Is "too much" back flexibility ever a problem?

[MdGymMom01]

I just read up on how Shayla Worley was out of the VISA championships because of a sore back. That really sucks cause I sooo want her to be on the Olympic team! Anyway, if anyone remembers a little Hungarian named Henrietta Onodi back in the 1990's who also had extreme back flexibility and was out with back injuries towards the end of her career. My question is--does extreme back or lumbar flexibility play a role in injuries later in the gymnasts' career. The years and years of bending and stressing the back farther than most gymnasts would probably lead to problems.

My daughter has pretty extreme back flexibility now at age 9 so I am a bit concerned about her later in life. Is this something I need to be concerned with? If so, is there anything I can do now with her, strength training-wise to aviod these problems?

[flippymonkeysmom]

I am not a doctor or an expert - but I have heard that it can be a problem. What I was told was that if the back is too flexible stress fractures in the spine are more likely than in those who girls who are not as extremely flexible. I would love to hear from someone would some concrete knowledge about it.

[lucymaud]

I don't have any answers, but I do remember Kristie Phillips talking after her gymnastics career was over about still having issues with her back, and she attributed it to the skills she did that emphasized her extreme back flexibility.

[MdGymMom01]

I do remember Kristie having an extremely flexible back back in the day. I also heard recently somewhere that Shayla Worley is out with a herniated disc problem. I can totally relate to that because I had a herniated disc (L4/L5) that needed surgery in 1993. Mine was attributed to running--I was a competitive long distance runner in high school and college and did 10K's after that and all the years of running and pounding tore up my back. So, maybe with Shayla it is all the pounding from the landings.

[charloadams]

Yeah I do think it has an impact on the futur because I use to be one of those very flexible gymnast, as you can see below;





But now, about 5 years later, I cannot even do a bridge anymore. I have a back problem, actually its a disease, that is going to give me problems my whole life...

[bogwoppit]

My DD is just like Charloadams, she too had a freaky flex back when she was little, but now she has low back pain a lot. She has mild scoliosis and sciatic issues run on both sides of her family. I do feel that gym has not been the best thing for her back, and now we keep a close eye on her pain.

[maddiekate]

I was super-flexible when i was little. This video shows at 32 seconds one of the things i could do. (no, thats not me) Now my back hurts most of the time, and i am not that flexible. I don't think it is just because of the flexibility, i also have scoliosis, and have injured it a few times.

[audra]

The extreme back flexibility itself will not cause the injuries but it is what is done with it. Many gymnasts who have lower back flexibility will use when learning skills such as walkovers, instead of using shoulders the gymnast will allow the lower back to sag causing the pain later on. This sag that is used carries throughout the gymnasts career coaches usually keep on eye on this and although they may allow them to poses they will try to fix it on their skills. Keeping their lower ab strength is extremely important as well as proper bridge position.

I was very flexible in my lower back as a gymnast and had several back injuries during my career, I was told at 18 that if I didn't quit I would have problems for the rest of my life. And I would never be able to carry a baby full term because of the pain. I continued gymnastics until 21, during those 3 years I focused on lower ab strength and continued exercises for my back. I am happy to say that I had NO back problems during either of my 2 pregnancies.

[Scout's Mom]

My daughter has a great deal of back flexibility. She suffered a stress fracture in her back at the age of 13. The doctor said that her flexibility caused her to be more vulnerable to back issues. He also said that once her growth plates closed, she'd be less likely to have problems. After being in a brace and taking it easy for several months, the back healed but she is a bit less flexible.

[MdGymMom01]

Here is my dd last year when she was a flyer for cheer...