Dance Safety, Pole Stability, and Placement: Page 2 of 3

Any removable pole has the potential for falling over if not properly installed and regularly checked for stability.

The pole must be directly under a joist not only to protect your ceiling from caving in, but also to avoid the give in the ceiling that would result in the pole loosening from it's position. 

When you tighten the pole's screw up adjuster rod, you must tighten it securely into the ceiling so that there is NO give to the pole if you jump on it, and pull sideways. You may think your pole is tightly installed but double check it...it should be rock solid if you attempt to put any lateral pressure or pull on it. Realize that a pole erected on carpeting may seem secure, but once you put weight on it, it may settle into the carpet's padding and suddenly, it's loosened from it's place and will fall over when you climb or spin on it.

Ceilings, as well as floors, will settle and shift!  After a few hours of pole practice, or if you leave you pole up then every day before you start up dancing, you must re-tighten your pole or the shift will cause a loosening in the tension between the floor and the ceiling and your pole will fall.

Every so often, take your pole down to allow your ceiling to "breath" and settle back into place as the pressure from the pole will continually push the joists up. You need only take the pole down for about 10 or 15 minutes. Additionally, it's not good to just keep perpetually tightening your pole up and up every time you use it as this can damage the pole and/or the ceiling on a long term basis.

Whenever you are practicing inverts or climbing high on a pole, make sure you have a spotter working with you to catch you or help break your fall. Do not assume you can work without a spotter as it's not worth the risk of injury if you have an accident on your pole.

There are several safety mats sold that can be placed around the base of the pole to provide a cushion when you  are practicing inverts and climbing, lessening the potential for injuries if you loose your grip and fall.

To avoid loss of grip, do not apply oils or lotions prior to pole dancing. If necessary wipe your skin with rubbing alcohol before your dance or practice to remove any residual lotions.

Finally, be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to what you are doing, avoiding any distractions. Many injuries occur as a result of carelessness or being distracted. Make sure you look around to check furniture or other objects or even people nearby to avoid crashing into them as you take a big spin or invert or go into a handstand. Pay attention to what you are doing at all times, concentrating on grip, position, and your movements to avoid careless accidents.

Page 3: Grip Aids