WAG Little gymnast with hyper mobility syndrome?

[mouey77]

Does anyone have or know of a gymnast with hyper mobility syndrome that has been successful in gymnastics? DD's occupational therapist spoke with me and told me that she definitely has this. She is extremely flexible like a pretzel, but she has some hip flexor tightness as a result, low muscle tone (very hard for her to "be tight" but has had low tone since birth), and her back is extremely archy. We have had kind of a roller coaster first year on team. She did awesome at her meet but has so many form issues that are hard for her to overcome plus she has ADHD. Is this something I need to talk to her coaches about so they will stop letting her blow off conditioning? Is this more of a PT issue? She may require some serious patience to coach. The gym owner is seeing what's going on with her and I've heard him comment, but he doesn't work directly with the kids that often.

 

[Faith]

I trained with a girl with HMS. She had to give up WAG as her shoulders started dislocating every time she went on bars. She took up rhythmic and has had a very successful career there.

To be honest if she's at a good gym they should have noticed. And upped her conditioning accordingly, and started going carefully in stretching. It is definitely worth mentioning that it's been diagnosed.

 

[mouey77]

The gym owner sees it. Don't think the coaches caught it and have just been thinking its a focus issue. OT says the gymnastics would be great for her provided she is getting proper conditioning.

 

[UnoMas]

My DD also has both these diagnoses. Conditioning has been extremely important for her. Over the years she has learned to make her arms and legs look "tighter". Her major struggle is always going to be beam because of her low tone/hyper mobility in feet and ankles. She has progressed slowly through the years and is now doing Xcel which is a great place for her. Bars is her best event because her joints aren't fighting gravity and she appears much tighter when on the bars.

I would let the coach know because you don't want her to be penalized for not "being tight" if she truly can't help it. She will always have to work harder on form.

 

[Ex member]

My 9 year old dd has Hyper Mobility in her hips and maybe also in her ankles, she has been like this since birth, she has low muscle tone and weak core muscles, dd has always been behind in her physical development and didn't walk or stand unaided until she was two. Dd is very short for her age as well (106cm and she will be 10 next month).

Dd tried rec gymnastics when she turned 6 (she was doing regular physio then), when she started gym she couldn't run or jump with 2 feet together. Fast forward nearly 3 years dd quit gym as regualer rec classes were too hard and she couldn't even do a forward roll as she has issues with co ordination as well. This summer dd started a disability class as that suited dd better, dd is doing very well and is on the development squad for disability gymnastics and has done her first competition getting 3 medals, she can now run and jump and even learnt to skip acrossthe floor without a rope at the age of 9, she can do a nice handstand and is working on cartwheels. The conditioning is helping dd, she is getting stronger and is improving slowly.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

It depends to the extent that she has it.

Mine is hypermobile, but has always maintained good muscle tone, and her coaches have always encouraged her to know where to stop.

 

[mouey77]

She is just competing level 1. She is very good at learning skills. Just form, doing things like releves and chasses are really hard. Holding handstands is hard. Bars are pretty easy for her. Madigym, the balance beam seems harder for her too. I just didn't realize that the extreme flexibility might be a negative rather than an asset for gymnastics.

 

[UnoMas]

She is just competing level 1. She is very good at learning skills. Just form, doing things like releves and chasses are really hard. Holding handstands is hard. Bars are pretty easy for her. Madigym, the balance beam seems harder for her too. I just didn't realize that the extreme flexibility might be a negative rather than an asset for gymnastics.

Releve is a nightmare for my DD! She is still working on any kind of releve on the beam and her foot positions are really messy on beam as well. Compulsories were hard for my daughter, she competed through level 4. When she moved to Xcel she really found her spot because she can show off her strengths while minimizing the weaknesses that come from her hyper mobility. If your daughter loves it like mine just keep supporting her! Our doctor said that as long as her joints aren't hurting and that she doesn't begin to have any injuries, gymnastics is great for her and to keep her in! (It's actually the reason we started her in gym at age 3!). A year later she was on the preteam and the rest is history!

 

[Fliptwisttumble]

DD has this in her shoulders ( she popped hers out of joint then back in a couple of times during training), Diagnosed about 6 months ago. Extra conditioning and exercises keep it under control and it totally has not affected her abilities

 

[mouey77]

Thanks all! Do you have the coaches do extra conditioning? Is this something I would need to request in private lessons? Or would I have her do physical therapy? It's not the worst case ever but is markedly noticeable compared to her teammates, and she just appears uncoordinated with some things. Other parents have commented that it's "like she has no bones." Her back makes me cringe! She almost forms a complete circle when she does a backbend. She is constantly doing these slo mo looking back handsprings where she kicks both legs over at the same time. I am waiting for her back to pop.

 

[Iwannabemargo]

mine does PT exercises for her knees - and her coach makes sure her form is "tight" and she doesn't over flex her joints on moves or stretching

 

[bogwoppit]

Thanks all! Do you have the coaches do extra conditioning? Is this something I would need to request in private lessons? Or would I have her do physical therapy? It's not the worst case ever but is markedly noticeable compared to her teammates, and she just appears uncoordinated with some things. Other parents have commented that it's "like she has no bones." Her back makes me cringe! She almost forms a complete circle when she does a backbend. She is constantly doing these slo mo looking back handsprings where she kicks both legs over at the same time. I am waiting for her back to pop.

Do watch her back, Freaky flexible kids are at risk from lower back injuries.

