pole bag vs hanging bag?

[spidercan]

I'm considering joining a new muay thai gym but all they have are pole bags. Are there any health risks with training on pole bags? I definitely felt more force on my joints since there was no give from the bag

 

[nomilkforsanta]

I'm considering joining a new muay thai gym but all they have are pole bags. Are there any health risks with training on pole bags? I definitely felt more force on my joints since there was no give from the bag

Unless you have hip dysplasia, an arthritis spectrum disorder, or calcium abnormality a pole bag is fine.

 

[ssullivan80]

I'm considering joining a new muay thai gym but all they have are pole bags. Are there any health risks with training on pole bags? I definitely felt more force on my joints since there was no give from the bag

Training Muay Thai is the "health risk" (and reward), the pole bag is a moot point.

 

[nomilkforsanta]

Training Muay Thai is the "health risk" (and reward), the pole bag is a moot point.

I know of two people who damaged their hips on pole bags for having one of the conditions I listed above.

 

[ssullivan80]

I know of two people who damaged their hips on pole bags for having one of the conditions I listed above.

Proximate cause of injury, wasn't the bag...... it was the "condition".

 

[Torrid]

Well, I wouldn't recommend punching them. They don't have enough swing or give, so all the power your put into your punch is going to travel back to the wrist, elbow and shoulder.

Still, I think they're a wonderful tool for MT training. I've had one in my garage for years to supplement going to train at the gym. I filled it with rubber mulch so it's stiff as hell, but the awkward shape of the rubber pieces allow a little bit of give between them. Really great for working on your kicks, knees and elbows.

I find it strange that a gym would only have pole bags though, I guess as long as there is a good amount of mitt work going on, it's really not a big deal. Sparring drills with another person is going to be the most important thing in the long run anyway.

 

[nomilkforsanta]

Proximate cause of injury, wasn't the bag...... it was the "condition".

Their MDs said kicking a hard object caused the condition to worsen. For example, people with hip displasia normally wear away their cartilage in their 50s and 60s, however, excessive trama (kicking) can cause it to wear away in their 30s.

 

[NAKMUAY18]

Make sure you work on controlling distances and range separately if you only have pole bags to work with. The way the bag swings and moves makes you have to adjust your position to prevent stuffing or missing your strikes. If the bag doesn't move you can just plant and bang with no consequence.

As for health risks, some gyms have bags of sand to kick. As long as the pole bag has a nice fill of rags you should be fine.