Training out of extreme nausea/motion sickness?

[Rikke Olsen]

Hi everyone!

I have this pretty big problem. Since I can remember, I've always suffered from extreme motion sickness. A 5km car ride could make me throw up.

We did simple somersaults (you know, just on the floor) at school sports class today, and I experienced nausea and dizziness from just two-three somersaults. I did them again a few minutes ago at home, and I was very, I mean REALLY close to throwing up just after having "landed" it. The world gets turned upside down, everything spins, I experience the same kind of "rush" in my stomach as when you ride a wild roller coaster - only to the extend where it isn't funny. I also get a slight headache.

So now to my question; is it possible to train yourself out of such extreme response? Will it simply take time to get adjusted, or should I work with it next to skill training? (I intend to start gymnastics once I find a schedule for it where I live).

Getting a whole session ruined from the beginning because of nausea would be quite a waste...

Thanks in advance, and I can't tell how much I appreciate this forum!

[Cole Dano]

i have the same problem, but not as bad.

In my case it improves with practice, but if i feel nauseous i will stop and do something else for a while and come back if the velvety feeling passes.

I believe that there is some neurological adaption that takes place as the mind at first doesn't understand what is happening, as higher centers take over the nausea can be reduced.

Your case is very special though if you have such severe motion sickness, have you seen a professional about this, or done any research about it? The problems are almost certainly connected.

[Rikke Olsen]

Thanks for you reply, Mr Brady!

I haven't seen a specialist - I'm fairly certain a doctor will there isn't much to do about it.

You would assume though, that it is something that one can practice oneself out of, right? I mean, people aren't mean to make triple twists and flips from nature, but they have managed to learn to land moves like those, and not lose orientation.

I really hope it comes rather quickly...

[Cole Dano]

How bad is your motion sickness in general now? I mean can you ride in a car and not get sick?

If so i imagine you learned some strategies to help, look straight ahead, slow calm breaths, and things that make it worse, like reading in the car.

If basic tumbling is getting you sick now, try slowing it down and working on keeping your eyes fixed, and breathing smooth and easy, the same things you learned to do in the car. Keeping the eyes fixed somewhere so you don't see the room spinning might help.

Let your mind learn the rhythm of the movements so it can keep up with the inner ear. In a way your mind should be one step ahead of the movement so you already feel it before it happens, this keeps you in sync.

The thing that seems to cause the nausea is that the mind and inner ear get out of sync, this sends a signal to the body that there is a neurotoxin in the body which causes the nausea and in severe cases vomiting. Many people test this each weekend with alcohol.

In any case if its really bad, a doctor can help, there are medications you can take. You might also try Ginger travel sickness medication, i have some in chewing gum form and it helps.

[Coach Sommer]

If the issue is not congenital, most of the time equilibrium can be improved with training.

For example, I have observed a Russian coach training young gymnasts who, while hanging suspended and being spun by the coach, were capable of performing 40+ extremely fast somersaults in a row with no dizzyness or disorientation afterward. This capacity was slowly been built up over time.

Yours in Fitness,

Coach Sommer

[Razz]

My former ukranian coach did this to me aswell, daymn I got dizzy