 

[Hayleigh]

I have hyper mobility in my knees, hips, ankles and elbows. But especially my back. The only joints that don't seem to be effected are my shoulders and wrist. I have been doing gymnastics since I was 18months old. (14 and a bit years) and find that it doesn't cause too many problems. If anything I have progressed faster through the levels because I can do things due to my flexibility. My main problem is injury risk, as with joints that hyper extend, it's much easier to do damage, such as back problems. I personally found out how painful it can be training on an injured back about 2 years ago as that is how long I have have my back condition. But I found that as long as you are willing to train, and aren't causing yourself too much pain, you might as well try because my physio actually said that gymnastics was doing me good supporting my back.

 

[coachmolly]

Gymnastics should be a great thing for her, both in terms of building muscle tone and learning to control her body, but also in helping her with focus. While I did not have an ADHD focus as a gymnast, I had another condition that caused problems with focus and gymnastics was great for me as I was much more in my element than I was sitting in a classroom.
The biggest concern is making sure she has the strength to balance her flexibility as it seems to more often be the girls who are super flexible and lacking in strength that run into difficulty. Work with a PT to help her "feel" the muscles that she needs to activate to help with safe landings and exercises to strengthen her weaker areas. Maybe even ask if they can recommend anything for the coaches to have her work on in the gym.

 

[LucyTRA]

I have pretty bad hypermobility throughout all of my joints (I'm diagnosed with EDS II, but only in the last couple of years) and had to have my hip surgically stabilised in very early life (I think I was about 5 months) This actually led to me being thrown out of gym when I was about six or seven (at the point when they start taking it seriously) because I couldn't split and wasn't supposed to try because of my surgery.

Let me first assure you that this was a good 14 years ago and things have moved on a bit! I took up trampoline shortly after I was chucked out of gym and revisited it about 2 years ago and now train every day. 2 years ago I was incredibly inactive, completely unfit, on the chubby side and taking very very strong daily medication for my joints. I was told that gym and tramp were not reccomended for bendies, but its the only exercise I enjoy, so I did it anyway. I'm now not on any medication at all and have so much less pain and fewer dislocations that ever.

So my message is, even if she isnt going to go to the olympics one day (and HMS isnt a reason not to) I think that keeping active and doing a sport she loves will help her in the long run! I also know plenty of people with milder hypermobility than me who have done very well at regional and national level (I dont know anyone at a higher level but thats just because I dont play with the big guns )

Sorry this is so long but I hope it helps!

 

[mouey77]

Thanks!! I agree that the gymnastics seems to be great for her in terms of building strength and helping her to at least learn to focus. I was actually thinking of pulling her out of gymnastics and letting her do competitive cheer since she's a great tumbler and seemed to be having form/focus issues. So glad I didn't because I think gymnastics will do more for her, and she LOVES the bars.

We have just had a little trouble sorting out what is best for her. I felt sure with some of her skills she should be a level higher than she is, but maybe working on these basics is good for her with the hypermobility. On the one hand, she has amazing skills, but on the other hand, she can't hold a lever pose on the beam (starts wobbling all over in different directions). I talked to her coaches, and they actually have noticed it and agree about the conditioning. They just have a large group and not a ton of time to work individually with her, but at least they are aware of it! We may be able to do some privates with her coach to work on more strengthening. Don't know if that would be just as helpful as PT.

 

[LucyTRA]

It sounds like you are really on top of it; I wish someone had noticed that I was bendy earlier and helped me like that!

Extra strength and conditioning sounds like a good idea but make sure that she doesn't start to see it as a burden or unfair kind of punishment, especially if she has to have PT as well. I've been having PT since I was about 15 (and I'm now 20) and found it to be of little benefit, because they didn't give me anything high impact enough - even walking down the street was enough to 'override' the exercises I was given, and once I took up trampoline again, it had no effect at all. I do still have PT regularly with a specialist physio in my condition and she is also very understanding about sports - she doesn't give me PT type exercises to do but instead tells me which areas need strengthening to support which joints, and I can then do that myself in the gym, which is much more effective. (I don't know what PT is like in your country/area but if you can find someone willing to do that sort of work with your daughter it is likely to be much more effective!)

A tip regarding proprioception that I have found invaluable is to use really basic biofeedback methods, like putting tight tubular bandage on your limbs really really increases your awareness of where things are. I have found similar results (for arms at least) by wearing a very close fitting long sleeved leo to practise. I look a bit more sparkly than the other girls, but at least I know where my arms are! if you could find some sport leggings (or even support tights?!) small enough for her they could also help.

 

[thefellowsmom]

A tip regarding proprioception that I have found invaluable is to use really basic biofeedback methods, like putting tight tubular bandage on your limbs really really increases your awareness of where things are. I have found similar results (for arms at least) by wearing a very close fitting long sleeved leo to practise. I look a bit more sparkly than the other girls, but at least I know where my arms are! if you could find some sport leggings (or even support tights?!) small enough for her they could also help.

Along these lines, they used KT tape for my dd for this same purpose. They put it on so it would tighten when she overextended her elbows and it worked really well as a biofeedback mechanism. A lot of PTs use this stuff and it comes in all kinds of fun colors so the girls don't mind wearing it.

 

[mouey77]

This a great idea about the tape! Thank you!

 

[mouey77]

And the leggings too! From my non expert parent perspective, it looks more like her legs are all over the place even more than arms.