Calf pain...it's got me limping today

Polewalker916 started this discussion · 2/23/2013

Last night I went to a pole class and tried what I think is called Cupid? Stand next to pole hook inside leg grab top of foot reach with outside hand toward ground and spin backwards then I grabbed the other foot. What ever that is called (anyone?) I did it yay for me!!!! :) alas today my calf and something behind my knee hurts soooooo f ing bad i an limping!! Is this pain normal? Did I do something wrong?? It's muscle pain no superficial bruising. I hooked it into my knee put as much as possible but it seems inevitable to squish your calf. I didn't try other side...and glad I did with the way it feels today. Any suggestions advice would be great!! Have a good day :)

8 replies

Misspolejava · 2/23/2013
I think it's pretty normal, when I originally learned the Cupid off the ground I actually got a big raised welt on the inside of my leg. Take a hot path or bag of microwaved rice and hold it in the crease of your leg. Also, tricks like that normally hurt you less when you're relaxed - try it next time when you're sweaty and don't have to clamp on so hard :) Hope this helps! Brittnai
RoseMay · 2/24/2013
Once most of the pain is gone you should try to massage your calves, either with the hands, foam roller or tennis ball. Sounds like you got some knots in your muscles there that were awakened through the knee hold. Also, it's better for the knee if you don't grab the top foot. It's harder, because you have to rely on your leg muscles to hold you, but it's better for the knee joint. It's okay to grab the top foot once you're strong enough to hold it without the hands (so the hand doesn't really hold anything, it's just there for the look). Maybe that's where the pain from behind the knee comes from?
Polewalker916 · 2/24/2013
Thx rosemay :) I used my friends foam roller last night and have been massaging my calf. It is feeling better i just have a little soreness behind my knee now. U can do the spinning one with no hands? When I did Cupid on static I was able to not hold my foot but when I did the spinning one, where u are upside down and the lower foot is not on the pole it is behind it, I didn't think it could be done without a hand on that top foot? I'm going to u tube..maybe I don't have the correct name for the move or just haven't seen it done with no hands. Thx for the advice!!
Polewalker916 · 2/24/2013
Ok from what I saw on u tube it is called a marley spin. I did see one girl do it without her hand one her foot but the rest of them grabbed the top foot and most of them went in to grab both feet. So sorry not cupid, it's marley...but pain may be the same since they both knee hold moves maybe? Now that I think about it when I wrote the post I think I said I was spinning backwards but I wasn't I was spinning forward.
RoseMay · 2/24/2013
Yeah, I never tried to spin the Marley, not sure how hard it is without grabbing the top foot on a static pole. But the knee advice goes for all knee holds (Marley, Cupid, ...), just in case it continues to bother your knees. Glad you're feeling better already! :-)
Polewalker916 · 2/24/2013
Thx again. I am fairly new to knee holds/moves...so I figure some pain/bruising at first but this was crazy muscle pain, I am used to the skin pulling stuff but muscles ow!! I am going for a massage on Friday ($20 for an hour in auburn,ca!!), although my calf will probably be better...u can always use a massage right!!! ;)
Veena · 2/24/2013
Hi Polewalker! I hope your feeling better now! I really do not suggest grabbing the foot of the hooked leg, especially when you are first learning a move requiring a knee pit grip. I've had emails from members who have been taught to grab the foot of the hooked leg and have injured their knee!!!! The hamstring and calf should be doing the work by themselves if you are not strong enough to hold the move without grabbing the foot then you're not ready for it yet. Even without grabbing the foot you may still find some bruising and soreness though. Also I suggest trying a new move no more than 10 times to help prevent bruising and injury. 🌸
Polewalker916 · 2/24/2013
Thx Veena..good to know. I will work on it without my hand on my foot.