Dark Castle - Sin 
BDSM Canada & Training

by Akero Nabri

     May 2009

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The use of rope bondage can have issues associated with both mid and long-term uses. The problems stem from several factors, each of which contributes to the effects.

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Types of Ropes

Natural Fibre

Manila is a natural hemp fibre that comes from the same family of plants as cannabis. The word canvas derives from the fact that hemp fibres were also used to create sails from the “cannabis plant.” The basic fibre is from the crushed outer bark of the plant. The fibres are then spun into strands. Hemp was often used woven together to make sail canvas, and the word canvas derives from cannabis. The rope is built up in successive twists to the desired thickness. The resulting fibres are waxed to protect and prevent chaffing of the fibres when in use.
 

Wool is a natural fibre produced from the sheared coats of sheep known as fleece. The fleece is washed with water and a mix of light solvents to remove dirt, debris and wool grease. This product is then pulled apart through wool carding, a process in which multi-toothed brushes separate the fibres into strands or slivers. Finer-toothed devices then pull through the slivers to separate the short from the long. Like-sized pieces are then twisted or spun together to produce the basic connected fibres known as yarn. Multiple spinings give it its thickness and strength.

 

Artificial

Shock Cord is a common, everyday rope that is inexpensive to produce due to its nylon-based properties. It is created by spinning elastic nylon fibres together to form various thicknesses and is easy to use.  The excellent stretch characteristics, combined with the round shape and braided cover, offer superb abrasion resistance. The elasticity ass the slight give over short distances to allow for movement and over long lengths to act as a spring function.
 

Poly Combo rope is made from polyester and polypropylene fibres and is an excellent, low-cost, general utility rope. This economical, high-strength rope has extremely low stretch properties, high abrasion resistance, and is easily spliced. This rope features good abrasion resistance, high strength and will hover just under the water,

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CombiCord

This rope features a strong inner fibre, typically Poly-combo or Manila rope, and a wool cover. This rope is desired by plant and shibaru enthusiasts due to its high inner tensile strength and a soft outer layer that flexes, allowing delicate items to remain undamaged through motion and movement.

 

General Impact Considerations

The rope bondage impact begins with the style of rope. The brightly coloured ropes tend to be used for show and display purposes, while PolyCombo or Manila is chosen for its strength, and CombiCord is used when marks are not desired. The properties of each will contribute to the effect on the bound subject.
 

The duration or length of time a subject is bound increases the pressure on the body's surface, causing the fluids to be expelled from the outer layers of the body. The effect will increase the time needed for fluids to return and remove the striations (pressure marks) on the skin.
 

A factor contributing to the effect is the tightness of the rope. The loose binding will allow for a free range of movement and slippage. The tight bound will support weight for suspension or immobility restraints. A medium bind is when a limited range of movement is allowed, such as for demonstration purposes or easy removal of the ropes. The tightness directly impacts the depth and definition of rope marks on the skin.
 

Localization, where tight and severe bondage at points of the body creates a local effect, such as suspension, where one or two bound body parts hold the body's entire weight. There can be both short-term and long-term issues with the rope being too tight. 

• Striations

• Bruising

• Cutting off blood

• Nerve Damage

 

Detailed Explanation

Loss of Circulation

If your whole hand or foot or whatever is going numb (as if you slept on it), and you can still move it - that’s circulation loss and is “ok.” If it’s not in your risk profile to experience circulation loss, that’s okay too - change up the rope, but it's safer than nerve pain or damage. 

 

Numbness

The fluid push and potential blood flow loss can cause symptoms of numbness in the limbs. This ranges from mild “pins and needles” to levels of numbness, progressing to a state of “going to sleep” and ultimately to atrophy. The major contributors to this will be the tightness and duration of the rope bondage.

 

Initiated Pain

The effects can also occur when the bindings are removed. The most prevalent symptom once the blood flow returns is the sensation of itching or pain. With protracted periods, it may take time for the full range of motion to return.

 

Bruising

The patchiness and bruising in several areas, particularly with prolonged sensation, will occur as blood flow returns and the tissue damage (including capillary ruptures) fills with blood.

 

Nerve Damage

Mid to long-term bondage with loss of blood circulation can affect the nerves as they become starved for oxygen. Nerve pain or damage can be easily indicated by tingling or burning sensations, often accompanied by the inability to move the hand or grip an object or another person's hand strongly.  Light sensations, such as numbness and “pins and needles,” are a sign of mild nerve damage. Lack of sensitivity and pain induction is at a median level, and wholesale loss of sensation in the constant pain syndrome is one of the long-term damages. Both mid- and long-term damage may have the side effect of “phantom pain,” where even non-interfered-with body tissues can experience spasms of pain or have pain appear localized outside the body, such as 4-5 inches from the elbows. The phantom pain outside the body is a factor that causes the body to remember a position as being contorted, and it originally feels the pain. The mind then projects that pain relative to the position the body was in at the time of the pain's original occurrence.

 

Length of Impact

Any of these symptoms can last from minutes to hours, even days or months.  The compounding of damage will occur if the body is not allowed to recover fully, especially in older or less fit subjects, the more protracted the experience. There is an increased risk of nerve damage, particularly with compounds. Hence, once nerve damage occurs, the likelihood of compound damage dramatically increases. This is then a clear indicator to make an intelligent and informed about continuing the offending activities.

 

Too Tight

There is a real need for expertise and practice to understand when rope bondage is too tight. Start lightly, do not jump to suspension until practice and experience have been developed. This understanding takes years and numerous sessions for the dominant or rope enthusiast to grasp the correct blend of factors necessary for making informed decisions. The factors are multiple, depending on all aspects mentioned above, body type, and conditioning. Therefore, this understanding can vary on a case-by-case basis. Both parties must learn through practice what feels right or wrong. 

 

An indication to Cease Activities

Any indication of negative concerns during a session, particularly while engaging in a given activity, warrants immediate action. This may involve adjusting the ropes, tightening or halting the activity (especially if involving suspension) as quickly and safely as possible. All parties need to be observant, and submissives or bondage objects need to identify nerve pain vs circulation loss and that if something feels off or wrong, react appropriately. It is better to be cautious in these cases; even if no real damage occurs, it is prudent to err on the side of caution. The most dangerous response is, “I am submissive; it is my duty to accept all things regardless of my concerns.”