Gymnasts: Do you experience pain while training?

As a former level 10 and 4-year Division 1, AA competitor, Dr. Carly Murray often struggled with injuries and pain. Now an orthopedic physical therapist of 13 years, she is helping other gymnasts who struggle with the same issues. 

Did you know gymnasts experience 18-30x their body weight when landing a dismount or that there are more forces going through the wrists with a round-off for vault than one on the floor?
 
Did you also know your shoulders can be tight even if it doesn’t seem like they are, or that nerve tension can limit your splits? How about the fact that back tumbling is harder on the ankles due to take-off angles while front tumbling is harder on the knees?  

Common complaints in gymnasts are pain with back walkovers/handsprings, cast handstands, giants, vaulting, landing dismounts, or punching. Back pain could also be from intolerance to traction, extension, flexion, or even loading the spine.

Dr. Murray recently completed Dr. Dave Tilly's gymnast-specific coursework which focuses on treatment of the upper body, lower body, and spine. Dr. Tilly, is also a former collegiate gymnast, coach, and physical therapist, who has quickly become a strong positive voice in the sport of gymnastics.

​Working alongside a skilled and knowledgeable physical therapist can help ensure you have a healthy, successful, and pain-free career.

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