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Twisted Grip Ayesha Pain
Aloha fellow Veeners!
I need your help on something that's been on my mind and bothering me quite a bit.
So I recently got my Twisted Grip Ayesha less than 2 weeks ago!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gifhttps://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gifhttps://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gifhttps://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cool.gifhttps://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
The way I was taught this move is from a series of moves…
So, to start off, I invert and get into a Caterpillar, place my hands into a Twisted Grip position and go into an Extended Butterfly. From there, I bring the back leg back onto the pole into an Inverted D/Capital D and then lower my feet to about my hands height and then release and balance into a Twisted Grip Ayesha! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
All is good! Except I realised that lately, I've been practising this move a lot, my left elbow is starting to play up and get sore. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif
If I extend my left arm straight without putting ANY weight onto it, I noticed that it is a bit sore in the elbow joint.
This pain has stayed for over 2+ weeks now. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gifI spoke to my instructor about this during my Private lesson and she had a look as I mentioned to her that I think it's due to my hyperextended elbow. And indeed it is!
Here is a picture of me doing it as posted on my Facebook account (you can really see the hyperextension in that bottom arm):
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151610572730609&set=a.10150952057730609.493969.620640608&type=1&theaterMy instructor simply said "make sure you keep a bend in both of your elbows" when you do this move so it doesn't hurt you anymore. She also said to try and hang more off my top arm and use my bottom arm to push me AWAY from the pole.
The problem is…as I drop my weight into my hands, my arms both naturally lock tight in order to support my weight and the bottom arm will automatically hyperextend even if I make a conscious effort to try and bend my elbows!
In class, I overheard my current instructor (not the same instructor giving me Private lessons) tell all her students to lock that bottom arm when in any form of Butterfly and I think that's what I've picked up along the way. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif I spoke to a good pole friend of mine and she said to never ever lock your arms when in ANY type of move!
I was wondering if there's a way to overcome this pain and to be able to do it properly in the correct form without doing further damage to my elbows or shoulder?
(Also, I have not attempted the Ayesha from an Elbow Grip, Forearm grip, Cup Grip or Split Grip yet. For some very odd reason, here in Australia, a lot of polers and pole schools seem to favour teaching the Twisted Grip very early on in a lot of inverted moves! And yes, I have read up on all the risks on Twisted Grip both here on the forums and on Aerial Amy's blog)
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7 Replies
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Great. My picture link didn't seem to have worked.
Try this one…
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I can't see the picture.
How long have you been poling? Do you do other ayshas (ie–different hand grips?) How many times per week/times per session are you doing it? What size pole are you on?
I wonder these things because TG, while 'easy' to balance in the move, is what I consider a 'pro' move. Something you should do only after developing your strength (and working on different ayshas/adv moves) for a long, long time.
Pole size matters too. I wouldn't do it on a 50 and I wouldn't do it more than 5-10 times a practice, with rest days in between. I won't teach it, either. The other grips are much easier on the joints and I'm poling for longevity!!
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Ah, sorry, I see that you don't do it from other grips. And I guess you pole on a 38…
Hope someone else has some advice and that you feel better soon.
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Juicy J,
Congratulation on your hard work. I really need to have a look at the picture to see specifically what you are doing.
All split grips put a lot of strain on your joints. It is very common to get repetitive stress injuries when learning something new and intense. The problem may not be in your technique, but in the over-use, over-stress on a joint that is not used to it. If I were your instructor, I would ask you to switch gears for a little while and let your body heal up. Maybe there are a few goal moves that wouldn't put so much strain on your elbow.
I would also note that 'locking out' your arm is not the same as hyperextension. I'm curious, do you hyperextend your joint when you do other split grips? Do you hyperextend both elbows when you do a handstand? Have you experienced the same problem with an elbow grip ayesha? The elbow grip brings ones hips closer to the pole and stacks the body more directly on top of the base arm. The farther your center is from the pole, the more cantilever-strain will be put on the base arm.
Let me know how it goes! 🙂
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Hi Sparrow,
I wanted to wait until I was at my work computer to type you a response rather than from my iPhone on the train. That way I can refer back to what you wrote easily.
How long have I been poling? Just over 3 years now.
No, I don't do Ayeshas from other hand grips as I haven't tried just yet. Will eventually.
I pole anywhere between once to 3-4 times a week. Depends on my schedule and if I have any catch-up pole classes to do and the right energy levels and motivation.
I use a 45mm Stainless Steel at the studio and at home on my 38mm Brass.Yeah, I know what U mean by it's a Pro-move. Unfortunately this was the first and only way I was taught this move and I worked so hard and consistently for and it's the only way I know how to get into so far.
Yeah, for sure I know what you mean about poling for longevity. I want to do that too which is why I am seeking help on this.
It seems to be a very favoured and popular type of grip (the TG) in Australia amongst different pole schools and polers.
Yeah, I'll practice about 5-10 times per session and feel so buggered from it!
Hi Brumby,
Thank you for your congrats!
Thanks for your understanding and suggestions. I have taken on board what you have said and it makes a lot of sense about not necessarily technique but could be over-use and over-stress on the elbow joint.
To be honest with you, I really don't know if I hyperextend my elbows in a split grip or handstand…I have never noticed…
I guess I can get a friend to spot me and see if she can see that I hyperextend…I have yet to try the Elbow Grip Ayesha. I have an alright Elbow Grip Caterpillar Climb so possibly worth a try with a Spotter.
Ahhh, that makes sense what you said about the further my centre is from the pole, the more strain I put on my bottom arm. I have noticed that I have begun to pull just a tad away from the pole after a few seconds of holding it.
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Is the left arm the bottom one when you do this trick? I came to say just what Brumby said… If this is your first time working split grips it may be an overuse injury or strain. The same thing happened to my bottom arm elbow when I first started training for my iron X (tendinitis).
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Hi Kyrsten,
Yes, the bottom arm is my left arm.
So do you think this pain will get better over time from practising split grip moves? Is that the remedy for most people that have suffered this?
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