Blackout During Pole Class- What causes this?

Jpolelove started this discussion · 10/12/2011

I dont know what happen, maybe I went up to fast or, blood rush through my head. But today in Pole class I was doing and upside down move, I believe it was the angel, Thank God my instructor was there. All I know is eveything went black, and she was like comeup to me. I did, but it was the scariest thing ever Does anyone know why I blackout? I would like to be informed, so I won't attempt to do something my body is not ready for?

10 replies

Mary Ellyn · 10/12/2011
Did you let your instructor know you blacked out? I'm not clear on your description if you fell or if you just blacked out momentarily without losing your grip? This is not a normal result of anything directly pole related - unless you were holding your breath but you would have to have held it for quite a bit of time to actually black out. You should not return to pole work (or probably any other strenous activity/exercise) until you've been checked by a physician - definitely no inverts until then.
PaulettePoles · 10/13/2011
I agree, get checked out by your doctor! Have them check you for orthostatic hypotension. Sudden changes in your body position can cause a fall in your blood pressure causing you to balck out. It can be related to simply just not being hydrated enough. Make sure you stay very hydrated and change position slowly giving your body enough time to adjust before moving on. Get checked out thouroughly to be safe. Blacking out from the pole would not be good!
Jpolelove · 10/13/2011
I didn't fall. I just black out. I will check it out I think I wasn't hydrated enough and my body maybe wasn't ready for this move
Mary Ellyn · 10/13/2011
This does not sound like orthostatic hypotension since you described blacking out while being in an inverted position. This occurs when rising up AFTER being squatting reclining or inverting - not while reclining. It could be a simple positional change but since OH is considered relatively benign, you don't want to presume this is nothing. It may be nothing serious but please don't try to diagnose yourself over the internet - see a doctor and be sure. .
Jpolelove · 10/13/2011
My instructor wanted me to finish the move. I told her what happen to me, what was going on and I why I heistated.
Mary Ellyn · 10/13/2011
You just posted when I did...dehydration would have to be "severe" to cause fainting.
Jpolelove · 10/13/2011
I will check with a physician
ORGANIC ANGEL · 10/13/2011
Could of been blood sugar levels too. Try to eat five meals a day and snacks. When you "pole", you are training/excercising so it is very important to still get the nutrients that you need. I like to grab Luna bars and a banana and milk before I go. Otherwise, my tummy is growling 20 min in!
FreeTheSun · 10/13/2011
I black out randomly, not just when getting up but when I'm walking, working out, cooking, etc (thankfully never when driving, but I always worry about that...well that and the fact I'm a sun sneezer, yay tunnels and sudden bright light). Vision only, although I'll get a bit dizzy too, thankfully I have never fallen (knock on wood) but I just stop moving, and so far my vision has never been gone for more than about 30 seconds, norm only 5 or so. I get a large amount rushing of blood through my ears so voices are somewhat muted but I can hear them and answer (apparently it used to freak a few of my friends out when I would suddenly just stop moving and focus on nothing so I learned to just annouce what was happening and tell them to hold on a couple seconds). So far no one has been able to tell me why but I've noticed it happens more often when I haven't eaten in a while (but not always) when I'm dehydrated (but not always) and when I'm hot (but not always), but it has happened when none of those things are involved. Some docs think it is blood pressure (but it's not that low) some think it might be some sort of visual epilepsy (but there isn't a common trigger) and others think it might be a middle or inner ear thing cause my ears will randomly ring. I'll prob never know for sure. Def go check with your doctor, but if they can't think of anything be sure to pay attention to what was going on when it happened and if it happens again so you can figure out what to watch out for.
Veena · 10/16/2011
I know I'm late...but I would check with a dr as the others suggested and also make sure your not holding your breath when you invert. Good luck!