muscle contraction during static

[longreach]

Does anybody have any explanation what may be happening?

During my static training i have for the first time used the training schedule to increase the co2 tolerance (same apnea time and shortening the rest time).
When i am doing this the muscles in my hands, upper legs, tummy and neck/jaw are slowly contracting. Its very strange i dont have any control over it. Its not pulsating cramp or anything just slowly contraction so my hands turns from loose into a fist by itself. My trainer tried to loosen it during my static to help me relax but its like rubber bands pull my fingers into a fist.
It starts with a sleepy feeling in my upper legs and then tummy than my hands start and after i think 1 minute also my neck and jaw begin these even have a sort of sleepy feeling but more trembling (sorry for bad english).

Does anybody recognise this? is this something from the co2 buildup?
The table was to easy for me because i had no contractions at all so we changed the schedule and increased apnea time a little and shortened the rest time pretty much second attempt same cramps and again no contractions (was very easy to do) so now this sunday we will further adjust the schedule funny thing is 1st time more cramps than second time.. while the schedule was more difficult.

Who has some ideas?

Mark

 

[naiad]

Hi Mark,

Does it happen when the urge to breathe gets strong? Is it related to diaphragm contractions in any way, like does it happen just before they start? Is the pool cold?

Just a few questions to get an idea of what is happening.

Lucia

 

[DeepThought]

Did you try to ventilate less? or even doing no warm-up at all?
(might help to identify the cause)

 

[longreach]

Lucia, it has nothing to do with the urge to breath and is not related to diaphragm in any way its something that slowly comes up and is more a feeling like when your arm is asleep and all tingly. The pool is average not really cold but that also will be of little effect because i do static in a 7mm dive suit and am not cold at all. (normally in pool i get cold real fast and dont have any bodyfat ;p)

Deep Thought, warmup does not change but i think its related to my ventilatng somehow. At the moment i am discusing it with my trainer and tomorrow we will experiment some more. I only noticed it during the co2 training so its probably related to co2 buildup.

When i figure out more i will let you know.

Thanks for the interest and ideas.

Mark

 

[naiad]

Then it is most likely to have something to do with hyperventilation. This can cause cramps and a tingly feeling.

Lucia

 

[longreach]

that was my idea also but its hardly possible i prepared by inhaling 3 counts and exhaling 6 counts so my exhale is alwys double my inhale. that way hypervantilation is very unlikely.

 

[immerlustig]

no too sure really, but:

quote:

...inhaling 3 counts and exhaling 6 counts ...

could be you are doing around 6 breaths per minute. depending on various other things you could easily be hyperventilating at that breathing rate.

to eliminate the hyperventilation possibility maybe reduce breathing rate/volume a lot (1 or 2 per minute/half lungs), or try doing one breath cycles.

but the way you describe these muscle contractions does sound rather strange.

regards,

roland

 

[longreach]

Sunday i did a static co2 table (10 times 1 minute, 10 times 1.15) could not finish the table but what was surprising to me that nothing like the contractions happend.

after the table i did a maximum attempt and during my preparation breathing i very fainthly felt the tingling sensation in my legs just before official top.

This kind of tells me that it does look like i am breathing wrong and i am hyperventilating....

Coming weeks i will practise my preparation breathing and trying to lower the rate of breathing as suggested.

Again thanks guys/girls, This thread was very helpful to me.

Good to find helpful people here