A Simple Checklist for Parents of Young Athletes
If your child is involved in gymnastics, their body is under constant physical demand.
Even when everything looks fine on the outside, small changes can be happening beneath the surface.
This checklist is designed to help you recognize early signs that your child’s body may be under stress.
If you check 3 or more, it may be time to have your child evaluated.
Take a moment and see what applies.
□ One side of the body is tighter than the other
□ Certain movements look less smooth or controlled than before
□ Uneven shoulders, hips, or noticeable posture changes
□ Leaning or shifting weight to one side
□ Frequent soreness after practice
□ Taking longer to recover between practices
□ Complaints of tightness rather than pain
□ Recent growth spurt followed by stiffness or coordination changes
□ Skills that used to be easy now feel more difficult
□ Hesitation or loss of confidence in movement
□ Constantly stretching the same areas
□ Cracking joints frequently
□ Recurring minor issues in the same spots
□ Saying things like “my back feels tight” or “something feels off”
If you checked 1–2 of these, your child is likely adapting to the demands of training.
If you checked 3 or more, their body may be compensating and could benefit from support.
Adaptation is normal.
But when it is not supported, it can lead to imbalance, decreased performance, and injury over time.
The goal is not to wait for pain.
The goal is to support your child’s body while it is still functioning well.
Chiropractic care helps improve how the spine and nervous system function, allowing the body to move, recover, and perform more efficiently.
At Ptak Family Chiropractic, we focus on helping young athletes stay active, balanced, and performing at their best.
We offer a no-charge consultation to determine if care would be beneficial for your child.
Ptak Family Chiropractic
3122 Santa Monica Blvd, Ste 102
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 473-7991