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Hi. I've been doing flying trapeze for about 4 and a half years now. And every time I fly, I end up ripping my hands. I do wear grips, so that's not a solution for me, although it's a big help. I also know that I am totally over-gripping with my left hand when I take off the board because that hand always rips in the center of the palm (like a stigmata), which is adding to the problem. But I can't seem to stop myself from doing that. But even if I don't overgrip, I will rip at the base of my fingers, even with the caluses I've built up.
Recently I have started static classes. And I find that I am bruising like crazy! I know I bruise easily. I often would have thumb prints on my wrists from catches on flying trapeze. Now I have a thumbprint on my back from simply being lifted to the bar for the beginning of static. I also have bruises on the tops of my feet, the backs of my knees, my hip bones, my biceps, my lower back, and even my forearms (I am REALLY hating monkey rolls!!!)
Is there anything that I can take (vitamin-wise) or do to "toughen" up my body so I don't bruise so much? Any advice for my hands when I fly?
Recently I have started static classes. And I find that I am bruising like crazy! I know I bruise easily. I often would have thumb prints on my wrists from catches on flying trapeze. Now I have a thumbprint on my back from simply being lifted to the bar for the beginning of static. I also have bruises on the tops of my feet, the backs of my knees, my hip bones, my biceps, my lower back, and even my forearms (I am REALLY hating monkey rolls!!!)
Is there anything that I can take (vitamin-wise) or do to "toughen" up my body so I don't bruise so much? Any advice for my hands when I fly?
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Fri, July 21, 2006 - 3:45 PMI've found ARNICA gel to be really helpful with the bruises and the subsequent achiness. Other than that, just give your body time. It'll get used to it. You won't bruise as easily but you'll still bruise. At least that's what my experience has been like. -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Sat, July 22, 2006 - 8:55 AMThanks for the advice guys! I'll try the ARNICA gel.
Steve, I already do have grips, but thanks for that link!
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Sat, July 22, 2006 - 8:36 AM
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Sun, July 23, 2006 - 4:53 PMif you already have a rip, but need to still fly for whatever reason, don 't bother with new skin, it comes off in the first swing. try using super glue. as wierd as it sounds, its saved my hands for numerous shows and rehearsals. -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Mon, August 21, 2006 - 3:58 PMThat doesnt sound so crazy once you realise that superglue was developed in the war for covering blisters for the troops.
After WW2, they found other uses for it.
How did I hear about this? From another aerialist doing it at the ADF in Boulder just gone.
Not for me personally, but in your case, maybe.
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Mon, July 24, 2006 - 12:37 PMIf you are taking Advil, I heard this will cause you to bruise more easily. I used to constantly bruise when I was doing double trapeze and had finger prints bruises everywhere.
re rips, I would shave off the bigger calluses and then file them. also if it's hot out, try to keep your hands cool like holding a cold water bottle or one of those blue frozeny ice bags. however, avoid getting your hands wet.
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Mon, July 24, 2006 - 2:02 PMThe bruises will stop happening eventually. I'm not sure why but they will. As for ripping, I have no suggestions. I still get crazy blisters if I'm doing a lot of dynamic movment (multiple pullovers and what not) on a static bar.
This ( www.logy.org/~xep/days/2...rlateron.jpg ) is an example. I was training five days a week when I got that so it's not that my hands weren't tough enough. I'd love to hear if you figure out a way to avoid those. -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Tue, July 25, 2006 - 1:06 AMI'm interested in this phenomenon as well. After more than 15 years of construction type work, not to mention rope, silk, and Chinese pole, my hands are pretty much like leather. And I never bruise. I even have a callus on the back of my neck from doing squats. But I too have had problems with ripping on the flying trapeze. I suspect it has something to do with the diameter of the bar. It tends to produce small, thick calluses on my palms at the base of the fingers, and the calluses rip. I would suggest engaging in an activity that has your hands around a larger diameter steel bar in order to produce more even calluses. Weightlifting perhaps. -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Mon, August 21, 2006 - 6:05 AMOn the trapeze, the most common cause of rips is over-gripping the bar. -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Mon, August 21, 2006 - 6:35 AMYes, unfortunately, this I know. I admit that I do this. I have tried to not do it, but haven't been successful in stopping myself from overgripping. Small handed people will generally do this to make sure they have a firm grasp of the bar. -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Sun, March 18, 2007 - 11:20 AMTry using a smaller bar.
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Wed, July 26, 2006 - 2:44 PMXep, thats probably the coolest blood blister Ive ever seen.
