Back to the Beam: A Young Gymnast’s Comeback After Elbow Surgery

As a Level 10 gymnast on the USA Gymnastics Elite track, 13-year-old Bella B. trains at one of the highest levels in the sport. In 2025, her dedication paid off with major wins, earning Bella championship titles at both the national and state levels.  

But not long after those victories, an elbow injury threatened to take her out of the sport she loves.

Pain that wouldn’t go away

Bella’s elbow problems started with overuse from softball. At first, it seemed like a typical sports injury, but it gradually became more serious. She developed a bone crack in her elbow, and the joint would sometimes lock or give out during activity. The pain grew strong enough that she stopped using her elbow for eight weeks to allow it to heal.

When she returned to gymnastics, Bella worked hard to rebuild her skills. But during a high bar routine, her elbow was injured again. Bella soon met with Ochsner orthopedic surgeon Misty Suri, MD, whose treatment and recommendations included an MRI. The imaging confirmed Panner’s disease, a rare condition affecting the elbow’s growth plate in young athletes. Bella needed immediate surgery. 

Building strength after surgery

Dr. Suri performed surgery on Bella’s elbow on Dec. 9, 2025. Since then, Bella has been focused on recovery, including sessions with sports physical therapist Roman Carothers several times each week.  

From the very beginning, her rehabilitation team took a full-body, performance-driven approach. While protecting the healing tissue, therapy emphasized keeping the rest of her body strong and coordinated.

Early rehab included:

• Blood flow restriction training to maintain muscle strength safely
• Shoulder, core and lower body strengthening to support gymnastics movements
• Foundational control and stability to prepare her body for higher-level skills

Each step forward was carefully tested to make sure her body could handle the demands of elite gymnastics.

Bella’s progress moved quickly, but safely.

• 20 days after surgery Bella began early bar work with hangs, kips and assisted pull-ups.
• 27 days after surgery she reintroduced tumbling skills
• 4 weeks after surgery Bella began performing full routines on floor, beam and bars

This gave her a full week of training in her routines before doing something remarkable: Bella returned to elite competition just five weeks after surgery.

The Ochsner team approach

Bella’s recovery highlights what’s possible when athlete dedication, expert medical care and performance-based rehabilitation come together.

By working closely with her surgeon and carefully progressing each phase of rehab, her care team was able to safely guide her back to the sport she loves while preparing her body to perform at a high level again.

Bella’s recovery reminds us that the right support after surgery can help athletes return to their sport even stronger.  

Learn more about the Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute.