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Are there any folks out there with physical limitations?
Hey, just wondering if there were (there must be! none of us are perfect), and how people work around them. I personally have back problems and some issues with my muscles that make some things difficult
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36 Replies
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I know there are girls on here with chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, MD etc…I have chroonic back pain, be very careful building up back strength for inverts.
=) Happy poling.
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I'm one of the Chronic Fatigue "crowd", so find I struggle with doing things properly from the point of view of warmups: if I do the length of warmup I "ought" before starting to lift myself on the pole, I'd never get any pole moves done, as I'd be too tired by then!
It's a difficult line to tread, between saving energy for poling itself, and risking pulling a cold muscle.
Of course, now I've compounded the situation by being pregnant, and do almost nothing but sleep, hehe.
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I just started a thread on this…
I have Crohns/Colitis…which when it is dormant is fine..it is recovering after the flare-ups that are tough -regaining my strenfth
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Pole is one of the only ways that I can get a work out. I have a super wobbly knee, I "broke" it a few years back and don't have the insurance or the money to fix it. I can't run, I can walk but if I step wrong, woah daddy, I could be out for weeks. The great thing about the pole is I can use it to balance myself.
I also have rheumatoid arthritis and scoliosis. I find that stretching on the pole helps my back and just moving in general helps my arthritis.
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There’s a few of us isn’t there!!
Mines not as bad as some of u girls but I have just been diagnosed with underactive thyroid. Their still stabilising my meds so tiredness and muscle pain r common atm ! -
L5 S1 degen. disc w/3 mm buldge. Left Knee I refused replacement surgery on. And.. generally old and beat up! LOL
I've felt a LOT better since the conditioning lessons, but took some time off for a diet. Two weeks from now I'm starting again. (Ugh) 🙂 🙂
Ya just gotta work around it all. Bending my knee if my biggest problem – trying to think I'll EVER get some of the moves… just due to that.. but I have the pole to hold onto, a good imagination, and watching some other's videos to see what they've done helps! 🙂
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Lets see where to start lol…..I have dislocated my right shoulder 3 times so it is prone to injury/ pain/ slipping part way out of socket. I have perment nerve damage in my arms from letting my neck stay out of alignment for too long and causing pinched nerves and nerve damage. I herniated 3 disc's in my low back in my early 20's. and have a underactive thyroid. Most of my joint problems are helped by my chiro and massage therapist. Thyroid I try to eat foods that help boost it and avoid foods that slow it down further.
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I have many problems, but my two biggest ones are that I have had lupus for over 30 years (I am currently 45 years old). And then, seven years ago, I was also diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). In theory, you can't have both because they are 'opposite' diseases, but I've got both! To my knowledge, there is only one other person in the world to have both diseases and she lives in Germany.
There are some mornings that my fingers and hands are so swollen, I can't button, zip or tie my clothing or my shoes and my hubby has to help get me dressed. I am in pain every day – it just varies as to how bad it is. However, I have found that I am feeling much better since I started working out. I believe that strengthening my core has helped TREMENDOUSLY. I actually find that doing the pole is easier on my body than any other exercise I've ever tried. It doesn't 'jar' or 'jerk' my body, my joints aren't having a hard impact (unless I fall https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif) and there are 'rest periods' when you need them. Even on days that I don't feel well at all, I still will try to do at least a little – floorwork, stretching, simple spins, etc. and I almost always feel better afterwards. I do stretch after everything I do. I make sure my muscles are VERY warm before I try anything.
Due to my limitations, I am pretty sure I will never be able to do some of the more advanced moves, but I'm okay with that. I have fun spinning around the pole and I'm just happy I am able to do something!
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Hips that like to hyperextend and cause me pain (making the boomerang and chopper moves hard.) Chronic headaches that randomly flare up and put my out for days.
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Some knee issues…I have patellofemural syndrome, so that means when I bend my knees, the femur (big bone in the thing) and the patella (kneecap) tend to rub. With physiotherapy, it's been getting a lot better, and I have hope for a full recovery.
However, this also comes with a few other issues. Tight hamstrings, for one! I can't even touch my toes! I really have to work to get any progress with them, too. But, I notice that if I do work on it, my progress doesn't just disappear.
Other than that, just huge boobs, and big hips. This may not seem like limitations…but it's all in your perspective! Gotta make sure I don't knock things over with the hips, and make sure I wear a shirt that keeps me all in there! lol https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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ankylosing spondylitis
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I have nerve damage in my back, arms and legs, sometimes the pain is so bad I cant even walk. Although I have found that since I started pole it has gotten much better.
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I resemble most of these remarks…Menopause is killing my joints and energy level. Gained 20 lbs and pretty much wake up each morning with a different sore joint. I'm also on thyroid meds and still getting better from a shoulder injury over a year ago. That didn't help. I've lost so many moves it makes me sad, but I won't give up my pole cause it makes me happy! 🙂 I went from the first in class to get tricks to back in level 1 and 2 to rebuild strength. Grandma's pole too!
