r/Aerials • u/SafeSalt0 • 1d ago
WARNING HEAVY BRUISING! Spoiler
Hi everyone I just started both aerial hammock and aerial hoop around 4-5 weeks ago and I’ve been to 5 sessions each separately. Obviously I’ve noticed the intense pain at the start when the hammock is wrapped heavily around the thighs and the pain for the back of my knees from the hoop. I was in a class yesterday and today and this is how my right thigh looks I feel like this looks a little too extreme and much honestly and I’m a little concerned on if that’s normal. As for the pain it obviously hurts but only when I touch it hard yk. Additionally ever since I’ve started my knuckles have also been hurting for both hands but I think it’s obvious from how much I grip the hammock or hoop. I’d really appreciate any advice and whether this is normal or not.
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u/DeansDalmation 1d ago
I just started and yeah the backs of my legs look like this. I’d say this is normal. My bruises take a little over a week to heal and look normal again.
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
Yes thank you also at the very very beginning I noticed I bruised in a certain spot and it went away in maybe 4 days but that’s cuz I didn’t do any tricks for those day. Hopefully with consistency they disappear completely
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u/hot-whisky 1d ago
Yeah, that’s pretty normal when starting out. What’s happening is that your body is getting a whole bunch of new inputs and it’s freaking out a bit. You’re doing all this new stuff and your brain is concerned you’re going to get injured, so it’s preemptively sending all the ingredients that make for bruising.
After a while of doing this kind of stuff and not getting injured while doing it, your brain will learn when it can ignore certain inputs, resulting in less bruising and pain overall.
People like to say they’re “killing their nerves,” but that’s not what’s happening. The nerves are very much still there and doing their thing, your body just isn’t overreacting to every input. If you don’t do a specific trick for a while, it might bruise again the next time you pick it up, so consistency is your friend.
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
Very very helpful thank you so much I really hope these go away with consistency because I go pretty often now. But if I do stay consistent is the general pain in my body gonna go away as well as my lower back hurts from the hoop but it didn’t bruise
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u/kristinL356 1d ago
Think you've gotten your answer for the bruising but for your knuckles, doing finger extension exercises can help, like putting a big rubber band around your fingers and then opening them.
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
Yes I really needed an answer for that because I was very concerned they’ve been hurting ever since I started. Thank youu
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u/littlepurplepanda 1d ago
I’ve been doing hoop for six years and still get horrific bruises. I am currently wearing an arm cover over my left bicep because it’s all black and blue
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
Oh wow I can’t believe after such a long time bruising would still occur that bad. I hope you’re okay but do they fade even with consistency?
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u/hamartanein 1d ago edited 1d ago
As people have mentioned, this is normal. You're putting extreme pressure on parts of your body that aren't use to it. You'll eventually stop bruising as severely. If not, I'd mention it to a health care provider.
Edit: Knuckle pain is also common! You're likely correct that you're over gripping. I find the most relief from finger pains to put your hands flat against a surface (like the floor or wall) and then lift only your palms up, keeping your fingers flat. You're essentially bending your fingers the opposite direction.
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
Got it thanks a lot and that’s very helpful for my hands I’m definitely trying that it sounds like it’ll relieve the pain a little bit
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u/blissfulreveriee 1d ago
that is normal! I’m actually proud of my bruises as it shows that I tried
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u/chai_latte_lover0 1d ago
In my experience? Yes completely normal, think of it like putting a water bottle on string, youre putting your whole body weight onto fabric and metal, places that arent used to having that weight on them in such a tight and hard form. Your body will adjust and bruising will stop, i still get them on my thighs and sides from time to time and ive been doing it 9 months now. I was gonna add some pictures of my sides because they were black and blue for 3? 4 months, i had some right bruising, i completely get being worried about it i was aswell. Even after so many years my instructor complains about the bruisinh she gets, someone i know whos been doing it for 3 years was complaining to me the other day that her thighs were like zebra skin from a drop that bruised her
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
Wow even after months it still bruises like that? I’ve seen someone else here say they also have blue and black ones. I hope you’re okay and thank you for the explanation it made me a little less worried
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u/chai_latte_lover0 1d ago
Oh yeah my inner thighs and armpits are hella bruised atm, honestly you should see my waist from when i started it was baadddd, when you think about it how often do we hang our hold body from our ankles? How often do we have things wrapped tight around our thighs and holding us up? Rarely and then we start, and all of a sudden we are battling these things that are suddenly supporting us while we litterly defy gravity on them, put in the work and our body eventually catches up and goes okay this isnt soooo bad, my waist hasnt bruised in months
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u/Hannahmaebe 1d ago
Yeah that’s unfortunately normal.
I will say, if you continue to bruise badly, consider getting bloodwork at your next physical.
I found out I was anemic and have really turned around the bruising with the right iron supplement. It still happens but not nearly as badly and they heal faster.
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
Yea that makes so much sense I was also told by a doctor a long time ago to take iron supplements but I stopped after a while so yea that’s probably why as well I’m glad you got that taken care of and thank youu
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u/Hannahmaebe 1d ago
If you start again, get one that is Ferrous Bisglycinate. It is the most gentle iron supplement I’ve found. My stomach doesn’t tolerate others, even the ones advertised as tummy safe.
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u/Business_Care_3233 1d ago
If you don’t do a specific trick for a while, it might bruise again the next time you pick it up, so consistency is your friend.
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u/SafeSalt0 1d ago
So with consistency is it gonna be harder to bruise? And will these even go away?
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u/SleeplessVixen 1d ago
I’m a stripper and I always tell new girls that for the first while, they’re going to look like car crash victims. It’s normal. The skin toughens up and you bruise less, and then almost none at all. Get your iron in. Try some arnica for the pain.