Question

Hi Coach Wayne,
I just broke my tibia cheerleading. At a game another girl and i were too close and we were tumbling. We ran into each other! i had a full leg cast, and now it is shorter. I can not start sports until march. Try outs are in April, do u have any ideas of what i can do to help me prepare without using my leg? Please e-mail me back, i am really nervous. Cheerleading means a lot to me!

Thanks!

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Answer

Ouch!!!

Ask your Doctor, Nurse and Physical Therapist for a set of exercises that you can be doing NOW to be recovering your leg strength & flexibility. At least ONE of them will be able to provide that for you... DO EVERYTHING they offer.

Beyond that... you can be working on your splits... and your handstands... and probably (???) your back-bridge arch-stands. Check with your doctor about the arch-stands and make sure it's OK for the leg. By focusing on developing your MOST BASIC skills and positions you'll be enhancing your foundation for tumbling and will be able to regain your advanced skills MOST rapidly when the time comes. By practicing DAILY at home you'll increase your chances of being able to jump right back into full-scale tumbling as soon as your Doctor says it's 'OK.'

Have fun, be safe, push HARD

~CW