I used to be a swinger. I used to love swinging all the time. Used to do it till my butt was sore! Not any more. Not sure why. When I was young, everything was great. Now days, it just makes me dizzy. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Used to love doing that. Within a period of a year or two after graduating high school, it became an untenable practice to me. I got on a swing one summer after having not done it for the entire winter and spring. When I started to get going I got pretty darn disoriented. I have never been able to enjoy a park swing since. Anyone else ever had this happen? I mean, my propensity for dizziness came almost out of nowhere and I haven't been able to enjoy any kind of swing since. Even a mild oscillation is enough to make me quit then and there. Tres bizarre? I think so. What could possibly have shifted in my head within a short period of time to make me so averse to it? It felt like when I got going on the swing, that my eyes couldn't adjust or something, like things got jumbled really quickly. I know my eyesight isn't quite what it used to be, but I can function pretty well ordinarily. I can read like I always have without glasses, except that somewhat distant text is kind of blurry and takes some extra effort. Would that do it? It truly puzzles me.
I haven't done much to test such motion sickness recently, but used to be pretty good on rides, and in rough seas. One wet bank holiday, we rode this fella non-stop until our friend puked; Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Next time I pass a swing I'll give it a go and report back.
As we age we tend to lose more and more control over our balance. That is why many people feel as you do with any motion that isn't "normal" like walking but sometimes even walking can be hazardous to some. There are some medications that will help to stabalize some people so perhaps you could check them out with your doctor. I have vertigo myself and take a medication to help me whenever I go out on a boat or fly in a plane. It is something like Dramamine only allot stronger and last longer as well. It does help me most of the time and perhaps it can do the same for you as well.
Four of us were in a park last year, we found the swings and all gave it a go. We all got dizzy pretty damn quick. I don't know about the others but I really never expected that I would get so dizzy. I'm 57 and they are 58, 62 and 64.
For the last few years, I easily begin to feel nauseous when riding in a car. It also seems to have come out of nowhere. You said the dizziness problems begun a year after finishing highschool. Perhaps the problem is psychological and/or stress-related. That is, after highschool, "real life" begins, with all the problems, worries and stress that slowly take a toll on us. We might not readily notice their effects in daily life (except for often feeling tired, easily irritated). But an activity that is demanding on the body can show how incapable we have become.
This is a question I've had for some time.. I too have lost some degree of balance in the last few years and it has had me pondering the reasons. As for younger aged people, think of the different activities that they encounter that require balance. Riding bicycles, playing sports, climbing trees, dancing and just running, jumping, rough housing, etc. They have seemingly boundless energy and all around are things that are testing and tuning their balance. If they later become an academic for instance, the amount of time spent reading, studying and computer apps increase, sometimes to the extent that it fills 6, 7 , 8 hours of your day or more. Then, as mentioned we have the added effect of weakening senses as one get's older. In my particular case I've spent countless hours playing loud music and have lost some aspects of my hearing with out much doubt. An anatomy student could tell you more about the connection between the ears and balance. In general, however, it's likely that much of your balance and tolerance for "strange motion" can be exercised and regained. That is not to say that a 68 year old could take steps to break his old record from the days when he was a tight rope walker, but more regular things like biking and hiking can be improved upon with greater exposure, if there are not other restrictive issues at play.
Wow, that's encouraging. At 34, I can't help thinking that if it just gets worse from here I'll be praying for death around 45. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I'm sure five kids and fifteen years of working with my father-in-law could play into that, though.
That sounds like fun - I did something similar with a friend last year when we were traipsing through the local wilderness and came upon a kiddy park, swings and slides and turnstiles. We used to swing a lot in school and had swings set up at home from the time we were one [started with chair swings at the door to our room]. The school swings were best though. They went really high and kids competed as to who would go highest. There were a couple of bad accidents when boys started jumping off at the highest point. Can't believe some of those kids have become boring salesmen now. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
At your age and with 5 kids, life must get pretty intense. The important thing is to keep a young attitude, always be contemporary and don't let life turn you into a frump. Age is illusion, you'll always feel as if you're...young. You can't really put an age on it.
Actually, we weren't in a park, we were in a wilderness up in the mountains and we came across a picnic area with a kiddie park, as you described.
SHEET! I almost forgot I started this topic! But thanks to all who have replied so far. Actually, I have had points in my life where I was prone to nausea pretty easily. Like bouts of motion sickness in cars when I was younger, or some weird episodes in my high school years that sometimes were not related to riding in cars at all. I did experience a good amount of stress around the time I graduated and a few years after. As well, that was around the time I noticed my eyesight had degraded somewhat. It seems to fluctuate too. I'm not sure that such a small degree of change in eyesight would cause that. It's very much like I described about the changing scenery while swinging that I couldn't adjust to. It was almost like what was supposed to be a smooth motion picture became kind of stop-frame or slower frame rate and it was not something I could visually keep up with. Oh, and do you feel nauseous when driving a car as opposed to riding in one? I have experienced nausea when being a passenger, especially in the back seat, but not when actually driving. Which is curious in itself. Nay, says the horse! I'm roughly half the age of those mentioned.
Well, I ride my bike quite frequently, and never experience anything ill. Then again, like I mentioned above, my motion sickness experiences in automobiles seem completely confined to whether I am driver or passenger. Interesting that you bring up computers. I spend a lot of time on the computer or reading or whatever. Short distance visual activities. I wonder if my visual faculties have become accustomed to such activities?
Off the topic, really, but I have noticed that some people really look a lot younger than they are. I think some of it has to do with the overall attitude that people have and possibly the crowds they associate with. On that thought: Boring salesmen! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! I think that may be a good way to start looking and feeling old at a premature age. Conform!
So, basically, I have early stages of MS (multiple sclerosis)? Getting dizzy on swings at a young age is a sign of early mortality? Or is it life? Or is it love? Or is it death?
I recommend balance exercises. Your sense of balance is like any other part of your body. Exercise it or watch it degrade. I do a simple balance exercise about 3 times a week. Once on each leg. Stand on one leg - arms out - and close your eyes. See how long you can stay upright without opening your eyes or putting your other leg down. You should be able to stay upright to a slow count of 15 for each leg. If you can't, it is time to do this regularly to rebuild your balance organs. Exercise.
That sounds a great exercise. It would impact on many levels, mind and body. It would not be easily done, perhaps harder than lifting weights and jogging.
As a biker I feel my balance is always being fine tuned. I usually ride hands free at least 5-10 minute intervals for fun (and balance training).
