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Suspension bondage is a form of sexual bondage where a bound person is
hung from one or more overhead suspension points. Suspension bondage is
considered to carry a higher risk than other forms of sexual bondage
The three main positions are vertical, horizontal and inverted.
Vertical suspension
This primarily involves the person being lifted from the ground by their
wrists. This is usually achieved by use of rope or by special suspension
cuffs. When using rope, extreme damage can be caused to the soft tissues
of the wrists, as well as reducing circulation, so being suspended by
ropes can only normally be achieved for a very short period of time. Often
in fiction and movies a person may be pictured hanging from metal cuffs
or handcuffs. This is not possible, as the weight that would be distributed
onto the wrists would do great damage. It is therefore commonly suggested
that visualisations of this method of suspension are on the whole fictitious.
The safest and "most comfortable" method of suspension by the
wrists is to use suspension cuffs as they are specifically designed to
spread the weight around the wrist as much as possible.
An alternative method of vertical suspension is to use a bondage rope
harness. With the ropes tied around the body and in particular around
the upper arms close to the shoulders as well as around the upper leg
and through the groin, it is possible to suspend a person with ropes attached
to these areas similar to the way a parachute is attached to a person.
In this position the arms and legs may be left to hang free, as the person
would have great difficulty getting free without assistance.
Horizontal suspension
This position has the subject bound in a horizontal position, sometimes
face up but usually face down. The body is lifted into this position either
by attaching bondage equipment to the ends of the limbs, or by securing
bondage equipment to various areas of the body, or a mixture of both.
When just by the limbs, ropes or suspension cuffs are attached to the
wrists and ankles, with the subject weight born by these areas, the limbs
may be brought together forming a hogtie position, or kept apart. When
the body itself is used to suspend the person, they may first be tied
into a conventional bondage position first such as a hogtie or ball tie,
then by attaching ropes or chains to certain ropes under areas of the
body able to take weight the person is lifted into the air.
Inverted suspension
Being suspended upside down can be a very hard position to maintain as
a result of the position causing the blood to rush to the head. This means
that this position probably can't be maintained for any length of time
and can even lead to the person blacking out. To be suspended in this
position, ropes or suspension cuffs are used to lift the person into the
air by their ankles.
Unlike when a person is suspended by their wrists, rope suspension around
the ankles can be maintained for much longer as the ankle region naturally
is able to take far more weight and stress than the wrists. This is especially
so if boots are used as the ropes can run around the outside surface of
the boot thus protecting the skin from damage. The person may be suspended
with their legs together, or held apart either by using a suspension spreader
bar or by securing the ankles to two separate locations. With the legs
held in this position, the subject may have an increased sense of vulnerability
as their genital region would be easily accessible. A variation on this
position is to tie rope to the wrists and pull the arms up behind the
person, securing the rope to either the suspension spreader bar or to
a securing point between the two legs, resulting in what is called a suspension
bow. In this position, if the subject is a female, her breasts would be
pointing almost straight down, depending on the strictness of the position,
and nipple clamps and weights can be added for painful stimulation. The
clamps may alternatively be secured to a point on the floor, limiting
the subject's ability to struggle or move at all without causing pain.
Risks
The danger most often associated with suspension bondage, over and above
the usual risks inherent in bondage, is falling; whether due to a weak
suspension point, faulty equipment or poor technique. Inverted positions
are especially hazardous in this regard since a head-first fall of only
a few inches can kill or paralyze a person. Less obvious dangers include
nerve compression and resulting damage, circulation problems and fainting,
and the recently-recognized harness hang syndrome . Extracting a person
safely out of suspension bondage can be difficult if they are unconscious,
or if a winch or hoist jams. Suspension tops will often work with spotters
who can help get the person down in an emergency.
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