United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My daughters teacher told me that she caught her getting ready to attempt the monkey bars at school on Friday. I have always been nervous about her doing the monkey bars so I have shied her away from doing them. Her shoulder is somewhat stable, but not completely. It makes me nervous, but now I feel bad because obviously she wants to do them. Has anyone's child had problems from hanging or doing monkey bars? I worry about dislocation and things like that.

Taneesha:
this is a subject you should take up with your bpi doctor. Some docs absolutely believe in hanging from the monkey bars others do not. Also, you have to take into consideration your child's hand strength and shoulder stablility. If she is okayed for monkey bars, I would take her to a park and look for low ones (for little kids) and help her learn to do it. Falling from big monkey bars hurts kids every year-bpi or not. So, considering her lack of experience, I would help her learn on low ones.

However, I will say it again: call you bpi doc and see what he or she says.

You will hear from parents both ways here.

My daughter can't go on the monkey bars.. she has an unstable shoulder and poor handstrength. The one time she tried, she fell. She was lucky not to end up with a concussion, as she fell face first and doesn't have the protective response on the affected side.

I know bpi kids who go on them all the time.

good luck,
claudia

I was told by our BPI doc that my son should not do the monkey bars, but then when he did it and my son was fine he said, "MONITOR IT and see what it does" I don't encourage him to do the moneky bars, don't get me wrong, but I Cannot babysit him 100% of the time, when we moved to our new home two years ago, the elementary school had monkey bars, our old school didn't so he was very happy to try them out, much to my dislike. He played on them constantly and came home with blisters and calouses on his hand, and then at Christmas Break his blisters were very severe on his right hand and pretty severe on his left (UNAFFECTED) I doctored them all Christmas Break and the right for about a week after break and finally they healed up, but he hasn't been on them again. Once in a while he will go on for a minute, but then he is done. KICK BALL is much more interesting now (THANK GOODNESS) Check with your BPI specialist, I know Brandon fell once because his left hand slipped and his right (AFFECTED) wasn't strong enough to hold him up !!

GOOD LUCK !!
GAYLE


Message was edited by: brandonsmom

Our OT has my son hang on a zip line thing then drop into a ball pit. I think though that it depends on the stability of the shoulder and severity of your child's injury. I would ask your dr or therepist and see what they think. Of course you don't want to hold her back from something she really wants to try, but you don't want her to hurt herself either.
Maybe after you ask your dr/therepist, you can take her to a playground yourself and help her do them. If you're holding her body weight, it won't put as much strain on her shoulder. Just a thought....

I agree with everyone else who has said, "Talk to your doctors." I am a ROBRI, and I grew up without any specialists telling me what I should and shouldn't do.. So I never knew that monkey bars might not be such a good idea. Granted, I wasn't very good at them. I always had to swing my left arm forward and hold on for dear life with my right. I could only really do that for a couple of bars, and I was always jealous of the kids who could go all the way across.

My daughter uses them all the time- in fact it was brought up in our trial numerous times so if you child can do them, beware of them being in a dr's file


Message was edited by: mommy

This always seems to be a hot topic. And as I remember at camp, the monkey bars were a congregating point for the little ones with their wide eyes looking up at the bars, whether they were injured children or not.

My daughter's doctor said she was safe to try them if she desired. She can't cross them, but she likes to hang from one bar with me nearby. I swear sometimes that she wants to be a gymnast, but then in the next breath it's a ballerina, but then no, it must be an actress. Boy, she's only 4 years old now! I think many children desire accomplishing the "bars." I can clearly remember as a child myself working on that goal.

I echo the advice of parents here saying to check with your child's specialist first. You and your child's specialist know the stability of your child's shoulder. What may be OK for one child, may not be OK for another.

If your daughter gets the clearance to go ahead with the monkey bars, tell her Good Luck from all of us!

Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, almost 5 years old, ROBPI

mommy,
how did your trial go? It's true...they (doctor's lawyer) try to use everything against you.

Her shoulder is not stable, however, she tried it anyway, first day of kidnergarten. Made it up the side ladder, reached out to grab the first bar, slipped and somehow "wove" her legs (like a ribbon) into the rungs of the side ladder. Teachers had to support her weight while waiting on the fire department. a nearby neighbor hear the screaming and was able to loosen some rungs, freeing her up. Never tried it again, never asked to try it again. In fact won't go near it anymore. Problem solved for us but it could have been a disaster.

The defending lawyers kept insisting on her teacher being deposed...they didn't realize this was the teacher on duty when this happend. they weren't real thrilled to hear the story and to see this gentle woman cry over the fear this child had and had given the staff.

we lost our trial. They held ervything against us. ie..monkey bars, swimming, tennis lessons (defense said in closing "what child can play tennis who has a perm injury"). our lawyer highlighted that yes she does take lessons but she has yet to make contact with the ball.