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Head balancing and dizziness

topic posted Mon, April 7, 2008 - 7:28 AM by 
Recently I've been working intensely on different head balancing tricks. Yesterday while practicing I got this intense wave of vertigo that nearly knocked me over. It's happened a couple times since then, and I'm not sure if this is something I need to be worried about. Anyone out there have a similar experience? Is my inner ear just getting shaken up by these new movements?

any insights would be very helpful.

thanks!
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  • Re: Head balancing and dizziness

    Mon, April 7, 2008 - 9:03 PM
    I sometimes get intense dizziness when I'm upside down and high...

    High on an aerial tissue that is. :-)

    I've been a little worried about it, too. It didn't used to happen to me and just started a few months ago. It seems to happen when I'm upside down (similar to head balancing?) and more so if my head is tilted back sharply while upside down, as when I'm looking at the floor while hanging upside down. Doing a wheel down on the tissue always seems to bring this on for me lately.

    I'd also like to hear other's insights on this.
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    • Blue...
      Blueberry
      offline 28

      Re: Head balancing and dizziness

      Tue, April 8, 2008 - 7:06 PM
      My self and a friend who are training contortion have been puzzling about this latley.
      It seems to varey some times but we can't work out why. Some days we are not affected at all and others it is really bad.

      At the moment we are thinking that maybe we need to drink more water through the day. But if any one else has better ideas we would love to know.
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  • liz
    liz
    offline 5

    Re: Head balancing and dizziness

    Wed, April 9, 2008 - 1:56 PM
    Hi Roger,

    I've gone through something similar many times over the years while training in partnering, dance, and aerial work. One of my teachers explained that often it's because your body is trying to process new information about where it is in space, especially if you're working through something new where you're upside down or moving on an unfamiliar plane of motion. The vestibular system is being thrown off and it takes time for our brain to figure out how to interpret what's happening. We often also hold extra tension in our bodies (especially in the neck and shoulder muscles) when we're moving in a new way and that can add to the problem.

    As you practice more, the body adapts to the new movement over time and the muscles can relax more instead of tightening up in a protective reflex. If you start with practicing for a small amount of time but consistently each week, the dizziness should gradually lessen and you can increase the amount of practice time, and eventually it won't be a problem. When I first started training on aerial hoop, the spinning made me really nauseous within only a couple of minutes, but now I can spin forever no problem! However, if I haven't practiced consistently, the dizziness comes back the next time I start back again and I have to go through the retraining process again to get used to the motion again.

    Hope that helps!

    Best wishes,
    Liz
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  • tser...
    tserafina
    offline 91

    Re: Head balancing and dizziness

    Wed, April 9, 2008 - 2:17 PM
    Do you have low blood pressure? For women: are you anemic?
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    • Re: Head balancing and dizziness

      Wed, April 9, 2008 - 6:58 PM
      Yes, I do have slightly low blood pressure. It has occurred to me that this is why I'm more at risk for this. It does seem to happen more when I've been upside down and then right myself quickly. The blood is probably draining from my head without strong blood pressure to keep me from getting dizzy.

      It did seem to be more of a problem for me during the winter months when it is very cold in the circus school I train at. Could cold temperatures be effecting my low blood pressure even more?

      Thanks, Tserafina, for bringing this up. I may be slightly anemic, too.
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      • Re: Head balancing and dizziness

        Wed, April 9, 2008 - 7:26 PM
        Thanks for the great responses gang
        It seems like I'm just gonna have to slow up my practice routine for a bit and let my brain readjust itself.
        Bit of a shame, cause I'm finally starting to get those cool head rolls.

        Apparently a buildup of fluid in the inner ear can also cause this problem, so to be safe I'm treating myself for an ear infection as well.
        Plus, this is a good excuse to use those funky ear candles. ;)

        much obliged, and if anyone has something to add, keep it comin
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        • shireen
          shireen
          offline 270

          Re: Head balancing and dizziness

          Thu, April 10, 2008 - 9:48 AM
          the kids in my circus class were telling me about an exercise a teacher gave them once...

          it was a part of something they called "brain dance." there's a part where they spin in one direction, then the teachers told them to stop, jump up & down and tug on their ears to right all the fluids, etc. then they spin the other way & do it again.

          ginger helps with nausea, too. you can eat it crystallized, or get high-strength ginger pills at a health food store.
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  • ACRO...
    ACRODANCE / ADAGIO
    offline 21

    Re: Head balancing and dizziness

    Mon, April 14, 2008 - 1:34 AM
    the brain is next to your neck - your neck is in tention - the further spine downwards is extremely nervously enervated - the nervous direction feeds your inner organs - by stopping immediately with your blood circulation you have a different blood distribution and at the same time nervous irritation - so it's all coming together - that's why
    bieger
    (physiotherapist + acrobat)
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