Contractions and equalising

[mystiach]

Howdy all,

Had my first chance to do a bit of depth training (FIM/CNF) over the last few days, it's good fun but I'm getting very early contractions and when they get strong it's making it difficult to EQ. I get them very early in dynamics as well (maybe 20-25% of my max), but it doesn't really cause any problems if I just relax and ignore them. For depth it's going to be a problem. CWT was no issue as it's much faster.

So, aside from more warm-ups, breathing up more and being less slack with my yoga practise, what sort of things might help? Obviously they'll get better with time and being more acclimatised with depth, but are there any other things I might try to do or work on?

Cheers from down under

 

[sunki]

Do you get contractions on the ascent? How deep do you go, what is your dive time? Witch equalization method are you using?

 

[Simos]

Exhale fully and make the weight belt REALLY tight and you won't get them again (only joking!)

It's a tough one but if you answer the questions above it might help come up with a couple of things to try...
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[mystiach]

Hah... Contractions on descent, hence the problem. Dive times nothing out of the ordinary. Once they start, I can go about another 25-30m before they get too strong and I miss an EQ (combination of BTV/frenzel).

I changed warmup/breatheup which has helped a lot, just wondering if there are any not so obvious things I can do?

 

[sunki]

Hard nut to crack, possibly work on your technique, to burn less oxygen and get the contractions later. Other than that, training training training probably.

Good luck!

 

[Simos]

Does sound hard to crack - you either get contractions really early or you dive quite deep (for my standards!) or both

Do you do CO2 tables? I think if you work on your CO2 tolerance it should prolong (hopefully) the non-contraction phase. What change in your breath up did you make that helped out of curiosity? Wonder if it introduced a bit of hyperventilation that helped with delaying contractions... (not saying that you should HV of course, but would be maybe a good sign that CO2 tolerance training will help you...)

Would be interested in talking about your EQ technique - don't want to hijack your thread though, ok if I PM you?

 

[azapa]

try using a little more lead. how deep are you going, and from what point are you free falling?

 

[Simos]

try using a little more lead. how deep are you going, and from what point are you free falling?

That's a very good idea Azapa
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[mystiach]

No worries, as far as I know nothing exciting about my equalising, just do what works and doesn't take any effort. Feel free to PM me Neutral about 15m, falling a bit past 20m. I'm using 5 pounds already (!) if anything I'll have to use less.

I normally do a lot of CO2 training, haven't for the last little while, it will help but I get very early contractions in general.

 

[mystiach]

Whoops, that's 7 pounds

 

[alonrivkind]

Hi,
If you are neutral in 15m and start your free falling in 20m and a bit-you start to fall too early ....an early freefall-you start to slow down-thats can give an early contractions..
im having contraction some times on my 3/4 of the descending and its o.k
good training for this issue is to do static hangs on the rope-like 30 meter-and to have a lot of contractions and stay relax:t
You need to be sure about:
how much weight to be neutral in 15m exactly?
what is your gliding pace? (meter per second)
Alon

 

[azapa]

Hi,
If you are neutral in 15m and start your free falling in 20m and a bit-you start to fall too early ....an early freefall-you start to slow down-thats can give an early contractions..

Alon

Hello Alon, I have not heard that an early freefall gives early contractions.

I would think the opposite generally. Definitely for me, I need to ease into the depth without too much work, saving energy for having fun down there (spearing) or the return (line dives).

Regarding the original poster: 15m nuetral and 20 free fall sounds fine, for about a 30 to 40m dive. (you did not mention your target depth).

To put some context in, Herbert free falls from about 20 to 120...

 

[Simos]

I think Alon means that if you free fall too early (for the weight you are carrying) and it's a slow free fall you'll need a lot more time to get to the target depth azapa, which I guess could lead to contractions..
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[mystiach]

It's very hard work for me to get off the surface, but feel ok getting back up. Obviously the deeper I get, the less weight I'll be able to use. My gliding is normal. I'm just super buoyant and have early contractions - static hangs have been really helpful!

I'm not sure Herbet's approach would work for me

 

[Simos]

I have actually read in the past a 'solution' to your problem by someone who dives very deep (so it obviously works for him) but I don't dare say the dreaded work as your life is worth more than easier equalisations lol

Let's just call it breath up....
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[mystiach]

roflHahaha just a little melodramatic?

 

[Simos]

Haha probably
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[Simos]

By the way, the thread I was talking about:

http://forums.deeperblue.com/genera...-about-intense-ventilation-before-dive-4.html

Maybe ask Wal (esp if you know him in person!) - he seems to get contractions early... I bet he's tried a few things...

 

[mystiach]

Yep we mutually lament. I was hoping that someone on here might say something like, wear pink, rotate three times to your left and hop on one leg for five minutes and you'll never get them again. Sigh.

 

[Simos]

You mean to say that you aren't using the Orca Pink like everyone else? No wonder you get early contractions
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