Stretching, strength training crucial for aerial fitness enthusiasts

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- Aerial fitness enthusiasts should warm up with appropriate stretching and strength training to avoid injury during workouts, according to experts.

Finger and forearm soreness is common among beginners.

"I started feeling these pains in my finger joints and I thought, 'I'm having early onset arthritis,'" aerialist Larisa Kim said.

Jill Franklin, owner of Aerial Physique operating at Le Studio in Inglewood, said that many beginners tend to have the same issue.

"Because you're grabbing onto the fabric, and you tend to grab way more than you need to, and people's fingers get really sore," Franklin said.

Aerial fitness requires both stretching and strength training because of the pressure that is placed on the feet. Thus, foot cramping is the most common problem.

Warming up by pointing and flexing the feet as well as ball massaging wakes up and breaks up foot fascia.

For the upper body, inverted wrist and forearm stretching and slow, controlled check and shoulder rolls are recommended.

Franklin suggests having a pull up bar at home for serious aerialists.

Aerialist Cynthia MacPhee said aerial fitness helped her recover from throat cancer.

"It really helped me heal so quickly, and it made me feel so much better, and it feeds my soul," MacPhee said.