"Red Flags" for gymnasts on when to see a Medical Provider

I know it can be extremely difficult to discern as a parent or coach when it would be appropriate to see a medical provider when your child/athlete is complaining of pain. Is it truly pain, is it soreness from practice/conditioning? Is it actually serious enough to see someone? How do you know? Well below I go over 7 "red flag" signs that it is time to see a medical provider.

1. Flag #1: The pain is not a quick one time thing, it is reoccurring. This could be daily, weekly, monthly, every 6 months or yearly with growth spurts. It is consistent across apparatuses. If the pain is not just once, but is intermittent and reoccurring across multiple events/apparatuses, it's time to see a medical provider.

2. Flag #2: It is painful with the same movements across events: ie. my low back hurts with back handsprings on floor, tumbl trak, beam, rod floor, tap swings on bars, yurchenkos on vault, paks on bars, giants on bars etc. Also pain with impact, pain with landings during beam, bars, vault and tumbling. This is definitely something to see a medical provider about.

3. Flag #3: Pain in weight bearing positions, on feet and hands-they are gymnasts afterall! This is definitely true with the foot/ankle, if they cannot weight bear and are limping, it's time to see a provider. Because gymnasts weight bear on their our upper extremities almost as much as their lower extremities they can have pain in the wrist, elbow or shoulder with handstands or planks. If so, it's time to get this looked at by a medical providers

4. Flag #4: If there is significant swelling, this is noticeable, the joint is "blown up" and you cannot see any bony landmarks, or there is any kind of bruising, it is time to see a medical provider. Couple this with having pain in weight bearing and we will need to get some imaging as well.

5. Flag #5: Pain that does not resolves after 2-3 days. Usually DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) happens after a heavy workout/conditioning. This should resolve in 2-3 days. If it does not, and pain is persistent in intensity and duration, it's time to see a medical provider.

6. Flag #6: Loss in range of motion. If your child could previously full straighten their elbow or knee fully and now they can no longer do that and when they attempt this they have pain, it's time to see a medical provider.

7. Flag #7: Clicking, snapping, popping with pain. Joints are actually mental to release CO2 build up, especially after a time of immobility, and that is completely normal to hear a "pop" or technical term: cavitation with this. However, if there is a snap, pop or click, especially with a feeling of a "block or clunk" then it is time to see a medical provider.

Remember, the sooner I can see the athlete and treat them, the quicker they recover and get back to gymnastics. It's the cases where we wait weeks, months and years that take weeks, months and maybe a full season to get back to sport. Bottom line: Do not wait! Be seen!