As for ripping, my advice is to make sure there is nothing that can "catch" easily such as hanging dead skin. So a little filing to keep things from being jaggedy. I don't know about the grips. If you like them, then you should keep wearing them, it's personal choice.
For me, I've flown off and on for about 8 years now, and I swear by just using a piece of tape, folded longways, then wrapped around my middle finger and taped around my wrist. That way it adds a little protection in that middle over grippy spot, but also allows me to develop tougher skin that is less likely to rip. Do I still rip? When flying about 3 days a week, I tend to rip about once every few months.
Lately I haven't been flying, so when I go, I put my tape on, and can usually get in around 20 swing or so until Im in trouble.
I would say, maybe try taking the grips off, and giving the tape a shot? I wish i had the answer to the ageold problem. :)
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Tue, February 6, 2007 - 5:02 PMa former gymnastics coach had us put used, hot teabags over our palms...tannins are suposed to help toughen the skin.
as for the bruises? they do go away as your body becomes increasingly beaten into submission, but also, never be afraid of layers. i always wear at least two over my upper legs...
truth is, static trap is hard on the body-be prepared to lose some feeling in the backs of knees, tops of feet...
yeowch.
*s*
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Thu, April 26, 2007 - 11:25 AMLisa, in case you haven't toughened up by now, I have found that the bruising goes away after repeated abuse to the areas in question. I am an amateur flying trapeze enthusiast who has recently begun learning aerial tissue. Another aid I use is arnica gel on bruising or sore muscles. It works like magic!
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Sat, May 19, 2007 - 1:15 AMi have shocked a few doctors with bruises and i've been told that heaps of vitamin c is good...but try the powder form it tastes better than some medicines but mix it in with some orange juice or something.......easier for ur body to absorb....also find out whether you're anaemic i was for a long while but i hopped into the zinc and iron and im all better.....i still bruise but arnica is a great help also.......
from one static lover to the next happy toe hanging!!!!
~A~
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Sat, May 19, 2007 - 1:22 AManother thought from me........when your hands rip are you stretching them as they are healing because ive noticed when mine are healing they tend to heal very tight i just rub them with moisturiser or something similar to stretch them a bit..but dont pick them off lol
a trainer of mine once said when developing calluses, it can help to for lack of a better description to "pee" on your hands....or drench them in vinegar or something acidic...it toughens them even more than usual but id say using those two methods together can help...
happy backbalancing
~A~ -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Fri, August 3, 2007 - 11:52 PMHere is another tip I find useful. Put your hands on ice (or wrapped around frozen peas) after going on the flying trapeze. Tonight my hands are on the verge of ripping after going to class earlier, and I want to fly again tomorrow. The ice quiets down the hot spots and quickens the healing.
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Mon, August 6, 2007 - 9:49 PMEverybody is different...some people bruise or burn more easily than others.
Also, here is another take on the issue....Think of it this way....Have you ever moved and dramatically changed climates?...Your body needs to become tougher and more resistant to the stress you are putting your body/skin through...
You may want to wear layers at first (like wearing a few layers of tights if you are extremely sensitive), but don't pad too much--you need to feel the discomfort/aggravate your skin/body in order to make it tougher (both under the skin and build calluses). As your body toughens up, reduce the layers accordingly... -
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Mon, August 6, 2007 - 10:38 PMI learnt a great trick from a friend who is an arialst
To thoughen your hands and reduce hard calous
Get two small buckets of fine sand and put then next to your couch or some thing.
Then while your watching TV at night or reading or whatever, Sit and repetaedly grab hand fulls of sand squeeze it then let it run through your fingers. This will slowly exfoliat and toughen up the skin on your hands with out deveoping hard cracked calous.
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Re: Ripped hands and bruises
Fri, July 4, 2008 - 5:52 PMWhat kind of grips do you use - leather, gauze, or something else I've never heard of? If they're leather, great - I had the ones with two finger holes. If you get these, the leather should dig into the backs of your fingers to take your mind off the pain in front. I found this helpful during my flights. As an added bonus, leather grips completely cover the middle of the palm, reducing the likelihood of ripping the center of your left hand. As for afterwards - well, I started flying trapeze in a summer camp a few years ago, and a daily routine of flying trapeze, lunch (including hand sanitizer, which stings quite a bit) and rest "cured" me in about two weeks. And a tip for your left hand? When you hold the bar, pull it directly towards you. The pressure should be directly on the second segment of your fingers from the top, if you're as small-handed as I am; if that feels uncomfortable, switch your grip so that the pressure is on the knuckle directly below that segment.
I don't know what to tell you about the bruises, even though I bruise very easily as well, except to offer my sympathies for your internal bleeding.
