Rope Bondage Safety

Hola!

I'm putting on my Dominatrix boots after looking through the user photos and I'd like to discuss a little bit about rope bondage safety.

It's important that you do your research into where on the body ropes should not be placed when tying up your partner. The Lovehoney community has lots of member photos showing off some very pretty rope work that could potentially cause long term problems for the sub due to their placement.

You cannot rely on the photos of others, books and articles which negate to discuss safety when it comes to learning rope bondage and you certainly shouldn't be performing suspensions if you haven't taken a recognised first aid course and learned the importance of danger zones on the body, and more specifically, your partner. Everyone is different but there are some very stiff 'do not do' rules which I've seen violated in some of our community photos. I'd like everyone to stay safe!

I've had a quick search and came across this doc which has some helpful pointers for those wanting to try and learn rope bondage.

The sections I want to draw your attention to the most are Rope Placement and Body Placement. If you're planning to use rope in the bedroom I *strongly* suggest you read this doc along with other articles or attend a rope workshop with a ropemaster/mistress like Midori.

As general points - avoid the wrists, knees, ankles and any other joints directly. Tie ropes well below them and not over/around them (ie: wrist bondage when done correctly should be on the forearm, not directly on the wrist itself). Avoid pulse points. Avoid the thighs. Avoid the neck. Avoid the armpits and other areas where there are sensitive glands. Avoid cutting off the shoulder blades.

There's a lot to learn when it comes to ropes and I love to see you guys glamourising it, but only when it's done right.

x

Lovehoney - Hella wrote:

As general points - avoid the wrists, knees, ankles and any other joints directly. Tie ropes well below them and not over/around them (ie: wrist bondage when done correctly should be below the main tendon you can see raised in each wrist). Avoid pulse points. Avoid the thighs. Avoid the neck. Avoid the armpits and other areas where there are sensitive glands. Avoid cutting off the shoulder blades.

Hella, good post, I'm not into ropes at all but didnt quite understand the meaning of "below" do you mean towards the hand or towards the elbow.

What on earth are you holding in your new profile pic?

Couldn't agree more, Hella.

<< My most recent photo raises this issue... PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME FOLKS!

Go along to workshops in your area - they are all over the UK: London, Oxford, Birmingham, Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow!

If you would like to know more then please contact me (use my profile).

Shibari/kinbaku is a real passion of mine and as a rigger, safety is my priority.

You see the Flexor carpi radialis? You want to tie rope below where that ceases to be raised in the wrist (at the forearm, not toward the hand). This helps assure you don't put too much pressure on the medinal nerve. You should also assure that any body piece is tied with a separate rope to the forearm bind and the knot finished at the forearm for easy removal aside from the body piece.

There are lots of safety rules with rope but the main ones are:

NO individual thigh bondage or thigh pressure from ropes to avoid the fermoral artery. Definitely no suspension from the thigh.

NO actual wrist tying with ropes

NO neck ropes

Please read the doc linked and the associated links within the doc for a good starting point on rope bondage safety.

And the thing in my picture is the Jackboot Spanking Paddle - This weeks Awesome Sex Toy. :)

Hello.

This is a little bit difficult to explain so I'll link a picture, but with regard to not tying at the wrists, is something like this acceptable or not?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1C6EyF5Kixo/Ts1LKcSKsgI/AAAAAAAAA18/EmLXg-JQ47w/s1600/Shibari-001.jpg

Avrielle_Aniko wrote:

Hello.

This is a little bit difficult to explain so I'll link a picture, but with regard to not tying at the wrists, is something like this acceptable or not?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1C6EyF5Kixo/Ts1LKcSKsgI/AAAAAAAAA18/EmLXg-JQ47w/s1600/Shibari-001.jpg

It's a little difficult to see where on the wrists those ropes fall. I would personally tie that piece an inch or two toward the elbow. However, the wrist ropes in this piece appear to be loose enough with the shoulder-to-upper arm piece taking most of the strain. Notice how the inner wrists face one another to protect the sensitive areas. Big tick.

Also note that the shoulder/chest harness rightly steers clear of the upper spine, shoulder blades and neck area. :) Big tick there.

And I really do want to stress that I have practiced a limited number of body pieces and restraints in my time and stick to what I know is safe - a selection of 3 or 4 body pieces and 4 separate appendage restraints with multiple ropes. I can't tell you everything that is right and wrong, I'm not Midori or any other super-skilled practioner. :p

Read, educate and assure safety at all times. x

Hella I also didnt understand this

NO individual thigh bondage (ESPECIALLY THE RIGHT THIGH)

Some peoples circulation systems are reversed arnt they?

