28 Aug Hand and wrist pain in aerialists
As an aerialist, your hands and wrists are your lifeline be it silks, hoop, pole, hammock. They are your connection to the apparatus, your source of strength, and the key to executing those breathtaking moves. But what happens when pain, discomfort, or injuries get in the way?
One of the worst feelings in the world as an aerialist is when you go to get into a trick and you feel like you just have no grip, or like your wrist is giving up on you. Trust me, I get you. We all have our “slippy days”, or when we fall out of a trick in a weird way and those moments can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you’ve put in hours of practice and dedication.
There is plenty that can be done through Hand Therapy to help with hand and wrist problems, whether you’re dealing with a specific injury or looking for ways to prevent pain and enhance your grip, or just get some more stability in your wrists when trying to do inverts or twisted grips!
Returning after injury
Sometimes aerialists experience setbacks in training due to injuries, whether they occur in class or during other activities in our lives. With all the strange ways we contort ourselves in class, it can be difficult to get back into the swing of things.
Hand therapy can help guide and strengthen you back to pre-injury condition. Through a tailored rehabilitation program, a hand therapist can provide exercises to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion. They can also offer advice on proper techniques and modifications to prevent re-injury.
Gradual reintroduction of aerial skills under professional supervision ensures that you rebuild your confidence and capability safely. With patience and dedication, you can overcome injuries and return to your aerial practice stronger than ever.
Warm up and cool down
Our aerialist instructors don’t get us to warm up for no reason! Ensuring that your arms are fully stretched up and warmed up before going into any kind of move or combo is what will help reduce the chance of injuring yourself at all in the first place. However, every person will feel stiffness or tightness in different places and sometimes we need to know what to work on for ourselves individually.
Aerialist strengthening
Nothing beats practising our tricks themselves to help strengthen our whole upper arms, but when we get stuck on something, sometimes it’s good to work on strengthening and conditioning outside of class as well. For example, if you find your grip weakening during climbs or hangs, grip strength exercises using putty or weights can help.
If wrist pain is a concern during inversions, using light weights or therapy bands can build up the necessary muscles. Incorporating these targeted exercises into your routine can enhance your overall performance and help you achieve those challenging tricks with greater ease and confidence.
If you are experiencing hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder pain, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to help you.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
For more information, call us directly on 03 9458 5166
