FITNESS HEALTH LEARNING POLE SAFETY TRAINING

Common injuries in Pole Dancing

pole_dance_injuries
Written by Nael Chrysafidis

Over the past years, Pole Dancing has become widely known. Sometimes it is combined with other choreographies or acrobatic moves. Quite frequently, dancing shows are held in dancing schools along with competitions and even circus shows where the origins of Pole Dancing can be found. Whether being an amateur or professional dancer, competition is gradually increasing and therefore standards become higher.

Just like in any kind of exercise, injuries may also occur in Pole Dancing which are relevant to the kind of exercise, technique and physical condition. What plays a significant role is the athlete’s consistency in connection with the instructions given by a competent and responsible coach.

Injuries in Pole Dancing vary from burns and bruises to even more serious conditions which might torment the athlete for a long time. However, the most common type of injury is bruising generated due to friction and pressure between the athlete’s skin and the pole and generally it is not a worrisome symptom.

[bctt tweet=”Injuries in Pole Dancing vary from burns and bruises to even more serious conditions” username=”verticalwise”]

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Pole Dancing requires:

  1. Aerobic and aerial skillfulness
  2. Flexibility of the joints
  3. Elasticity in the soft parts of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments etc.) especially of the lower limbs and the torso, while the requirements of the exercises are extremely intense.

This kind of exercises is usually prolonged, mostly in the upper limbs and the torso. At this point, the muscles must fully coordinate and immediately respond in any case.

The athlete, on his behalf, must be fully concentrated and have a full understanding of his body position concerning the pole and the ground. He should perceive the external stimuli such as gravity and the direction of the pole. All these must be taken into consideration by the trainee because he is not used to them in his everyday life.

The most common injuries which have been noted in Pole Dancing are caused by overuse of the upper limbs, muscle spasms in the neck, chest and lumbar area and by muscle ruptures in the lower limbs.

Moreover:

  • Inflamed tendons of the rotator cuff
  • Sprain in the wrist joint
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Trigger point and intense muscle spasms in the trapezoid, rhomboid and levator of the scapula (shoulder blade).
  • Hamstring injuries.

To sum up, injuries caused by falls can vary from simple fractures, usually in the upper limbs, shoulder and elbow dislocation and (rarely) head and brain injuries.

Read more about how to avoid injuries in Pole Dancing.

Erasmus used to say: “Prevention is the best cure”.

For this reason, appropriate precautions must be taken such as:

  • Placing protective layers under the pole. You can buy a safety mat on our eshop
  • Exercising under the supervision of a coach or, at least, an experienced athlete.
[bctt tweet=”Always exercise under the supervision of a coach or, at least, an experienced athlete.” username=”verticalwise”]

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In case you have an orthopaedic problem or further inquiries, we suggest that you consult an expert physiotherapist or a coach before you start training in order to show progress.

About the author

Nael Chrysafidis

Physiotherapist

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