are in the position, I may support them at the shoulders, but NEVER lift a child into the bridge. ever.

The proper bridge position is not a super U..it's an elongated U with legs straight and together. It should look more like a gentle downhill slope from belly button to toes..rather than a hyper-U overflexing the back.

I tell my coaches (and any time I speak I remind coaches) DO NOT lift a child into the position.

If her head is resting on the floor, this is a possible indicator that she may need to strengthen her arms before attempting the skill. So, rather than allowing her to continue attempting the bridge, I would have her do chin ups or push ups. Push ups would be my first choice of drill for that because she would get the added benefit of the kinesthetic feel for pushing against the floor, which is required for bridging.

I do NOT like seeing a kid resting their weight in a bridge position on their neck..it generally pushes the neck backwards against the floor. Not cool.

So, really, other than letting your kiddo play outside and be a normal kid at home, I would recommend that you tell her NOT to do gymnastics at home, and I would further recommend that you NOT help her do gymnastics at home. I have parents come to me regularly and ask that I speak to their child to remind them that gymnastics is for in-the-gym only. That is my recommendation to anyone who asks that question.

[gymnasticcoach]

You could contact Dr. Keith Russell, at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskachewan, Canada. Keith is one of the most respected coaches on the planet and i am sure he can give you specific research data regarding this. Unfortunately i do not have his email address