StudioVeena.com Forums Discussions My first fall…. onto my head :(

  • My first fall…. onto my head :(

    Posted by Sashh on September 1, 2011 at 12:46 am

    So last night I had my first fall off the pole. I was doing a butterfly and one of my hands slipped and I fell right on my face. I've done a butterfly plenty of times before, but I've been away for 5 weeks and this was my first practice since my break so obviously I've lost some strength. Luckily I'm ok, just bruised and swollen. It's put me off wanting to do inversions though… Anyone else had a fall that's caused them to lose confidence? How long before you got back on?

    Sashh replied 13 years, 3 months ago 18 Members · 34 Replies
  • 34 Replies
  • roughtops

    Member
    September 1, 2011 at 2:09 am

    I’ve had two big falls, which shook me up big time. The first one I managed to flip and land on knees and feet (was in a crescent moon so if I didn’t flip would’ve landed on head and neck). My knees and toes were badly damaged and incredibly swollen, but I got back on after 15 minutes as I didn’t want the fear to build up. I didn’t realise that I had broken a big toe until later. Although I got on straight away, am scared of doing anything involving a cross ankle release (this depresses me as I learnt and love this move so quickly). I fell in April and still had to be coaxed to do CARs in July. I think I got on too soon though as that fall not only gave me new injuries but it aggravated old ones including my back. I had to take a few weeks off pole 🙁
    Anyway, my second and worse fall was when I attempted Aysha for the first time with a spotter. Long story short, landed on head, face planted and twisted neck and back. Spent the rest of the day in A & E. I still have a lump on my head and loads of pain. This happened the first Saturday in August. I cannot watch friends get into Aysha. It stops my heart and I panic. I did have a mini session a week afterwards (again trying to keep fear building up). Nervously attempted some basic inverts, and a few spins, but was way too scared to try much more. I called it quits after a few minutes (didn’t want to make injuries worse and because I was scared shitless). At least I touched and stroked the pole. Lovingly. So that is a start. I have to get my own pole (soon) and just slowly build back up my confidence and strength. I haven’t been on since as I want my injuries to heal. Don’t despair. Keep at it. Surround yourself with supportive people who understand the need and addiction to pole. Go slowly, listen to your body, but push pass the fear (safely and when you’re ready).
    Sorry for such a long reply. R x

  • Dancing Paws

    Member
    September 1, 2011 at 9:29 am

    This didn't happen to me, but my teacher hurt herself. I'm not sure what trick she did cuz I didn't see her do it. All I know is I go to class and she is in a sling. Turns out she did some trick, fell, landed on her head, and brok her her coller bone (or some part of her shoulder.) She was in a sling for several weeks while it healed. She's back to teaching though! She acknowledged that she had sweay hands when she attemted the trick and hadn't wiped her hands, hence the falling. You just gotta realize your limits, acknolwege your mistakes, and be safe. Also, crash mats if you don't have them. Fear is normal, but don't let it take over. It's just your body's way of telling you to be more careful next time.

  • sexygyrl

    Member
    September 1, 2011 at 11:32 am

    I fell Monday night! I was doing Wrist Seat and my bottom hand slipped.  I was trying to do my challenge video.  I ended up getting back on Tuesday night…I was about to workout off the pole, but I felt like I just had to go back in the pole room and try it again.  I did and it wasn't bad.  My wrist seat still felt like it was about to go wrong, I think my bottom hand is too far down.  I'm determined not to let it beat me, and will work on it when I have class Monday. 

  • TrixieLovett

    Member
    September 1, 2011 at 2:11 pm

    TOTAL wipeout attempting a True Grip Ayasha. No spotter no mat. Egad!  Bottom elbow buckled and I went crashing down head first. I at least had the wherewithalll to tuck and my shoulder hit first and took the brunt of it before my little pinhead came landing next. Shoulder hurt like an SOB for about a week.  I haven't gotten back on that hourse yet either.  At this point I'm happy with my Elbow Grip Ayasha.  The tumble happened about 2 months ago, and while there are some moves I feel I just HAVE to get this TGAyasha isn't on the list anymore. 

  • Charley

    Member
    September 1, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    I'm so sorry to hear about your fall!

    I fell out of a caterpillar years ago, I hadn't had time off or anything I accidently took my legs off the pole and this was before I knew how to do an aysha or a straight edge – I wasn't even thinkiong about those moves yet…I just got lost in the moment then fell on my head 🙁

    Last October I fell out of a tornado and have yet to try it again because I'm so scared of it.  I just can't bring myself to do that one move – I need to get over because it was one of my favorites – need to break out the crash mat and get back to it.

