Tumbling After An Injury

[CheerMomsRock]

I need some advice...My 12 year old daughter broke both bones in her forearm in January doing her ROBHS. It's time for her to start tumbling again and she is SO scared! Anyone have any advice that I can share with her to give her a little more confidence??? Thanks!

 

[stretch!]

This isn't necessarily a positive thing, but it's always good to keep in mind that it's MUCH safer to actually throw your tumbling than to bail out halfway. That's when you go flying backwards and landing on places you shouldn't be...but if anything, definitely start slow. Throwing her into something that she's mentally not prepared is equivocally dangerous!

 

[PowerofThree]

I would first ask if the injury could have been prevented or if it was a fluke. A lot of confidence can come from that knowledge alone. If it was a fluke, your daughter just has to be reminded of that. That knowledge and a little patience will do wonders. If it could have been prevented, then make sure she is tumbling in a facility and/or with an instructor that can build her confidence

 

[onecheermom]

That's a really tough one, and my CP has been working through this same issue (she threw her first ROBT for the first time since the injury on Saturday, best Mother's day present ever). The first thing I would suggest is get her tumbling ASAP. The longer she goes without tumbling, the more time she has to "think" about what happened. (sometimes I want to turn my CP's brain off :confused:) She most likely will need a coach who is very patient and willing to just let her work through the mental issues of being scared. This might take her a while to build her confidence.

 

[G-Force Elite training]

We know confidence is a big part of it BUT as an athlete gets back to tumbling from an injury they should ease back in to the skills and get a chance to see how it feels to hold weight and push off of her arms/hands. Not sure what she has done to this point? I would start with putting weight in her arms against wall/pushup position, work into handstands and through basic tumbling progression cartwheel, RO. When she is comfortable with that work on standing BHS and REALLY focus on good technique, when you use good tecghnique it should not put undue stress on the body and will help avoid injuries in the future. Good technique will make tumbling feel easier, give you more control of tumbling and transfer energy to next skill also takes less energy when tumbling; all of these things should improve her tumbling through the rest of her progression as she gets back into running tumbling/ROBHS and in turn give her more confidence in tumbling.

Hope this helps? I have been coaching tumbling for 16 years across U.S., Canada and Europe all levels and have had alot of success helping athletes return from injury and work through 'blocks'. If I can help in any way feel free to shoot me a message.

 

[Fiercebas]

when i broke my arm, i at first was a little nervous to tumble. so at first i started on trampoline to start tumbling again. once i felt comfortable on trampoline i started doing skills on floor, but from most basic to advance, starting with kart wheels and working up. then whenever id get nervous id ask a coach to spot me on the first one and then throw it by myself.
just dont push her and force her to do the skills bc then that could set her up for a mental block if she busts or gets slightly hurt, hope i helpedd(:

 

[PCMKarma]

I've had a continuous knee injury for a long time now I first hurt it 4 years ago in Florida and it went away and just last year it came back, I do physical therapy and I know what my body can do and take it day by day. I reccomend anyone still wanting to tumble after an injury to see a physical therapist so you can still train but heal it as well my main problem was I never did anything about it case I was scared and my knee built up so much scar tissue that my physical therapist literally drains my knee and does electroshock therapy on it twice a week!!

 

[arilt95]

I myslef had an achilles tendon injury! i say she should start on tramp with spot (if she doesnt like the ground) and then she can get the spotters trust, beccause you don't want to stop half way on the ground it will scar her even more! Make sure she takes small steps, if she takes big steps she might get scared even more and might not ever want to try it! Good Luck!(: And tell her the first one is always the worst one when trying a new skill or coming back to a new skill! If you think about it, it is the worst one. and tell her the spotter will catch her no matter what! She just need to believe in herself(:

 

[leighhhhhhhh]

So I'm currently out with a double break of my ankle after landing a running double on it rolled. I'm now 20 & did gymnastics for 12years before starting cheer 4 years ago. After it heals, I'm in two minds whether to keep pushing my body to double & get the skill back or just stick with fulls that I can confidently throw in my sleep! Any advice from those who injured themselves doing a particular skill & got it back?

 

[alexamarysouza]

I would say to get her tumbling ASAP! I got hurt a few years ago, and I'm still not through my mind block. Don't give her time to 'think' about everything and think about it happening again! I would give anything to be tumbling right now, but my mind is holding me back!

 

[cheerforlife]

i had a broken ankle then got back at it. some advice...TAKE YOUR TIME EASING BACK INTO IT!

 

[cscheerio]

I twisted my ankle back in march and i had an extreme fear of doing any tumbling for nearly six months. Last night i finally did it by myself again. I say let her take a spot when shes feeling uneasy and take your time getting back into tumbling, most importantly don't push your body when it tells you it hurts.

When i first started tumbling again i would shake and need a spot on a cheese mat. Now I'm back doing it on the floor and i think that the easing back into it was what took away my fear. I just needed that final push to do it by myself again.