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Keep_Believing

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My cp had surgery Wed. to remove a lesion in her jaw/chin area. They ended up having to remove bone in order to remove the lesion. So, now she has a titanium plate in this area. She is very swollen & in pain. The Doctor said she will feel better in a week or 2 weeks. If she feels up to it she can return to cheer & gymnastics in 2 weeks, but will not be able to participate in anything that will risk injury to her jaw/chin area. I have no idea how to interpret that. Advice, comments, suggestions are appreciated.
 
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Forgot, no activity that will risk injury to her jaw/chin area for 6-8 weeks. They want the bone to have time to fuse with the titanium plate.
 
If it were my athlete, I would take that to mean absolutely no stunting for that entire time. Risks of things colliding with the jaw would be too great, no matter the skill being performed. I'd condition the heck out of that athlete and work on flexibility. (Is she a flyer? She could spend the time working on body positions on the floor/brick.) If she's a base/back, she could work with weights. She could work specific conditioning drills to help her jumps and tumbling without actually doing the skills.

As far as tumbling, I may be on the ultra-conservative side here, but... I'd only have her do skills that she is comfortable with - no moving on to additional skills at this time. Work on getting an absolutely perfect front/back walkover, absolutely perfect BHS. I probably wouldn't have her tuck because I've seen lots of athletes accidentally knee themselves in the face randomly, even if they were completely able to perform a tuck usually. I'd have her do everything else with the team, once she is feeling better after the surgery. It is important for her to feel like she's still a part of the team, even if she can't do everything at this moment. The support of her teammates will help immensely.
 
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She is a flyer on a level 3 team. It feels like comp. season will be starting before we know it. She does have a standing back tuck, lay out, and a whip pass, but she does not use these skills on her level 3 team.
 
If it were my athlete, I would take that to mean absolutely no stunting for that entire time. Risks of things colliding with the jaw would be too great, no matter the skill being performed. I'd condition the heck out of that athlete and work on flexibility. (Is she a flyer? She could spend the time working on body positions on the floor/brick.) If she's a base/back, she could work with weights. She could work specific conditioning drills to help her jumps and tumbling without actually doing the skills.

As far as tumbling, I may be on the ultra-conservative side here, but... I'd only have her do skills that she is comfortable with - no moving on to additional skills at this time. Work on getting an absolutely perfect front/back walkover, absolutely perfect BHS. I probably wouldn't have her tuck because I've seen lots of athletes accidentally knee themselves in the face randomly, even if they were completely able to perform a tuck usually. I'd have her do everything else with the team, once she is feeling better after the surgery. It is important for her to feel like she's still a part of the team, even if she can't do everything at this moment. The support of her teammates will help immensely.

This.

It's not worth the risk.
 
Condition and stretch! This will keep her in shape without risking further injury.
 
I think sometimes doctors aren't exactly aware of what we do so they aren't able to say, no stunts, no tumbling. Here's how I interpret it. Think of every possible scenario where she could get hit in the face. Don't let her do any of them.

I agree with what was said, no stunts, minimal tumbling. If it were me, I wouldn't even spot a child like that for fear of accidentally hitting her. I see so many parents allow their kids back in way too early, only to have the kid get hurt again
 
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MissBee Do you feel it is still ok for her to tumble at all? I wish the doctors were more specific.
 
Why don't you take a video of a competition routine to you doctor and ask them to point out the things she shouldn't do?

This is a great idea!

MissBee Do you feel it is still ok for her to tumble at all? I wish the doctors were more specific.

I'm not a doctor, so I can't answer that. I just know that if it were my kid, I'd err on the side of caution.
 
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Why don't you take a video of a competition routine to you doctor and ask them to point out the things she shouldn't do?

That is true. I also talked to them about her competitive gymnastics. I am assuming they are familiar with gymnastics. They gave me the same response: She can return to gymnastics in 2 weeks if she feels up to it, but no activity that will risk injury to her jaw/chin area for 6-8 weeks. They want the bone to have time to fuse with the titanium plate. It feels like use your best judgement type of response, but I feel anxious & nervous.
 
honestly i would say no tumbling... everyone can have an off day and faceplant doing even the most basic tumbles (how many times have you see amazing tumblers hurt themself doing like level1 skills) its just not worth it!!

the way i look at these things if the kid gets hit/hurt they will be out for even longer .. let them heel (condition them LOADS) then they will come back on top form and you have no worries
 
My daughter broke her arm. The doctor released her to her normal activities. I showed him a video of her at a competition. He put the cast back on for another month. Don't take any chances. It's not that long. Lots of stretching and conditioning! Sure she can fall down walking, but not likely. Stunt fall, collision, tumbling bust will happen. She has a long life of her and a properly healed jaw is important. It's not that long.
 
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