Allegra side pain

AriesWolf started this discussion · 1/4/2013

Hello all, I don't think the Allegra is truly comfortable for anyone, but I'm having extra trouble with it. I can get into it from my right side, but when I try it on my left, it causes problems. When I'm rotating my body so that my back it to the pole, I'll get about halfway, and then I'll feel a snap, and I'll get an intense pain in my side. It will last for several days to a week; the closest thing I can compare it to is getting kicked by a horse. This has happened 3-4 times now. Each time, I've waited until my side feels better before I try it again, but if anything it's getting worse. Has anyone else had a similar problem? Does anyone know what's happening, or how to make it better? Thanks!

36 replies

CapFeb · 1/4/2013
I have horrible left gemini, so I could understanding
CapFeb · 1/4/2013
Stupid. Phone. Pre posting. I could understand how learning on the opposite side might be painful, try setting it on different areas than your dominant side, if that makes sense.
PlatinumAni · 1/4/2013
Not every move has to be done on both sides, this may be that one for you. It is possible you may have injured your ribs. To me having a bad side allegra is not worth that type of pain. :)
Saphyre · 1/4/2013
I injured myself very recently doing an Allegra. It didn't hurt horribly when I did it, but a week later I was in horrendous pain. Turns out I bruised my ribs and have a severe QL (mid to low back) strain. I have been off the pole for 3 weeks and doc recommends at least another 2. If you are in pain, STOP. Not worth it!
chemgoddess1 · 1/4/2013
Please read about all of the people who have cracked their ribs doing an allegra. You can count several pros in there, too.
LiveOnceMuseFitness · 1/5/2013
Yes, I have had quite a few people tell me about injuries from the Allegra. I had one pro tell me her partner actuall broke two ribs and was off for a VERY long time :( Def not worth it.
Ly Kieu Le · 1/6/2013
I'm attempting this move and having trouble turning my back. You guys kinda freak me out. Do you suggest any ways to attempt the move safely without breaking the ribs? :(
LiveOnceMuseFitness · 1/6/2013
Make sure the pole sits at your waist and does not press on the ribs
Veena · 1/6/2013
I want to remind everyone that not all moves are suitable for everyone or every body type! Many of the "signature" moves performed by those who compete are signature because that dancers body is capable of moving in that way. If there is ever a move where you cannot clear the ribs you shouldn't push. Chances are you need more flexibility (or perfected placement) before moving on to that move. There's no reason to feel you have to learn every pole move there is. Listen to your body and live to pole another day.
Ly Kieu Le · 1/6/2013
Thank you so much for the advice LiveOnce and StudioVeena. I'll be extra careful when attempting new moves.
chemgoddess1 · 1/6/2013
I just looked at your photos...I notice that most of your pics show you with your left leg forward in your splits; how is your right leg forward splits? I know you look super flexy but you also look like you have a shorter waist (which is a killer for allegra). If you have hyper flexibility on your left that may be the reason you can do this move on one side and not the other (I assume that when you say :from your right" you mean that you are going up with the pole on your right and then hooking the left leg).
chemgoddess1 · 1/6/2013
Sorry, that was aimed at Ly Kieu Le.
AriesWolf · 1/6/2013
Thanks for the responses everyone! My heart goes out to you, Saphyre. I would NOT be happy if I had to stay off the pole for five weeks! Good luck with your recovery, and I hope you get well soon. LiveOnce, thanks for the tip. That's probably what I was doing wrong; I think the pole was pressing on my ribs. I think I'll take some time off from this move, but I'll careful about that when I try it again. My torso is long enough where it shouldn't be a problem; I think I was just being sloppy when I tried it before.
Veena · 1/6/2013
Hey Arieswolf I grew up in ND 😀 Anyway, I'm not sure how your entering into the move, but if you're taking the lessons you may want to try it from the first method of entry I show, the flat line. https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/f7c4b070-b91e-11df-856f-001b214581be being able to open up at the hips is necessary for this move to be comfortable.
Charley · 1/6/2013
Like Veena, I go into this from flatline. I don't have a lot of flexibility so I have acouple of variations on this for not so flexy people if that is an issue. Also it was mentioned that the length of your waist plays a big part in this too - I an a bit short waisted so this move is pretty painful on my less dominant side. Make sure you are turning your torso away from the pole a bit. That really helps a lot. you can support yourself with your outside or lower hand until you get comfotrable with the iunner thigh grip. 3:25 in this vid here https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/4fd6239a-3dd0-42a9-a9c8-185a0ac37250 Allegra isn't my best move but hopefully this will help.
