Carpal tunnel & pole?

Cocoa0 started this discussion · 7/17/2011

Hey all, my 40 something Aunt wants me to start teaching her pole (yay!) but she has really bad wrists from years of computer work. Is it a good idea for her or should she stay away? She has carpal tunnel but has never had any surgeries. Are there any moves that would be beneficial (or detrimental) that anyone knows of? She is super fit other than her wrists, she runs at least 50k in an average week and I think she would kick butt on the pole. I just don't want to aggravate anything. Thanks in advance for any tips y'all may have.

13 replies

Maria-Elena Kadala · 7/17/2011
Have her do some of Veena'a strength and conditioning exercies; ask Veena which are most appropriate. See how she does. They might even improve her CTS!
Miraine · 7/17/2011
Split grip stuff will run the risk of aggravating it to start with, but so long as she's incredibly careful with that, it should actually help. What I did was just a tiny bit of split grip stuff on each side every time I poled, and made sure to stretch the various arm muscles out well afterwards, and my wrists are already beginning to improve. Veena's conditioning exercises for the various rotator muscles are very helpful.
luvlee · 7/17/2011
I have terrible carpal tunnel. I am a hair stylist and it is verry common issue. My hands hurt so bad sometimes after poling. There is nothing really to do about it but get the surgery. I get stress balls and squeeze them to ease the pain.
yogabeachbabe · 7/17/2011
Watch her alignment like
yogabeachbabe · 7/17/2011
(sorry, hit wrong button!) What I was trying to say is: watch her alignment like a hawk. Every time she even touches the pole, make sure the carpal tunnel stays open and not pinched closed. I would not have her doing anything full bracket until she gains strength to bear weight single armed.
Serendipityma · 7/18/2011
I was never diagnosed with carpal tunnel, but I did have cubital tunnel (ulnar nerve runs through the cubital tunnel in the elbow... think of hitting your "funny bone"...), and had surgical release... it's now 9 years after my surgery, and as a poler, I actually find that I'm pole dominant on the affected side... the only issue I've experienced is difficulty with split grip... but for spins, climbing, & inverting I've never had an issue... stretching will obviously help, but there will probably always be SOMETHING that sends that shockwave into the hand... But it is ABSOLUTELY possible and with proper stretching, I'm sure she'll be amazing!! :)
Serendipityma · 7/18/2011
I was never diagnosed with carpal tunnel, but I did have cubital tunnel (ulnar nerve runs through the cubital tunnel in the elbow... think of hitting your "funny bone"...), and had surgical release... it's now 9 years after my surgery, and as a poler, I actually find that I'm pole dominant on the affected side... the only issue I've experienced is difficulty with split grip... but for spins, climbing, & inverting I've never had an issue... stretching will obviously help, but there will probably always be SOMETHING that sends that shockwave into the hand... But it is ABSOLUTELY possible and with proper stretching, I'm sure she'll be amazing!! :)
Cocoa0 · 7/19/2011
Thanks guys, I'll let her know that it will help her wrists. And I'll avoid split grips for a while :)
DedeJoy · 7/19/2011
I will be 42 tomorrow and was diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel a few years ago. I was doing some reading about some yoga stretches designed to help. I found them to be excruciating. So I went back to the internet and came across a web site that said if you build core and upper body strength, thus improving posture, you can reduce pressure on the nerve that starts in your neck and goes down to your hand. I started pole for this reason! After a year, I'm pleased to report that the increase in strength has helped tremendously. I cannot stress that enough. I have no pain in my left hand anymore, ever, and only occasional mild pain in my right wrist (which I think is actually arthritis and not carpal tunnel). No more tingling or numbness in my fingers! Split grips have never been a problem for me. What hurts, and what I have to be careful with, is anything requiring a handstand. Build strength, especially core, before doing too much with handstands. My advice to her is: do what you can and stop if it hurts!
yogabeachbabe · 7/19/2011
Happy birthday tomorrow DedeJoy! Although I don't have carpal tunnel syndrome, I do have recurring wrist pain (started after pregnancy 6 years ago). If I am not METICULOUS in my wrist alignment, I'll feel it. Yoga has never bothered me--no pain in any arm balance. But sometimes during poling, I'll feel a twinge and if I am honest, I'll realise that my wrist is askew (meaning if ideally, the pinky-side of my hand is supposed to be 180-165 degrees to my forearm, when I feel pain the angle is more like 100-110 degrees). I think that the initial concern with split grip is strength to sustain the upper, weight-bearing arm. If the dancer does not have enough strength, she would likely use her bottom arm way more than she should. Thus if her strength is not there, she could be leaning on a wrist that may or may not be properly aligned. So if the strength is there, there shouldn't be wrist issues if the weight is properly distributed along the wrist seam. Mind you, that's my train of thought and I am not a medical professional in any way. Gotta say, I'm really interested in this thread--learning a lot!
DedeJoy · 7/19/2011
Thanks, yogabeachbabe! Here's some links: Note, this may not work for everyone. My reading indicates that exercise and strength building only seems to help for mild to moderate cases. If it's severe enough to warrant surgery, probably no amount of stretching and exercise will help all that much. http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/ctexercise.htm http://carpal-tunnel.emedtv.com/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/carpal-tunnel-exercises.html http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_can_carpal_tunnel_syndrome_be_prevented_000034_6.htm
eatonhand.comCarpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercises umm.eduCarpal Tunnel SyndromeCarpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of finger numbness , tingling and hand pain.
DedeJoy · 7/19/2011
Another good link: Scroll down to "Fix your Upper Back & Shoulders." http://www.floota.com/carpal_tunnel_syndrome.html One more comment: Carpal tunnel has a terrible effect on grip strength. This will make it difficult to get some of the trickier tricks until wrist and hand strength is built back up. I pinched a nerve trying to get my Spiral spin; my right hand was numb for two months! I had to back off and work on easier tricks and spins for a while until the nerve was released.
Sarahb69 · 7/19/2011
I suffered with CTS in both my wrists for over 10 years and it got so bad, I had surgery done (6 months apart) on both my wrists 2 years ago. After my first wrist was done, I started poling, and it not only helped to heal that wrist but eased the discomfort somewhat in my other wrist. 6 months later, I took a 3 month break and had surgery on my dominant hand. It took longer to heal and I was off the pole longer than I wanted to be, but once back on, I felt like nothing could stop me. I have some issue with anything that requires wrist-bending. Things like pushups, and handstands are more difficult, simply because I don't have the range of motion I used to and putting my full weight on my 90 degree bent wrists is just too much pressure on them. I definitely recommend Veena's conditioning exercises, as well as proper wrist and forearm stretches. Take it easy and build slowly. Be more aware of the split grips and proper positioning in them, and everything should be fine.