Wrist Pain!!!

[fx]

Does anyone get wrist pain in the wrist of their top hand? I get it on the pinkie side of my wrist. It hurts bad for the first couple of jumps, bet then I don't really notice it anymore. Any ideas?

[RidinHigh]

I had the same problem exactly for the a while earlier this year. I found the best thing to do is stretch it out a bit before you take your first trip down the runway. I believe it is from trying to keep a closed grip on your top hand during the run...or at least that is what it was for me. It is just something you have to work your way into. Maybe even try finding a broken piece of pole to stretch it with at home.

[SweetPVJumps]

ridinghigh might be right. i completely grip with my top hand in my approach, and there was a brief time that it hurt to bend my wrist back and forth for a few days. didnt hurt on the pinky side though. point is it might be from just thr stresses of vaulting and all. my pain went away quick and i hope yours does too, so just try to stretch it so it can handle the stress, and if it gets a lot worse, then id defiantely say go see a doctor.

[fx]

thanks guys, I was thinking about it in practice and I think you're right. I was doing pole runs, and it even hurt from that so it probably is because of the grip.

[fx]

I had a meet yesterday, and my wrist was fine. Woke up today and it felt sore when I turned it and pressed some parts of it, so I went to my trainer. She told me it was sprained and I got the ice bucket treatment.

[SweetPVJumps]

ah, i sprained my wrist last year. what did you do to sprain it, did you fall on it or something? cuz i did, and it immediately began to swell and hurt. i could barely move it within about 10 or 15 minutes. im surprised that you were able to vault fine yesterday with it. well i hope it heals up fast though!!!

[fx]

actually, I think vaulting was part of the problem. It's sore for my first few jumps every time i vault, but then it feels fine. Anyway, I didn't land on it yesterday, I just did the same vaulting I normally did and I guess that was enough to sprain it. There was no swelling or anything. Dunno if this makes sense.

[LHSpolevault]

I had a meet yesterday, and my wrist was fine. Woke up today and it felt sore when I turned it and pressed some parts of it, so I went to my trainer. She told me it was sprained and I got the ice bucket treatment.

ah the ice bucket treatment... i go thru that the night before each meet... but with my whole lower body lol. our trainer usually puts me in the ice bucket for my ankle. first few minutes are torture heh.

[fx]

lol it's rough Ross. I think I have too many veins in my hands and the ice bucket freezes my blood. Seriously, after less than a minute, if i pull my hand out, it doesnt bend or move at all. It's quite freaky.

[fchipr]

I agree. I think the closed grip plant hand during the carry is the primary cause. But secondarily it could also be a high pole carry (which is a good thing) with the plant hand high up on the hip, perhaps even a tad in front, which is good for plant mechanics and timing but after a thousand passes down the runway with that closed grip, your vaulters carpel tunnel hurts. The only quick fix we found was for the first three steps of a 7 or 8 step run, to cross carry the pole diagonally across the runway about 45 degrees and gradually bring it back on line as you would with your normal run/carry. Our long term answer will be this summer with a combo of the above and an open grip that closes at the plant. If that wont work the alternative is a lower and slightly behind plant hand during the carry, which requires different (earlier) plant timing. I don't recommend this carry style for beg or intermediate skilled vaulters. A good plant ismore important than an ouch on the wrist everytime. But if ya got too, this is one to work on during summer pole run days.

PS I recommend substantial amounts of summer BBQs to go with that summer vaulting!!!

runfastholdhigh&fly

[fx]

Haha yeah definitely. Anyway my wrist has gotten a lot better. Hasn't bothered me for a while. I think the problem was my right hand grip during the run-up (I'm righty/normal). I used to grip the pole really tight, but now I go with the open palm, carrying it between the thum and the pointer. It helps a lot.

[vault3rb0y]

it happened to me, and i fixed it like this.
I was gripping with all my fingers completely on the top of the pole, and when i was running with the pole, it was turning my wrist at an extreme angle. Eventually it gets to you. Since then, ive experimented with different grips, and found one that works OK, but i actually need to change it again, let me explain. When i pick up the pole, i keep my pointer and thumb wrapped around the pole, but the other fingers dont wrap around the pole until about the last 2 steps. So when im running, my hand makes the "ok" sign, haha. This gets rid of wrist problems, but recently ive had joint pain where my pointer finger meets my hand, because ive been gripping so hard right there. My coach suggested loosening my grip even further, to an extent something like this.
get your grip, and pick up the pole like you are going vault. Keep your thumb wrapped around the pole, but take your pointer finger and straighten it out, while holding the pole against your butt for extra support. Then on the last 2 steps wrap your hand around it, as you come up to plant. Ive done this the past few days and it feels better, but it feels okward. I feel like the pole bend isnt facing the right way or it will turn, but it is always on, so you just need to get used to it and trust it.