DixiePixie · 1/6/2013
You dont NEED to do a complex move on both sides if your body is truly against it. If you can do the allegra comfortably on one side then just do it on that side only. You should never push youself. If that happened to me I would of went to the hospital and honestly would never have done it like that again on that side.
Ly Kieu Le · 1/6/2013
@Chemgoddess1: My right leg isn't as flexible as the left leg probably because it has bigger muscles (I'm right handed/legged), but it can still go flat in the forward splits. I'm not sure what side is better for me to do the allegra but I have a lot of trouble turning my back against the pole so that my hand can grap hand the pole and straighten the leg, probably because of my short waist as you said. But if that's the case, do you have any suggestions on how to do the allegra with the short waist? Charley has a short waist but it seems that it doesn't bother her much (she did the allegra beautifully). I don't know how to fix my problem and sometimes it gets really frustrating :(
Veena · 1/6/2013
Ly it's probably because you not able to open at the hip ( turn out ) as much on that side.
MaliciousMynx · 1/6/2013
Oh how I love the pretty Allegra trick! When I do this move I get a huge bruise on my inner thigh and waist (short torso as well) for almost a week. It makes poling harder because the bruises are so tender and you don't wanna add a new bruise on top of an existing one. I don't do this move often because it's not worth it. So if ANY move is too painful on either side, then the smart thing to do is not do the move at all. Wishing you a quick recovery AriesWolf! <3
Charley · 1/6/2013
Open the hip up - stretch it out - I can't do Allegra well on my left because as Veena said you have to be open enough to do the turn out so I do find that if I'm not warmed up the left side gets beat up. If this makes anyone feel better the Allegra took me MONTHS to get and I can't do it well on 50's because my waist is a bit too short. Its also going to be very helpful to stretch obliques, shoulders and lower back to help give that extra bend.
pegasusaerialfitness · 1/7/2013
I broke two ribs with the allegra..I was off the pole for months......that snap is very bad. Ribs take forever to heal...I am very short waisted...some moves are not for everybody. You bones will never win when push comes to shove on the pole.. Remember.."you must bend around the pole," because the pole is going to stay just like it is.
chemgoddess1 · 1/7/2013
As Pantera says "Body vs pole....pole wins"
AriesWolf · 1/7/2013
@StudioVeena - Yes, I've been going into it from a flatline, but flexibility is definitely an issue with me, so I'll have to work on that. Also, what town are you from in ND? I remember it was a small one, but I don't remember where. (I actually met you at the Total Woman 2nd Anniversary event :-) ) @Charley - Did you enter it from a chopper to scorpio? That might be easier, since it looks like there's less twisting, and that's what's killing me. Also, for someone who claims to not be very flexible, and not very good at allegra, this looked pretty smooth to me. @pegasusaerialfitness - I can't believe how many people seem to have trouble with this. My mom broke her rib once, and it definitely did not seem fun. It hurts and takes forever to heal, so it's not something to mess around with.
Veena · 1/7/2013
I grew up on a farm near Regan ND, outside of Bismarck. 😉
Charley · 1/7/2013
@AriesWolf - I did just go straight up into it from chopper - hook inside leg grab above. I don't know it's easier but it's worth a try. More direct might not put your ribs in the same spot flatline does. Work your flexibility on that side first too - make sure your close to even with the right side then readress the move and fiddle gently with the positioning. I really have to support myself up with that bottom arm to push the pole into my lower back instead of my ribs. On my right - my body is used to it so it's not an issue but on my left I still take my time - which I think is what you are going through too. And even though my Allegra isn't the bendiest or look like Allegras I just try to make it mine and make it's as pretty as I can with what I've got. I don't recommend trying to grab the back leg if you are tight and having side pain. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1852770758734&set=a.1576989984387.2075126.1224746402&type=3&theater
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