Dr. Keith Russell, former Canadian Men’s Artistic Gymnastics National Coach and personal coach of two Olympians. Past President of the FIG Scientific Commission.
This session is mainly MAG and WAG.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Category: sport medicine
Simone’s first week at the Ranch
It was 2011, when Simone was 13.
Aimee Boorman: When Simone became a Level 10 [the highest level before elite], we started talking about her becoming an elite. But when we first submitted videos to get her into [USA Gymnastics] developmental camp, the national team staff declined our request. We were told, no, she’s not ready, even though she had all of these skills, because her uneven bars skills were too weak. So when we did get an invitation to camp, we were very excited and we tried to showcase what Simone was good at.
Nellie Biles: I thought attending this first camp was the turning point for Simone in her career, so I was very excited.
Boorman: Simone was praised by the [national team] coaches about what a great job she had done. Then Martha just railed at her, said she wasn’t working hard enough and that she wasn’t good enough. Simone was devastated …
Boorman: The next camp was only three weeks away, so I talked to Simone and her parents. I never made any decisions without involving her and her parents. I think if she had the same experience at that next developmental camp with Martha, it would have broken her. It may not have taken her love out of gymnastics, but it would’ve made her not want to go back to the Ranch. We decided to decline the next camp. When we did, we weren’t invited back [by Martha] for more than a year. …
How Simone Biles found her voice and changed gymnastics culture
NEW podcast on the Karolyis
A podcast series on the Karolyis dropped July 14th.
How to listen to and download the 30 for 30 podcast ‘Heavy Medals’ on the Karolyi gymnastics empire.
Read a preview of the audio series on ESPN.
It includes interviews with Aimee Boorman, Nellie Biles, Maggie Nichols, Scott Reid, Jordyn Wieber, Missy Marlowe, Jessica O’Beirne and many more.
How Simone Biles found her voice and changed gymnastics culture
Athlete A – now on Netflix
June 24th.
Netflix now has the documentary on the USA Gymnastics criminal doctor.
Athlete A is Maggie Nichols.
First, we all need thank Maggie, Sarah Jantzi and Maggie’s parents.
And we all need thank Rachael Denhollander and Jamie Dantzscher.
Now that the criminal doctor is in prison for up to 175 years, it’s easy to forget how difficult were those early accusations.
It’s easy to forget how many very smart people were fooled by the conman. Jamie — at the time — felt he was the only nice adult associated with USA Gymnastics.
The documentary is well done. Recommend it to your non-Gymnastics friends. We can reduce medical malpractice and abuse in future. Protect athletes.
Revisit, too, the selection process for the Rio Olympic team. Certainly Maggie should have been one of the alternates.
An August 2016 article in the Indianapolis Star about USA Gymnastics protecting coaches accused of abuse leads to the explosive revelation that the USAG women’s team doctor, Larry Nassar, had been abusing athletes for over two decades.
This film follows the IndyStar reporters as they reveal the extensive cover-up that allowed abuse to thrive within elite-level gymnastics for more than two decades, the attorney who is fighting the institutions that failed these athletes, and most importantly, the brave whistle-blowers who refuse to be silenced.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
In addition to watching the documentary, be sure to listen to an excellent interview with Jennifer Sey on Gymnastic.
Sey is the producer.
Jennifer’s 2008 book Chalked Up is available in digital format with a new forward.
compression back warmer for gymnastics
EliteSportZBand
I’ve not had any gymnasts use this specific product. Leave a comment if you have an opinion.
kinesthesist tells that they are very popular with flexibility circus performers.
Here’s the pitch:
The Band is a compression back warmer worn on the lower torso with no hooks or Velcro. It improves activation of core abdominal muscles, reduces spinal impact and reduces existing lower back pain.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Details. Cost about $50.
related – Koreleo sells a leotard with integrated compression back warmer.
Concussion first responders
“50% of concussions go unreported.”
What to do if you suspect a concussion
In all suspected cases of concussion, the person should stop the activity right away. Continuing increases their risk of more severe, longer-lasting concussion symptoms, as well as increases their risk of other injury.
Anyone with a suspected concussion should be checked out by a medical doctor.
Red flags
- Neck pain or tenderness
- Double vision
- Weakness or tingling in arms or legs
- Severe or increasing headache
- Seizure or convulsion
- Loss of consciousness (knocked out)
- Deteriorating conscious state
- Vomiting more than once
- Increasingly restless, agitated or combative
- Growing confusion
If any red flag symptoms are present, call an ambulance right away. These may be signs of a more serious injury.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
physical preparation for injury prevention
Dr. Keith Russell is one of the smartest Gymnastics people I know
A former Canadian Men’s National Coach, personal coach of Olympians Warren Long and James Rozon, Keith is expert in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and sports injury.
This is the first of a series of FIG Education online seminars organized because all regular FIG camps and clinics have been cancelled due to COVID-19.
One of Keith’s recommendations is to do fewer reps in our yearly training plans by working more strength / power and less muscular endurance. Especially for advanced gymnasts.
I recall Dr. Bill Sands stating a high level gymnasts should be able to complete all their strength / power training in about 30 minutes / day.
I like Keith’s simple graphics that help explain complex issues – knee ligament injuries, for example.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (53min)
Here are some upcoming webinars.
IDEAS on reopening Gymnastics Clubs
If and when you can reopen, it would be best to start with Competitive.
Phase in other groups over time.
One club plans to use a Wall-Mounted Infrared Forehead Thermometer Non-Contact Digital Temperature Thermometer with Fever Alarm to allow entry.
That’s not foolproof, of course. Some positives don’t have fever.
Chalk Bucket forum is compiling suggestions.
Here are a few:
- Initial opening with small groups of 10 or less
- Following social distancing guidelines (6+ feet) with stations / drills
- Wiping down equipment after each use
- Masks (entering and exiting the Gym)
- Hand sanitizing before each event
- Starting up with basics and conditioning so there will be no need to spot
- Each athlete will have their own chalk block kept in a Ziploc bag
- Each athlete will have their own spray bottle for water
- Cameras with login for parents to watch from outside the facility
- Stagger workout times
- Stagger break times (or if practice short enough no break to limit congregating)
- One way traffic as much as possible
- Nightly equipment cleaning of high touch surfaces such as tables, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks with EPA registered household disinfectant per CDC guidance
Belgium WAG resume training
Valentina Rodionenko said the team should go back to Round Lake and be quarantined there, so that they would be able to train.
She cited the example of the Chinese national team that kept training … throughout the quarantine ….
Some other national teams (at least partially) kept training and some are gradually returning to the gyms now. For example, the Belgian WAG team has been allowed to resume training recently. …
At the moment, however, Round Lake is serving as a quarantine center for Russian athletes who were evacuated from abroad.
The Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said that next week, the Ministry will be discussing plans for elite athletes to start training but did not commit to any specific date and said that quarantine limitations would have to be lifted first.
Sever’s Disease – growth related heel pain
… common symptoms of Sever’s Disease include:
Pain
Swelling
Redness
Tenderness especially towards the back of the heel
Tightness towards the back of the foot
Heel pain that begins after running or jumping
Pain that subsides with rest
Trouble walking, running, or jumping
Limping
Walking on toes to alleviate foot pain
Tawnya Housel – Understanding Sever’s Disease and Gymnastics
Gymnastics Coaching.com 