Have options to handle Limited limb mobility
Different people have different degrees of limb mobility or flexibility. These differences can stem from genetics, level of physical training, individual body mechanics, injury, surgery, pregnancy, EDS and many other sources. Asymmetric limb mobility, where the flexibility in one limb is different from another, is also common.
Ways to mitigate:
Don’t scene cold; warm up and stretch – If attempting a position that pushes the boundaries of a person’s normal flexibility, always warm up and do some light stretches first.
BE CAREFUL. Go slowly. Give the bottom a safety margin – Never force them past the edge of their flexibility, and don’t tie them too close to the limit of their flexibility. If you do, a simple accident or moment of inattention could push them past that limit, which can result in serious injury. Learn their limits and then back the tie off from those limits a little, so that you have a safety margin.
If this is the limit of your partner's flexibility...
...don't force their arm higher, into this range.
In fact, if this is their limit, don't even tie right here.
Back away from the limit...
...even if just a little. That gives you a little cushion so that an accident has less risk of pushing them past their limit.
Choose ties that do not require a person to challenge the limits of their flexibility.
Once you have checked body mechanics, if there are still issues, you could simply choose an entirely different position. A tie that does not put your partner into a position that is challenging for them.
Example: A person is unable to put their shoulders back or to both their arms behind their back; or if they quickly start experiencing numbness, tingling or other strange sensations when they do so. In a case like this, choose a ties that bind their arms in a different position altogether:
- Behind, but more to the sides: Extended Lark’s Head Double Column, Light Elbow Harness or both … or a Sleeves-style Armbinder.
- To their sides directly (e.g. Double Column, Dragonfly Harness, Sleep Sack, Penguin Pinion)
- In front of them (e.g. Straitjacket, Fisherman’s Harness, Chair Ties)
- Above their head (e.g. Load-bearing Double Column, Bunny Ties)
Ensure they are using good body mechanics. If a person has never been shown how to position themselves, they may actually have more range of motion than they believe.
One example of this is when a person believes they cannot put their arms behind their back. This may be true. Or it may actually be that they have not been shown how important shoulder position is in order to do so.
If the shoulders are forward -- as is common, especially for people with office or desk jobs -- it is much more difficult to get the arms behind the back.
When you shift your shoulders back, it naturally moves your arms further back, and they have less distance to go.
This is half the battle for many people.
Now the wrists are much further back and there is some overlap between them. This helps make a box tie more comfortable and sustainable.
That said, for some people, doing nothing more than putting their shoulders back will put pressure on the brachial plexus (the network of nerves that run across the front of the shoulder), leading to nerve compression.
The Brachial Plexus is a network of nerves that runs from the cervical vertebra at the back of your neck, across the front of the shoulders...
...and then form the three major nerves that provide motor function and sensory information for the arm.
An important test when working with a new bottom and planning a BTB (behind the back) tie, is to make sure they are comfortable having their arms behind their back with no rope before doing this in a scene.
If your partner expereinces any strange sensations when in this position (without rope), it may be that physical therapy nerve gliding techniques may help (see below).
Shoulder rotation also plays a big part in behind-the-back ties.
Rotating the shoulder inward...
...or outward can help enable a person to more easily assume different BTB positions.
If you want to do a box tie, you need to rotate the shoulder inward.
Strict elbow or armbinder ties require a strong degree of outward rotation.
Choose ties that allow for greater ability to adjust to your partner’s needs.
Example: You both want to experiment with a box tie, but while your partner is able to easily put one arm behind their back, the other can only go part way.
Instead of using one Single Column around both wrists (as this would not be possible), you can put a single Column around each wrist individually, allowing you to anchor them into a chest harness without having to be together; each can be bound to a degree that is comfortable to it specifically.
Place a Single Column on each wrist individually.
This allows you to adjust your tie so that each arm can be tied to an individually-tuned level. Start with the limb that has more flexibility.
In cases like this, the Sumerville Bowline is very useful.
In the event your partner needs to be released, you can pull the quick-release loop and have them free in 2-3 seconds!
Now add the less-flexible limb, again using a Somerville Bowline
Done!
It is very common for a person to have asymmetric limb flexibility ... but they can still be tied!
Employ physical therapy techniques to improve mobility, if desired.
If you and your bottom want to do a position that they are not currently able to comfortably maintain, physical therapy techniques may help in some cases.
Talk to a Physical Therapist or do some research online to see if they can help. Here are some helpful search terms:
- “Nerve gliding physical therapy” (For arms: ulnar, radial, median)
- “Shoulder inward rotation ROM physical therapy” (ROM or “Range of Motion”)
- “Hip flexor ROM physical therapy”
- “Ankle mobility physical therapy”
- “Mobility yoga”