Physiotherapy for Pole Dancers in Toronto

Common Pole Dance Injuries

Pole dancing places significant and unique demands on the body. As we spin and move around the pole, we rely heavily on our shoulders to pull and push, and on our forearms and fingers to grip. Many tricks also require an extreme level of flexibility.

When our strength, control or active flexibility has not yet caught up with the demands of a movement, forcing ourselves into the trick before our body is ready certainly increase the risk of injury.

Some common pain and injury patterns include:

• Climbs: medial or lateral elbow tendinopathy—often known as golfer’s or tennis elbow

• Split grip: wrist pain or irritation of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC)

• Inverts: strains involving the rhomboids, middle trapezius or spinal muscles

• Handsprings and Ayesha: rotator cuff–related shoulder pain, biceps irritation or shoulder instability

• Iron X: rotator cuff or biceps overload, with possible labral irritation

• Jallegra and Broken Doll: rib bruising, intercostal muscle strain or rib-joint irritation from rotation and pressure against the pole

• Bird of Paradise: hamstring or adductor strain, as well as shoulder or latissimus dorsi strain

• Plus Sign and Spatchcock: hamstring or adductor strain caused by the extreme leg position

• Gargoyle: compression or irritation of nerves and soft tissues behind the knee

• Shoulder stands and fish flops: neck, upper trapezius or shoulder strain from pressure and sudden loading

• Kips and drops to the knees: knee bruising or irritation from repeated impact

These are examples rather than a complete list. Pain during a trick does not always mean that the named tissue is injured. The cause may also involve training volume, technique, strength, mobility, recovery or a previous injury.

At Physio Fei, your assessment considers both your symptoms and the specific pole movements that provoke them. If possible, bring videos of the moves that cause pain or the tricks you are currently working toward. This allows me to better understand the demands of the movement and identify areas we can work on together. Treatment may include movement analysis, activity modification, manual therapy and an individualized strengthening program to help you return to pole safely and confidently.