Introduction and Hooping with a Herniated Disc

Hello, happy hoopers! This, and upcoming, blogs will contain information about hooping such as:

* why it is an overall fitness tool and how it works to tone your entire body
* how hooping helps improve your mood
* how, and why, athletes should hoop for cross-training
* how hooping can improve a dancer's technique
* how to enhance your yoga practice with hooping
* in-depth analysis of targeted muscles groups
* other topics hopefully of interest to you

In fact, if you have any suggestions, if you would like to know how hooping relates to any facet of your life, or if you would like to contribute to this blog with thoughts on your hooping experience, please contact me (hooper@hoopmotion.com).

Today I will discuss how I was able to hoop through a herniated disc. Although undiagnosed, the symptoms (sharp pain in the vertabral border of the left scapula radiating down the left arm) suggested inflammation of a thoracic disc.

After nearly 3 weeks, the pain has finally subsided to a whimper. Initially, the pain was so severe that I could not sleep. At the suggestion of my physical therapist sister, I began a regimen of stretching tight, and strengthening weak, muscles. This was about the only physical activity I could endure. I had to stop running and walking, and suspend dance choreography, all of which jolted my body and increased the pain.

However, I was able to hoop. Because of the location of the injury (left scapula), pain eased when I raised my arm overhead thereby releasing some of the weight borne by the shoulder. As some of you hoopers know, a great arm toning exercise is spinning the hoop while in halo position (Hoopnotica's label) or in Wild West (Hoop Girl's label). No pain, no problem. As well, waist, hip and thigh hooping were fine, but chest hooping caused discomfort given that my back push was compromised by the pain.

I could locomote gently (walk in all directions and change levels), as long as the arm was elevated. Because hooping has little or no impact on one's body, I have been able to hoop throughout my recovery.

This was my experience. You should speak with your doctor or pt before you perform any exercise routine.