Treating A Broken Back In Tumbling Athletes
Tumbling activities put a lot of force through the spine and can put more stress on the lower back in certain circumstances. Tumbling athletes occasionally have an injury and report a “broken back.” What does this really mean? For the purpose of this blog, we will focus on the lower back or lumbar region only. We’ll dive into what a broken back is, and how recovery may look with a goal of returning to tumbling sports such as cheerleading or gymnastics.
Elbow Injuries In Tumbling Athletes
Tumbling athletes, which include gymnasts and cheerleaders, have unique demands placed on their upper body. When tumbling, the athlete places not only their entire body weight through their hands but can have up to 16 times their body weight in force going across the wrist and arm. For that reason, the elbow can be injured more often in these athletes. In this blog, we will take a closer look at several types of injuries that can occur in tumbling athletes, along with symptoms and treatment options.