Around the Chalkbowl: Injuries Galore

[Bekah]

So now we come to one of the most interesting and relevant topics in gymnastics: Injuries. Everybody’s had them, and it seems like many gymnasts have one right now.

Gymnasts were asked to give a first person account of their journey through their injuries, their prognosis, and when they expect to be back.




“It was a normal day of gym, getting ready for Classics last year. I was warming up for a floor routine. I did a timer, and then when I went to do a full in, it felt like the floor bottomed out on me. Luckily I didn't face-plant it, I think I tried to land on one foot actually, that part is kind of vague. Luckily my doctor had an opening and was able to get surgery 3 days later. I've been doing physical therapy for almost 6 months, and it is feeling great!

Right now, I am doing bars and a little bit of tumble track. I can run down the vault runway and I just started doing single back handsprings on the padded beam.

”I do a lot of flexibility, Thera-Band, and core exercises. When I had stress fractures in my back, my core got really strong so I don't want to lose that strength.” - Corrie Lothrop, Hill’s (Tore Achilles Tendon in July of 2009)



“The general agreement among all the doctors involved was that I have malformed facet joints, but that is probably genetic and not an injury. They finally determined that I had bilateral pars fractures at L5 [the last bone in the spine]. This was caused explosive arching skills, such as ring leaps, front aerials etc.. I took 12 weeks off the first round and did some conditioning stuff. Then it was not better after that so I had to take another 12 weeks of nothing but elliptical and stretching. I went to physical therapy for the first 12 weeks, but they wouldn't even let me do that the second time. After the second time, it is feeling much better, still not gone and I can't do bridges or walkovers because it makes it worse. On my way back to full training I did a lot of core stability on the ball. I have changed some of my skill choices to try to do as little arching as possible. Instead of a handspring layout on beam I now do a round off layout, instead of switch rings, I try to do more straddling shapes.” – Chelsea Davis, Texas Dreams



“I fractured my right ankle medial malleolus bone on floor. I was going through my routines on the morning my flight was scheduled to leave for Championships in Dallas. I finished bars, beam and vault successfully. I went to floor and on the take off of my second pass I felt a serious pain. I finished the skill, but couldn’t stand it up. I’m not sure if this injury would have happened eventually or if it occurred when I punched off.

Because of the location of the fracture, I had to have surgery in which they inserted a couple of small screws. I go to physical therapy 3-4 times a week. I expect to be 100% by June, and prepared for US Championships in August!” – Olivia Courtney, Orlando Metro


“I split my labrum in half and had some anchors put it. I have been doing physical therapy twice a week since my surgery which was about four months ago. I recently started doing planks and short handstands. I can pretty much do all leg and core conditioning and working up my arm strength. I have been given a very detailed plan on the length of progression I should have including conditioning and skills. I have been keeping up with my cardio in this down time and I am excited to get back to work. I am definitely itching to start training again, so hopefully I will be fully back in no time!” – Sam Peszek, Sharp’s

Finally, after a brief conversation with Twistars coach John Geddert, I learned the following.

“Jordyn [Wieber who is recovering from a hamstring injury] is doing very well.... she is gearing up for the March and April assignments and looks on track to challenge for spots for the Europe and Pacific Rim competitions.”

And not so great news regarding already injured Kamerin Moore-
“Kamerin [Moore's] recent run of unfortunate luck is a congenital issue regarding the growth of the head of her femur... Surgery [this Saturday] went very well to correct the problem.”

Poor Girl, she can’t get a break!

[Sasha]

Wow, I really don't envy Chelsea Davis. That sounds painful and little scary. I wonder how much she'll recover and how she'll work around her back problem on beam, which involves lots of arching skills. I guess all the core conditioning will help her keep her back in good shape, though I don't know if it'll help any with her vertebrae problems.

Anyway. Just some useless rambling speculation.

Thanks Bekah! You're right - it's a very relevant topic and it's interesting to read the details of recovery and rehabilitation.

[Fishbulb]

I agree about Davis. That sounds pretty scary, actually. Just a walkover makes it worse? Yikes.

Neat feature though, Bekah.

[Falconpilot5]

Thanks Bekah! I've been wondering about all of these girls and been trying to find out when they'll be back and such. This was great timing.

It's too bad about Kamerin. Poor girls is having a hard time.

I hadn't realized that Corrie had torn her achilles also. What's with Hill's girls' tearing their achilles?

[fuzi]

This was interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[JennFyre]

Originally Posted by Fishbulb

I agree about Davis. That sounds pretty scary, actually. Just a walkover makes it worse? Yikes.

Neat feature though, Bekah.

People talk about the hard landings and back problems but those arching skills can be much worse.

As far as beam skills she is going to Georgia (right?) which is basically level ten rules. She needs .5 in bonus, which she could easily do with:
.1 for punch front
.1 roundoff two foot layout, plus I believe a .1 for the connection
.2 switch leg to split half
.1 double back off
Add a full turn and she is pretty much done

[LilyPod]

So, Jordyn Wieber is getting ready to compete again by March/April, but he didn't mention anything about the American Cup.... I wonder why she's not going to try to defend her title? And I suppose that nixes the idea of a Bross/Wieber showdown...

[vanessasarah]

Hmm, I would have enjoyed a Bross/Weiber showdown...neither are my favorite gymnasts or even up there, but that would be a GOOD showdown.

[sareliz86]

Wieber can't do SCAM. There was some rule change last year that allowed juniors to compete, but the same is not true for this year. It's a Senior International competition.

I am, however, getting eager to hear about the official list of competitors.

I found it interesting that Corrie used the term "bottomed out" to describe her injury, because I distinctly remember Kupets using the same term to describe what it felt like.

[LilyPod]

Originally Posted by sareliz86

Wieber can't do SCAM. There was some rule change last year that allowed juniors to compete, but the same is not true for this year. It's a Senior International competition.

Ah, thank you for sharing that piece of information. Like VanessaSarah, Wieber and Bross aren't my favorite gymnasts but I think they're well-matched (and who besides Wieber or Sloan can challenge Bross anyway?), and I would have been interested to see a preview of what's to come when Wieber turns senior.

Does anyone have any news about how Mattie and Sami are doing after their ankle injuries?