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![Restraints on Nurse Victoria with Natali Demore](Restraints-Library.jpg) |
Restraints-
Bondage
The classic
bondage
garment is the strait
jacket with closed sleeves terminating in straps that can be used
to
fasten the arms crossed over the chest, available in the canvas
'asylum'
version or even in leather or
rubber.
Other bondage
garments are
'monogloves'
which force both hands into a specially made bag, 'leg bags' which do
the
same for both legs, and sleepsacks made in restrictive sizes. It is
easier
if the subject is in a vertical position, although you might need a
helper
or two to keep him or her there while you work. Once the sleepsack
is secure, it may be used for suspension.
There are other
garments that, since
they
restrict movement, can be classed as bondage items: indeed many women's
fashions fall into this category, especially when their characteristics
are exaggerated in fetish wear.
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Consider the hobble
skirt, a
narrow
skirt
with its hemline just below the knee whose effectiveness in forcing the
wearer to shuffle about slowly and helplessly can be as good as any set
of ankle restraints. Even high heels have a restrictive effect on gait.
A huge variety of
items are
available
that
are designed and made for affixing around the body in various ways. The
humble leather
belt is the
simplest and most
everyday
of such items and can be adapted for bondage use; many more items are
made
either for institutional non-consensual
restraint or for erotic use. Leather Mitts
or Rubber
Mitts force that submissive to "keep one's hand to oneself"!
Most restraints are
found
in leather
but
can be made from rubber or neoprene. They are constructed from straps
that
wrap round parts of the body with some form of fastening device to hold
them in place: most often a buckle but sometimes a more lockable
arrangement.
One or more metal rings, usually D-rings, are usually fixed to the
straps
to provide anchor points for further restraint.
The simplest, a common
sight in many
BDSM
toy boxes, are Ankle and Wrist restraints,
single bands for ankles and wrists that can be used to cuff someone's
hands
or hobble them. But there are many possibilities for other types of
restraints,
thighs, knees, collar to wrists, neck to wrists, double wrists to
ankles,
and a hog tie
restraint with a collar and affixed straps for wrists and
ankles.
Restraints can be
adapted
from belts,
dog
collars or horse tackle but are best purpose made, either for bondage
purposes
or for institutional use with a matching locking system and the
facility
to cuff wrists to belt. Attaching to chairs, poles and boards
makes the restriction even more so.
Thicker and softer
hospital restraints are more
comfortable as well as fur-lined
leather ones
. Well-made
restraints
will last longer, be more reliable and satisfying to use than cheap and
shoddy ones, that is why we carry only well-made, long lasting, high
quality restraints. You may pay more for quality, but you will
definitely get what you pay for. Remember, the restraint should be made
to be used with the strain or force you intend to put on it, safety
will
depend
on it!
Padlocks and Clips
For easily fixing
restraints and chains
together, a wide range of fastening devices are on sale in hardware
stores,
yacht chandlers and so on. What you choose will depend on how securely
you want to restrain someone: some players are happy with fastenings
that
the bottom could undo if they tried, for others only padlocks will do.
Padlocks come in a
variety
of sizes and
strengths, are reasonably priced, and ideal for use with chains.
However,
as with all lockable items, always make sure you have the keys to hand
before locking them on, and bear in mind they can be fiddly to unlock
in
an emergency. If you have several, make sure you can find the right key
for the right lock quickly. Worth hunting out are sets of padlocks
which
are all operated by the same key. Combination locks are another
alternative
but once again make sure there is a fail-safe and remember these can be
very fiddly.
Other security locks
may
have their
uses:
consider those designed for locking bicycle wheels, from the
traditional
barrel
shaped
combination locks to modern thief-proof devices.
Non-lockable
clips of various kinds are easier to use and can be quite sturdy.
And
the safety of the clips called "Panic
Snaps" is another factor to keep in mind. These are designed for a
"quick release", which can be very handy in many long term situations,
where the bottom needs to get out of the restraints now! As always,
safety
depends on how much weight a particular lock or fastening can
hold,
so make sure it is designed to do so. Small padlocks, for example,
should
keep restrained wrists securely fastened together, but not
recommended
for suspending a body! Always use common sense in any bondage scene.
Tapes and Wraps
Adhesive
tapes
and wraps like cling film (saran wrap) are popular for
mummification
but can also be used in more general bondage: for example, in the hand
bindings mentioned above under padlocks.
Duct
tape is a binding that's convenient in some circumstances and is
readily
available in black or silver. However, be careful about applying it to
bare skin: ripping it off will remove hairs and possibly even skin and
can be painful, and irritation may result from contact with the
adhesive.
Go easy, or apply it over a barrier material such as old cloth or cling
film or pallet wrap.
More related
information is
located on
the Medical Fetish Library's
Mummification
page.
Harnesses
Body harnesses or body wraps
can be used to anchor
other
restraints, for appearance and for tightness and restriction: some
are specifically designed to
be
progressively
tightened, giving a corset-like sensation. They are also a popular
accessory in suspension scenes
-- though
make absolutely sure here that the harness you intend to use is capable of supporting the weight of the
suspended person safely. Many bondage suppliers offer special heavy
duty harnesses specifically
for
suspension,
implying that they do not consider their ordinary harnesses strong
enough.
Head
harnesses
or Muzzles
typically consist of straps round the forehead and jaw, over the head
and
possibly round the collar as well.
They can be
used for
placing blindfolds and gags,
and/or for attaching the head to something
else. Great care must always
be taken
when involving the head in bondage, because of the danger of placing
undue strain on the neck.
Handcuffs
Handcuffs,
familiar from police use, are another one of those well-known SM icons
that have real practical
drawbacks: they're made for
temporary
use on prisoners in transit and designed to be potentially painful so
they
can be very uncomfortable and
damaging
to nerves and bones. If you do use them, make sure they aren't too
tight
(the wrist should move easily inside them), avoid putting any kind of
tension
or pressure on them once on (don't pull someone by them) and avoid
putting
weight on them (such as lying face-up with hands cuffed behind back).
There are a variety of
different types:
the two most popular are the U-shapes with a cross-piece and the ratchet
type which must always be
locked in use
to avoid it tightening further, usually by poking a hole on the side
adjacent to the keyhole. Leg
Cuffs and Thumb Cuffs are
similar,
just sized differently for fit, obviously. Variations on the theme are
'straight 8s' with both cuffs as one solid piece rather than joined
with
a chain, and ankle cuffs with a longer chain. Avoid the novelty
reproduction
cuffs sold cheaply in joke and souvenir shops: better to spend more
money on a genuine reliable pair.
Spreader Bars These are restraints
separated by a
long
solid object, usually a length of wooden dowel or a metal bar, to force
certain parts of the body apart. The most common examples are leg
spreaders
with two ankle straps separated by a 1m (3') length of wood or metal
bar
to force the legs apart.
Always safe, sane and consensual...
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Compiled and edited by Medical Toys with
thanks
to the Deviants Dictionary in part for this information!
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