Climbing and cuts

Saeth started this discussion · 11/26/2014

Hello everyone, I've been poling for five months now and I've had one consistent problem I cannot shake off. I keep cutting the top of my foot from climbs and it's beginning to turn into a real problem. It's happening at the contact point zone and it is pretty painful. The thing is it's not really getting a chance to heal and the two or three times it it has done so I just go and cut it again. It's also not toughening up like my hands did. It's really frustrating because then it slows down my learning and makes other things painful, even putting on shoes and socks even with a dressing. It's also right on a vein which then puffs up. I thought maybe it was because I'm slipping but it's happening even when I don't slip. I've tried padded strapping just on the top of my foot but that's coming off too. I've tried adjusting the contact point but this makes me shin hurt like hell and feels like I'm climbing on bone. Any ideas? I'm at a loss here! It might be worth pointing out my feet blister terribly easy and has been a life long battle.

13 replies

poleisnewtome · 11/26/2014
Get the ankle protectors with tack from Mighty Grip. They will protect the top of your foot and make climbing easier, due to the tack. They helped me get less bruising from climbs.
poleisnewtome · 11/26/2014
Also, alternate the foot that is used to push into the pole so that all the stress isn't repetitively put on the same foot.
Saeth · 11/26/2014
I had thought of getting them but I think, being relatively new to pole, that maybe it's a technique problem and I'm wary of using something that could cover up a technique fault. I did switch feet but then cut that one too, though not as badly so it was far more manageable. It was more like a graze while the other one was bleeding :/
Runemist34 · 11/26/2014
Unfortunately, climbing on bone is fairly common, so that's kind of the way most of us do it- on the shin. Lots of people tend to flex their foot, creating a "lock" in the crook of the ankle on the outside, so that you can push a little harder into your shin. It doesn't look great, but it does sort of keep the foot out of the way of the pole itself! When I started climbing, it did hurt like heck on the shin bone. It does still hurt, sometimes, but at this point it's manageable. I'd say... try to train yourself toward using your leg, rather than your foot, for climbing. I know it hurts, but hopefully it's better than tearing your skin, and you'll get used to it (in that it will stop hurting) eventually.
Veena · 11/26/2014
Avoid wrapping the foot around the pole until it heals. Also be sure you have the placement correct. The pole should not only be along the shin but up along the inside of the knee, not way back on the thigh of the climbing leg. The shin pushes into and down as if you were stepping up a step, and the knee presses into the pole as if to press the knees together when sitting in a chair. Make sure you are climbing equally with BOTH legs.
poleisnewtome · 11/26/2014
Saeth, it might very well be a technique problem, but when you can't get up the pole far enough without cringing in pain, it's very hard to focus on improving technique. While I still struggle with climbs, I found that the ankle protectors helped me grip and minimize the discomfort enough so i could get up the pole so that I could focus on leg positioning.
Saeth · 11/27/2014
It's funny, reading through all the replies I realised this problem of getting bleeding cuts on my foot only started when I used the "flex to lock" method, I think. Before that I done what seems to be the competition climb as a result of watching a lot of Michelle Stanek on youtube! My teacher used to say, "It looks very pretty but it's not correct." So, I switched. I recall shin pain from that and this may have motivated the change also. I will try changing back to my other method. I will also post a video on the weekend on both the methods for feedback. I do know sometimes I don't bring my leg around in front of the pole enough which I suspect could be responsible for some of the slip. If none of that works I'll have to invest in ankle protectors. It may be a body conformation thing too, I have a vein that puffs up a lot on that area so it sticks out quite a bit! Pole dancing feels like detective work at times lol
Phoenix Hunter · 11/27/2014
i wonder why your teacher would say that a competiton climb is not correct? when I think of a competition climb I think of a climb where you are pressing your forearm into the pole and using that as leverage. there is nothing incorrect about that. it just puts more emphasis on using the legs to pull up instead all upper body. I feel the competition climb also allows me to point my toes which take a lot of stress off the top of my feet. I doubt Michelle Stanek does an incorrect climb. haha! she looks pretty correct to me!
HilaryKate aka LolaSlaytor · 11/27/2014
What is being described here as a "competition climb" sounds very much to me like what I've always thought of as the Jenyne climb haha When she taught it to me in a workshop, she described it as something she came up with because she's "lazy" (her words! I would never ever call her that!!) - having the forearm on the pole allows you to lift your legs up better for the next climb and I find that it distributes the work more evenly between your upper and lower body so that you don't get exhausted arms (if you are relying a lot on a pull up type motion) or exhausted legs (if you are relying a lot on your legs). Also I agree that it allows you to keep the toes pointed - soooo much prettier than locking a flexed foot!
Saeth · 11/27/2014
I've no idea, Phoenix. I have some concerns about how things are being taught but there isn't a lot of choice for me regarding studios due to my budget and lack of transport. I'm signing up for Veena's lessons around Christmas so I can have some good guidance. If Michelle Stanek is doing it wrong, that'll be the day I quit pole dance lol! Lola, bracing the forearm made things much easier for me and I didn't drain as fast. Also it felt more natural and didn't look bad. I was disappointed when I felt I had to stop it because of the pretty feet it enabled you to have but now it seems it could also prevent my injury, but we'll see, it may not even do that.
RobynPoleDancer · 11/27/2014
The competition climb requires much more core strength to lift the legs and stabilise the body as you leg go completely with the legs to lift up. You also put all your weight in ONE arm/shoulder at the lifting point. Most beginner pole dancers don't have the core or arms/shoulders to be able to do this. Without constant cueing, it's common to see hanging out of the shoulder sockets. So teaching a Squeeze between the lower legs to push up to get the height (not just cranking then arms), and Hands Together Arms Bent to encourage good shoulder engagement. It's a nice EFFICIENT climb that will improve your strength. Your foot will definitely suffer less if you get a good grip between the knees and in the back of the calf.
Veena · 11/28/2014
Hmmm, Saeth, hooking the foot is a beginner option. Pointing the toes is a GREAT way to practice climbing and it's also great technique. I call it the Performace climb where you use the upper body as an anchor and then lift the legs, doing it this way would also allow you to point the foot more easily. The Basic pole climb is not meant to be easy or pretty, it's a strength builder! Basic https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/233115a0-b889-11df-856f-001b214581be Performance https://www.studioveena.com/lessons/view/50fd8f5a-d024-4cbb-a4df-74830ac37250 You'll see the foot is not listed as a POC in the performance climb :)
Saeth · 11/28/2014
Yes Veena, it was when I was looking at your climb lessons that I realised, "Hang on, the comp climb is what I started to do originally." It might also explain why I was one of the last ones to reach the ceiling! Took me eight weeks while others were getting it at 3-6 weeks using another method (one foot behind the other at the back of the pole). I might try and post a video this weekend but I'll see how I feel tomorrow, I'm not sure if I'm going down with a cold. I really hope the comp climb or a technique correction will solve this foot issue. I'll soon find out I guess. At least I have full access to the fantastic lessons now so thanks for those and the sale, Veena!