Epic Mystery Contraction Problems,

[Travis Michalzik]

Heya fellow freedivers,

So! I seem to have a large problem. My contractions have turned super saiyan and I believe are trying to kill me. I have been seriously free-diving for about a year whilst trained now, before this on and off for the last 10 years. I always used to experience the usually diaphragm contractions, which I had no problems at all with and eventually found to be a complete non-issue while diving, really bearable. I was progressing nicely in my depth and times. About 4 months ago my Contractions changed though, My contractions are no longer just my diaphragm moving up to try and get me to exhale, they actually seem to have done a complete 180 and they are now moving down(compressing my chest plate inwards) almost trying to make me inhale. They come extremely early every single time and are about 20 times harder to cope with than the regular contractions. If I hold these contractions for a while I will come up from a dive with sore ribs and chest plate from the flex of my thoracic cavity. This is an enormous thorn in my side as I love freediving and want to continue to progress and dive for leisure, I also work in the water. These contractions are starting to make me really dislike diving now though, it seems far more pain than it's worth. I've spoken to many other divers and even shown them the contractions and everyone I seem to talk to and show is completely perplexed by what is going on. The contractions are 100% Involuntary, So I am reaching out to you all! Has anyone heard of anything like this before and know of any sort of cure ?

By the way, I'm a 22 YO Fit, Healthy Freedive Instructor.

Thanks alot guys, hopefully I will have some closure to these torturous contractions.

 

[Profundo]

I had the same problem. I had to work realy hard on concentration and relaxation. Meditation, helped a lot.
still I should say we belong to a very acid blood type, mixed with some high CO2 sensitivity.
Didn´t found a definitive answer yet.

 

[Apneaddict]

Has your diet changed at all? More acidic? More meat / protein / less veggies and less carbs??

I you add carbs and veggies, you could buffer the contraction somewhat.

Also, have you tried doing CO2 tolerance exercises while dry? I'd potentially do them 4-5 days a week for 3-4 weeks and see if there's a difference.

 

[Apneaddict]

It could also be a pressure-trigger, as you are progressing in depth.

Aharon Solomons has a bunch of good stretched and training techniques to address these.