  • tarah

    Member
    September 2, 2011 at 12:28 am

    hi Sasha, i hope your bruises heal quickly and that get your confidence back soon.https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif

    @everyone else – this is very scary stuff to read about!  https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif  

    i fell onto my back from a gemini to scorpio switch once but luckily was low enough on the pole not to get hurt.  it sure got me into a bad mood, though.   🙁

     

  • Cocoa0

    Member
    September 2, 2011 at 12:47 am

    I am happy to say I have had no serious injuries in 2 years of poling (besides bruises, strained muscles and the occasional popped rib). I fell out of the CAR once, but I felt myself slipping before I actually went down so I “sat up” and landed fairly softly on my butt and elbows. I have had no issues doing that move since, I actually have more confidence knowing that I can fall out of it without breaking my neck. I also fell out of a ceiling walk once (scariest moment of my life) but I made it out with only a bruise on my thigh ( and my ego) If I had to I would do it again, but the ceiling walk is no longer a part of my regular pole practice.

  • Evie Bloom

    Member
    September 2, 2011 at 3:17 am

    Yes, I think landing on your head is the scariest fall you can do!

    I was trying a shoulder dismount for the first time, at home alone with slippy hands when I was far too tired. and booom. landed on the back of my head. It hurt for a good hour and I was a little fuzzy the next day but it was no where near as bad as a time when I fell at a concert onto my head. (that had the biggest lump ever, concussion, fuzzy head for two weeks)

    It did however give me the fear. I avoided doing shoulder mount for ages, and was less likely to do anything upside down.

    My pole teacher is awesome though, she recently bought a crash mat for her studio and I have been trying all kinds of things I was too scared to do. Eventually I might do them without the mat… Maybe hehe

  • Sashh

    Member
    September 2, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    Wow thanks everyone! I hate hearing about you all hurting yourselves https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif but it's reassuring that I'm not the only one. I have class tomorrow… feeling pretty nervous about it but I'm going to get my teacher to spot me for any upside-down stuff for a while until I get the hang of it again. Gotta get back on the horse I guess!

  • Hazi411

    Member
    September 2, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    Sexygyrl – I think that's what happened to me (except my studio calls that move the "hello boys").  I don't remember anything about the fall or what happened in the hour or so afterwards (short term memory loss due to concussion).  I think I must have lost my grip with the top hand, and just gone backwards off the pole, landing on the back of my head.  I had a couple of days off work, missed one pole lesson, but went back to it the following week.   Determined to "get back on the horse" 😉  I've posted elsewhere in this forum about it.  Husband and Mum wanted me to give up pole "cos it's dangerous", but I told them it's not negotiable and I'm not giving it up!

  • sexygyrl

    Member
    September 2, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    Love the name “hello boys” better. Sorry you fell too. I guess I’m really lucky because I did hit my head but no concussion or anything

  • Mary Ellyn

    Member
    September 2, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    Most of my accidents have occured from rushing through something and/or not paying attention.

     

    My first was slipping straight down from inverted crucifix…dancing for my hubby when I first started and trying to be sexy so I closed my eyes to hang and pose while I traced my lines and next thing I knew my face cracked nose first into the floor and fractured my nose!

    Another was kicking up into a handstand and not looking at my surroundings and kicked my ankle into a table I had close by (this was in my home) and split my ankle open.

    Another was not checking my pole for stability after it had been up a while and it crashed down into my desk then right through the wall (again at home) with me hanging on all the way to the floor.

    The only accident I've had at the studio was falling from supermanh to Scorpio and it was simply a "miss' and didn't catch myself – landed tucked on my back but ok aside from shook up. Got up and did it again immediately so I wouldn't be scared next time.

    I think it's intereting that I've never actually injured myself in the studio but I have several times at home and maybe that's because I have a lax attitude at home compared to the studio.

  • asiajoy20

    Member
    September 3, 2011 at 1:02 am

    my worst fall was out if a twisted grip handspring I was trying out my new itac (level 4) and didn’t think about starting with simpler tricks. I like this itac for static moves but in my experience any rotation or slight twist of my hands it loses grip, its worse than oil. needless to say I fell and somehow slammed the left side of my face into the pole and amazingly landed in my feet. I had a huge knot on my forehead and my eye was a little brused but I washed my hands and went right back. I’ve seen quite a few falls working at the club I’ve been at for two years and its always nerve wracking to see someone fall but its a risk we all take. I always try to figure out an “escape method” for my tricks just in case I feel another catastrophic failure coming and I feel like my escape methods help with my transitions as well.

  • Cocoa0

    Member
    September 3, 2011 at 1:14 am

    “escape method”

  • asiajoy20

    Member
    September 3, 2011 at 1:28 am

    I’m actually surprised that more people don’t teach how to fall it catch themselves.

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