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wow I have a bad boob (lol) which hurts if i try to invert on my left side but I still try to hoping to get used to it. o and i bruse easy which sucks when i go the doctor he always asked me if things are ok or what happen lol
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Haha… More of the same. Two car accidents 12 weeks apart. First one in January of this year. (neither my fault and 2nd was a hit and run) first accident airbag compacted the bones in my right wrist (always my “bottom” arm when doing handsprings, butterfly etc). Low back injuries from hitting the other car while pushing brake and clutch in to try and stop myself (difficult to arch my back and core strength lost) 2nd accident re-aggravated my low back injury and also gave me whiplash and upper back injuries. I do physio 3 days a week and get a massage once a week, muscle relaxants, anti inflammatories and lots of ice!!! Due to accidents I have also developed post traumatic stress disorder and see a councillor once a week. Yay! Lol!
Personally, it’s really difficult to pole sometimes and I have definitely had really discouraging pole sessions which leave me frustrated and sad. I find the best thing is to finish classes doing stuff that I can do well even if it’s just a few firemin spins or a front hook. I’ve been really stubborn lately and just trying to push through and I’ve actually seen improvement which is exciting!! Got twisted grip handspring and most recently elbow grip which isn’t pretty but STILL!! when I figure out how to edit video I’ll try to upload some… Keep your chins up ladies!! You’re all amazing and should be proud of yourselves!!
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I am missing a little chunck out of five ribs on my left side. In 2006 I took a bullet from a 357 and it blew through my ribs and left lung. When I first started poliing last year, I was still sore at times, and it felt like my ribs were pulling and poking my insides when I started Inverting and doin shoulder mounts. Doesn’t really bother me now,I just don’t do a lot of leg hangs with my left side against the pole.
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I am missing a little chunck out of five ribs on my left side. In 2006 I took a bullet from a 357 and it blew through my ribs and left lung. When I first started poliing last year, I was still sore at times, and it felt like my ribs were pulling and poking my insides when I started Inverting and doin shoulder mounts. Doesn’t really bother me now,I just don’t do a lot of leg hangs with my left side against the pole.
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I have moderate scoliosis (my spine curves to the right below my ribs). Bending backwards is difficult, because my spine isn't straight so the lower part of my back doesn't really curve. And I'm used to pretty constant backache which dancing (exercise in generally) definitely makes worse. Oh, and my knees hyperextend and my ankles roll inwards, which combined with the scoliosis means my hips are all out of joint too. From the waist down I'm a bit of a state, lol. But I'd rather dance now and end up with arthritis and backpain later in life than be in my 60's, have great mobility, but know that I'd had to give up the things that make me happy.
Not really a limitation, but I'm also one of those people that doesn't have a joint in their body that doesn't crunch, crackle, pop or click. 😛
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wow, i'm glad i started this thread! *big hugs to all of you* sometimes i feel kind of alienated because of my limitations. pole dance has been my compromise. i used to rock climb but now i can't mostly due to decreased dexterity and peripheral neuropathy. so, now i get creative and do a lot of thigh stuff to fill the climbing void with my pole. i have mitochondrial myopothy (with all sorts of fun complications) and degenerative disk disease from l3-s1. yoga, dance, and pole help me so much. thanks to everyone for sharing, keep on poling <3
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I know this thread is old, but it's encouraging to see other people with scoliosis have managed to push through with pole. I get really frustrated with my hips and legs as they turn inward and I'm not sure if I'll ever get a middle split, but I don't want to give up pole cos of it 😀
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@Tali I feel the same way about that damn middle split! Ugh, scoliosis. But, I am definitely amazed at my own strength in pushing through and accomplishing all of the things I have accomplished in pole. Also, I don't know if you know who Allison Sipes is, but she is an amazing pole dancer who has scoliosis (her youtube channel is AllieGatorUF) and she is a huge inspiration to me.
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Lyme Disease, which i still have lingering effects of numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers. Heahaches some days but also joint pain daily. I am almost symptom free, not sure about these last things. Just know not to pole when my hands are numb! Do what u are able and be proud of it! 🙂
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I too have scoliosis with two lateral curves in opposite directions. My back looks like an S. The muscles in my back are also curved, so strengthening it is very hard. I also have a weak spot where my curves change directions (middle of the S) and if I do too much ab work (bicycles kill) then that place in my back hurts so much I have to stop. Still, I keep working and I have noticed a difference in my back flexibility since starting in October.
I also have a bad knee, which requires surgery. It doesn't bother me in every day activities, but if I run longer than a quarter mile, do anything strenuous, or are on my feet all day, it swells up and is very painful. I've had that happen a few times with pole fitness workouts at the studio, but I know to listen to my body and stop if it gets too much. It has swollen after class a few times with the strain. I know from physical therapy that if I don't push it, I will never strengthen the muscles surrounding my knee that help me do more with less pain. So, I don't worry if it swells a little bit, but I do listen and stop when the level of pain gets to that point where it's no longer good for me and more of a detriment.
My weak ankles make it very hard to wear shoes and stay on my tip toes, but that isn't as much of a problem. I just rarely wear shoes!
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This is a great thread! I'm missing a few fingers, a rib that pops out occasionally due to a horse riding accident, and have hips that pop out of socket easily. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with health difficulties doing pole!
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I have mixed connective tissue disease (it has some of the symptoms of Lupus and three other autoimmune diseases) and I also have Raynaud's syndrome which cuts of the circulation to my hands and feet when it gets too cold.
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