I was taught NO thigh bondage but especially no right thigh bondage or pressure (Which I wrongly presumed was owing to the fermoral artery which runs down both thighs and should not be constricted) - I'm now trying to figure which random nerve/artery I'm thinking of.

I really like Clover's bunny guide: http://rope-topia.com/downloads/tutorials/rope_bottom_guide.pdf

It's really from the perspective of the tie-ee, but it's got some really good and clear points of note about vulnerable points, good and bad ways to tie, as well as general things to bear in mind when you're tying or being tied (including questions you should ask yourself about anyone you're letting work on you and where you're doing it).  And all in simple language that you don't need to be a doctor to understand. :)

BashfulBabe wrote:

I really like Clover's bunny guide: http://rope-topia.com/downloads/tutorials/rope_bottom_guide.pdf

It's really from the perspective of the tie-ee, but it's got some really good and clear points of note about vulnerable points, good and bad ways to tie, as well as general things to bear in mind when you're tying or being tied (including questions you should ask yourself about anyone you're letting work on you and where you're doing it).  And all in simple language that you don't need to be a doctor to understand. :)

Excellent resource! Thanks for sharing.

Very interesting! I think it looks beautiful and very much a turn on, but very interesting to learn these things! Some of it is common sense, but there are so many pressure points in the body that you need to watch out for, some can aid and some can hinder bondage! Very useful to know!

Avrielle_Aniko wrote:

Very interesting! I think it looks beautiful and very much a turn on, but very interesting to learn these things! Some of it is common sense, but there are so many pressure points in the body that you need to watch out for, some can aid and some can hinder bondage! Very useful to know!

The radial nerve is a b*tch!

If you're tied and your hands start to tingle, go numb or feel 'strange', then untie immediately.

BashfulBabe wrote:

I really like Clover's bunny guide: http://rope-topia.com/downloads/tutorials/rope_bottom_guide.pdf

It's really from the perspective of the tie-ee, but it's got some really good and clear points of note about vulnerable points, good and bad ways to tie, as well as general things to bear in mind when you're tying or being tied (including questions you should ask yourself about anyone you're letting work on you and where you're doing it).  And all in simple language that you don't need to be a doctor to understand. :)

That looks like it could be very helpful *favourites* thanks!

 not into actual rope bondage myself but have tied ex's by the wrists to say a bed before so this thread is extremely interesting reading.

Considering its very important message and the fact that it relates to the community (i.e the community pictures etc.) is it worth asking about a sticky on this one?

Especially at the moment - referring to the 'June is bondage month' thread...

recently found just how uncomfortable it can be being upsidedown- my feet wet numb and cold where they were tied higher than my head ouch!

i am a bit confused now though about where it is actualy safe to tie up- obviously not too tight or with thin rope or all weight on them but surely wrists arent such a masive no-no as stated- dont most restraints go to wrists, i've seen two knotty boys demo atleast 3 that go to wrists.

Thanks Hella! Was just talking to someone earlier about looking into rope play some more and the worry about finding some reliable advice/instructions. Much appreciated!

Cuffs are generally safer as they don't fit so tightly around the wrists, nor do they take as long to remove.

It can be perfectly safe to tie people up, you just need to learn about it first. Much like people tend to have to read about anal sex to figure out how to do it nicely and safely.

You should avoid anywhere with a major artery or nerve and don't tie up the hands or feet (bondage mittens are fine, but I wouldn't pair these with ropes and prefer tethers with clips or a clips and chains combo for overhead/behind back connecting).

Be sure to follow instructions precisely. Look to follow guides that give you an idea of how it's wrong like Clover's safety sheet shows.

Be careful not to tie the ropes too tight (just enough to restrict movement and prevent your partner wriggling out).

Be careful how you finish the rope work and place the knot closest to the area you'd like to be freed first in an emergency (connecting knots to body pieces/any place bonding body parts together). 

Check that your partner has eaten recently, is feeling well and has told you about any health issues or sore/weak points on their body so you know where to avoid.

Ensure that you start small and work up. Don't go straight for lots of rope and elaborate knots, you need to learn together what works for you both and be able to get out quickly if it's not going as planned.