United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Everyone learns to compensate with their arm and we try to do normal things like play sports...what trouble do you have playing sports and which ones seem to come the easiest?

I'm 15 and play football for my high school in Pa and also play hockey and basketball and golf and the thing that gives me the most trouble is blocking in football with me right hand

Congratulations on sticking with the sports you love and are able to do!! That is a great accomplishment.

When I was in school I tried to play volleyball. I did alright my freshman year but when it came time to get cut I sure did. I coudln't straighten my arms out all the way to bump the ball straight up. It would always hit my affected arm and wing off the opposite way. So needless to say I got cut and only played for recreation.

The easiest sport for me was tennis and softball. I guess you could say because you can do them with one arm. I learned to compensate for softball by taking off my glove and putting it on my good arm. We have had some great demonstrations of this at camp. The first time I saw the kids doing that at camp I almost cried. It really reminded me a lot of when I was learning how to do it.

Basketball was really hard for me because my affected arm didn't have any strength and I couldn't dribble the basketball with that arm. I remember the coach putting me in a room before my game and telling me how I could dribble if I just tried. The reality of it was I couldn't do it until later in life when I started learning tricks to help my muscles in my arm.

Anyways, keep up the great work and continue your athletics. You will also find ways to make it work for you.
Best of luck.

Rachel from MT

Welcome Patrick!
I love sports! Softball has become my absolute favorite of them all though. It took a considerable amount of work to develop my own thechnique. Now it comes way easy too me but I have played since third grade.

I guess thats the only sport I stuck with but I had trouble with coaches not letting me play so I just stopped most of them but I put up a fight for softball. I just loved it too much to give up.

Way to go with Football, hockey and golf! Thats awesome! I personally sucked at floor hockey but I loved it!
Keep at your fav sports!
Again, welcome to the boards and if you have any questions at all feel free to ask!!! Every question no matter what it is is worthy of being asked!
Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

I played all sports in my youth - basketball, baseball, football, volleyball. Dribbling to my right (I'm ROBPI) was a problem with basketball after my opponent figured out I could dribble only with my left hand. I liked football but tackling was a problem because I couldn't grasp and hang on with both arms. (I can relate to your blocking issue) The coaches tried to help with technique but I decided to play intramural flag football instead. I loved baseball (still do) and played a lot with my friends but I found that the older I got the fastballs were harder to hit. I didn't have the bat speed to catch up with a well thrown pitch. A friend invited me to play on a slow pitch team when I was in my 20's. Although hitting with power was still an issue, I learned to place the ball and get on base. I played outfield, 1st base, and pitcher in competitive leagues until I was 50. I started having trouble warming up my unaffected arm and decided that I needed to preserve it for as long as possible.

John P.
ROBPI for 68 years

WELCOME PATRICK!!!
Good for you to do the sports you love!!
Please let us know how your teams are doing,OK? WE root loud on these Message Boards!!

Any Questions?? I'm glad you found us. Keep coming back.

HUGS,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/69