General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Flip turns and dizziness Rss Feed  
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2008-01-18 9:32 AM

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Regular
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Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Subject: Flip turns and dizziness
I am not an expert swimmer but was on swim team for a few years (10-14 years old). Flip turns never gave me any problems. After 15 years break, I am swimming again and have not been able to do a flip turn yet. I have tried but get dizzy and then sick to my stomahe. I have had my ears checked and have no reprots of any inner ear damage (noticable).

Maybe my technique is off. I watched and read the latest training video and seem to be doing things correctly.

Any suggestions?


2008-01-18 9:42 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Veteran
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ohio
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I would first think its 1 of 2 things either you need to do it more and it should lessen or it is from oxygen depravation which means it should decrease when your lung capacity increases. How much swimming have you done in the last 1-2 years?
2008-01-18 10:45 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Spokane, WA
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness

As the last post mentioned, it could have something to do w/ lung capacity at this point. Also, are you wearing ear plugs? If not, that could also be the reason.

Good luck!

2008-01-18 11:06 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Expert
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Kansas City, MO
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
i totally know what your talking about..... i am the same way.  i worked at a theme park when i was younger for 6 years, test rode roller coasters 5-6 times in a row and every other ride with no problem....now one loop and i am ready to vomit......  my two cents is that it is not oxygen deprivation or lung capacity (at least for me), i can swim forever and hold my breath relatively long, i just get dizzy and sick.....    maybe i need to do it more and it would go away but i dont want to feel sick during my next 20 swims...  
2008-01-18 11:17 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Veteran
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Broomfield, Colorado
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
When you flip turn, you're only supposed to turn over once.
2008-01-18 11:26 AM
in reply to: #1163982

Expert
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Las Vegas
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness

MinnesotaBrian - 2008-01-18 9:17 AM When you flip turn, you're only supposed to turn over once.

this is true, but it is sooo difficult to come out of a good tuck.



2008-01-18 12:52 PM
in reply to: #1163656

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Modesto, California
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
Just commit to doing them, then it will become easy. Do them during your warm-ups while you are fresh. Start with a couple then add one or two each training session. Keep adding them at each workout and you will become comfortable again and your flip muscles will get stronger. Just be patient and keep at it!
2008-01-18 1:07 PM
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western iowa, almost nebraska.
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I felt the same sensation when I started doing flip turns. (just started doing them 3 weeks ago.) My two cents is exactly what has been said. It was a breathing thing. now that I have been doing them it is getting better. When I am really getting fatigued is when it happens for me. The way I got it fixed was to only flip on one side of the pool, and do a heads up breathing turn on the other side. Did this until I felt confident enough to do both sides.

Today at lunch was my first full work out that I actually made the entire workout doing flip turns. i did get dizzy on the middle when I was really winded, but I coasted the next lap and took in full breath and released full breath and it went away.

Started swimming memorial weekend 2007, and today had my fastest 1800 swim to date. 32.20. super excited
2008-01-18 1:13 PM
in reply to: #1163656

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Regular
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Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
Thanks for the input! I will commit to trying them again and add them into workout as suggested. I guess like everything else, repetition is the key!
2008-01-19 1:26 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Huntington Beach
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I think it is from lack of oxygen. You gotta remember, as you do your flip turn you are breathing out...add that to an elongated period under the water, and the physical effort a flip turn requires and PRESTO, dizziness.
As for helping your flip turns, put in a floaty between you thighs. The same floaty your swim instructor uses when he/she says you're not kicking right. Do flip turns with those. In my experience most people that have problems with flip turns have the problems because they seperate their legs during the turn. If you focus on keeping them together it will drastically improve your flip turns. It is they key tool to all (well most) of your flip turn problems!
2008-01-19 6:27 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Master
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Houston, TX
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
If you don't get easly dizzy in general, I would just try to work through it.


2008-01-19 6:54 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Bob
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Binghamton, NY
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness

You will work through this. This happens to a lot of adults that I have taught flip turns to. One reason for this is you may be too close to the wall requiring you to get into a tight ball in order to miss the wall. You should be starting your turn about 3 feet away from the wall and letting momentum bring you closer to the wall.

One thing that should help is not to curl into a ball when you do your turn. When you approach the wall and start your turn, the objective is to change directions. Bend at the waist with strait legs, then bend at the knees to bring your feet to the wall. When you practice turns, practice coming off the walls on your back then turning on your stomach with your first pull.

I teach people to practice away from the wall to get the flip turn down, then move closer to the wall to get the timing down. For a few hundred yards only swim between the flags. When you reach the flags do a flip turn and kick to get started again. You should be kicking on your back when you finish your turn and turning over when you feel like being on your stomach again.

