| If there's one thought that makes gymnasts | | | | able to spot him properly. The gymnast should |
| cringe its injuries. Injuries are a part of sports that | | | | also be alert to his surroundings and what his |
| are both inevitable and unavoidable. Some may be | | | | other teammates are doing. Being unaware of |
| minor, like scrapes and bruises that you and your | | | | what is happening around him can cause collisions, |
| child can deal with easily. Others can necessitate | | | | which are also one of the causes of injury. |
| going to the doctor. Let's say the gymnast has | | | | The following are some safety measures that |
| just finished practice, and is holding on to his/her | | | | you should be aware of: |
| thigh and wincing. You ask if it hurts, and he says | | | | 1.) Make sure you are wearing the appropriate |
| yes, a whole lot! | | | | attire. Flapping clothes, dangling jewelry and body |
| What should a parent or gymnast do? | | | | piercings can get caught in equipment, scratch or |
| Well, the first thing you could have done was | | | | cut the gymnast, as well as other people. |
| prevent that injury from happening in the first | | | | 2.) Be serious during practice. Be aware that |
| place. But that's another topic to discuss later. | | | | horsing around and other rough and tumble games |
| As a gymnast, you have to be aware that | | | | can cause injuries, especially in areas where |
| gymnastics is one of the most demanding and | | | | people are practicing and it is not safe to goof |
| strenuous sports around. Right along with its | | | | off. |
| tough and exacting nature come the injuries. Do | | | | 3.) Youngsters with long hair should tie it back or |
| you know that gymnasts incur injuries as often | | | | secure it under a bandanna so it does not get in |
| as football players do? | | | | the eyes or get caught in the equipment. |
| While injuries are part and parcel of gymnastics | | | | 4.) Gum is a no-no during practice or competition; |
| and it will be difficult to steer clear of them | | | | it can easily become stuck in a gymnasts throat |
| completely, there are some ways that you can | | | | or windpipe during performances. |
| avert the worse of them. These safety | | | | 5.) You should learn to focus and concentrate |
| measures take the form of body and mental | | | | your attention on what your are doing. If you |
| alertness, adequate muscle strength and resiliency, | | | | becomes distracted or distracts somebody else, |
| and above all, clear communication with between | | | | this can spell disaster. Do not bring a MP3 or IPod |
| the gymnast, coach and child. | | | | during practice, don't tell jokes while another |
| Most important of all, it is importnat that the | | | | athlete is doing a routine, it might end up badly |
| gymnast knows what he is doing. The gymnast | | | | and injure someone. |
| shouldn't attempt to try moves that he hasn't | | | | These rules are important not only in gymnastics, |
| practiced yet, just because they look awesome, | | | | but also for other sports and in daily life as well. |
| or because some of the other gymnasts can do | | | | Try to ingrain these rules in you so that you will |
| it, or even just to impress his coach. Speak to | | | | be able to always keep safe, including everyone |
| the coach about your apprehensions and make | | | | else around you.. |
| sure he shares your concern. Make sure the | | | | Determining the Magnitude of Injuries |
| coach is cognizant of the risks to the athletes and | | | | You'll need to ascertain what kind of injury you |
| has implemented safety procedures to minimize | | | | have, whether it be minor or needs immediate |
| them. Find out if he knows what to do in case an | | | | medical attention. What are the things you need |
| emergency happens and check to see if there is | | | | to consider? |
| a first-aid kit in the gym. It's also important that | | | | 1.) Find the source of the pain - is it concentrated |
| there's a phone to call for medical help. | | | | on one area of the body only, or on both sides? |
| The coach is responsible for teaching the gymnast | | | | If the pain is on both sides of the body, then it is |
| the basics of a certain skill, and to understand | | | | more likely just muscle tenderness. If you |
| how to execute it properly. The gymnast should | | | | complain that both of yout thighs hurt, then your |
| also be taught how to move his body safely to | | | | probably sore from practicing take-offs and |
| prevent injury in case a trick doesn't turn out the | | | | landings. |
| way it should. See if this is explained and | | | | 2.) Muscle or joint pain - Ask yourself whether the |
| demonstrated to him during practice. | | | | pain is muscular or joint-related. If the whole |
| One other thing a gymnast should know is how to | | | | muscle hurts, it's probably just sore. If its |
| be attuned to his body throughout all its motion | | | | pinpointing at a certain location, like for instance |
| during the execution of a move. If for instance, | | | | the bottom of the biceps where it joins the |
| he's in the middle of a twist, she should be able to | | | | elbow, a tendon may be injured. If the pain is in a |
| sense if he's twisted far enough or too much. If | | | | joint, just on one side of the body, go to a |
| he's performing a somersault, he should know | | | | doctor immediately. |
| how far he's rotated so he'll be able to land | | | | 3.) Type of pain - is it sharp and excruciating, or is |
| correctly. Being aware of her body orientation at | | | | it a dull throbbing? The latter can be just |
| all times is crucial to keeping her safe from | | | | soreness, the former is a cause to seek medical |
| potential injuries. | | | | attention. |
| Most times, injuries occur because some of the | | | | 4.) Appearance of the injury - look for bruising, |
| muscles involved in the execution of a trick are | | | | swelling or bleeding. Clean any small cuts with |
| not strong enough to withstand the stress placed | | | | antiseptic and apply an antibiotic ointment. Put on |
| on the joints during movement. This often | | | | bandages as is necessary. |
| happens to children whose bones are still in the | | | | Management of General Injuries |
| process of growing. The most common of these | | | | If you have a sharp pain on one side of the body |
| injuries are sprained or twisted ankles, which | | | | that persists for more than 10 minutes, go to the |
| occur when the small but vital muscles that run | | | | doctor immediately. |
| down from the calf to the foot are not tough | | | | If it is joint pain that lasts for more than a day, |
| enough to cushion the joint underneath. To | | | | even if it occurs on both sides of the body, the |
| prevent sprained and twisted ankles, the muscles | | | | best bet is to take your child to see an |
| surrounding them should be trained and | | | | orthopedic specialist. |
| conditioned regularly. Make sure the coach | | | | If you are bleeding from huge cuts and you are |
| implements sufficient conditioning exercises that | | | | enable to stop the bleeding, summon an |
| include the ankles. | | | | ambulance or ask someone to take you to the |
| Finally, it is important to keep the lines of | | | | emergency room as soon as you can. |
| communication and awareness open between the | | | | Apply an icepack if there is any swelling, and keep |
| gymnast, his teammates and coach. Make sure it | | | | it on the injured area for no longer than 20 |
| is apparent to everyone what it is exactly the | | | | minutes. Any longer than that and the body will |
| gymnast is being asked to do. If the coach | | | | think that it has frostbite. Instead of constricting |
| instructs one thing and your gymnast understands | | | | blood vessels and keeping it away from the injury |
| him differently, he may end up executing | | | | site, it brings the blood back and causes the injury |
| something different and his coach may not be | | | | it to swell even more. |