One other thing. The most important thing in swimming is to RELAX! You will swim faster and more efficiently if you are relaxed in the water.

I hope this helps. 

2008-01-19 8:24 AM
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Champion
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Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness

It's not from lack of oxygen.  You don't become hypoxic in a few seconds or anytime while you swim despite what many suggest.

If it's anything, it's a buildup of carbon dioxide that you're not used to handling.  Or you're just older.  I used to be able to do flips and somersaults all day long.  Now I get dizzy when I do those.

2008-01-19 6:02 PM
in reply to: #1163656

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Champion
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Dallas, TX
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
If it hurts... don't do it.

2008-01-23 5:51 PM
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Colorado
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I had a dizziness episode last week, and I went searching the net to see if someone had a remedy. So here I am! Thanks, google.

For me, the dizziness happens on the very first flip turn of a workout after taking an extended break from swimming (i.e. multiple months). In the past, I've been able to shrug it off -- each successive flip gets easier and less disorienting. After a couple hundred yards, I'll be good to go. But last week was a different story. That first turn sent my head throbbing. I had double vision. (How many lines are at the bottom of the lane?) I tried to grind through a few more laps, but I couldn't seem to recover. I ended up dry heaving into the gutter. Not pretty.

I don't know what it is, but I assure you this is NOT a technique problem. I swam competively through my entire youth. I assure you I've done *millions* of flip turns. And I don't think it's an oxygen issue, since the problem subsides as the workout progresses.

I am very hesitant to go back to the pool. Who wants to experience vertigo? However, I'm pretty sure the only way I'm going to get past this is through repetition. I advise the same for you.

Edited by rwd 2008-01-23 5:58 PM
2009-01-06 6:55 AM
in reply to: #1163656

Member
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Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I got a refresher flip turn lesson after I swam an easy 600. I must have tried about a dozen flips and I'm happy to report I didn't getting any water up my nose:-) I felt dizzy several times during the practice and felt pretty puny on the way home. I even went back to sleep for another 3 hours.

All day I had a major headache at the sides of my temples and some ear pressure on the right side. I tend to have sinus/allergy issues so I'm not sure if this has anything to do with my headache. After I swim, I always use alcohol and hydrogen peroxide to dry out my ears.

I'm a bit hesitant to try the flip turns again because I don't want to have the dizzy feeling all day. Is this something that will eventually go away after I've gotten used to doing flip turns? Maybe I just try 1 or 2 flips per swim and build-up?

I went to bed really early last night and still felt a bit off this morning before my 3mile run.

Any suggestions?


2009-01-06 1:37 PM
in reply to: #1888715

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Veteran
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Lowestoft, England
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I get the same problem for the first couple of flips in my workout, along with sinus pain. After half a dozen laps it goes away. I guess like anything else the more you practice the more your body adjusts.
2011-03-10 2:41 PM
in reply to: #1163656


1

Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
But how do I get over the initial "fear factor" of the straight somersault?
2011-03-10 4:20 PM
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Deep in the Heart of Texas
Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness

If you don't use ear plugs, you might want to try that.  I swam on a swim team as a kid and never wore ear plugs and never had issues with dizziness.  Now, if I swim (and flip turn) w/out ear plugs I get dizzy.  I have read numerous threads on BT suggesting ear plugs for dizziness, so it is not just me.

If you are already wearing ear plugs...there might be another cause.Wink

 

 

2011-03-11 3:48 AM
in reply to: #1163656

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Master
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Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I also swam competitively for several years and flipped for most of them, and do notice some vertigo after a long, continuous swim, say about 1000 meters and up. Definitely I don't notice after 500 meters, and do after 1500. A bit more likely if swimming hard/racing than easy.  I never get dizzy swimming or racing in open water, so it's not the effort or being in water that does it.  Maybe just how many turns and how close together they are.  It's never affected my ability to train or race; just to practice swim-run transitions for an aquathlon when I had to do the training swim in a pool.  If your technique is okay (you could ask a coach or experienced swimmer to check) and there are no health problems, I think it'll eventually get to a tolerable level. If the discomfort is affecting your swim, I'd start slowly and maybe just do one flip every 100 meters, and build up gradually. Might just be a case of your body getting used to all those rapid changes in position again.
2018-08-21 1:32 PM
in reply to: bsglazar


1

Subject: RE: Flip turns and dizziness
I live in Phoenix Arizona and have been swimming for training and competition for several years. Recently I've up'd my lap count and have noticed that I get dizzy on flip turns towards the latter part of my workout. btw, it's mid August and the water temp is probably high-80s or low 90s. Not ideal at all! I'm in good physical condition and I'm going to guess that, for me, maybe the water temp has something to do with it too. I know I'm warm but obviously not feeling it the same as if I were running. So for me, maybe being a little overheated could be a cause?


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