How do figure skaters keep from getting dizzy during a spin?

JaneofGaunt

You may have heard dancers talk about a technique called "spotting" that they use to help prevent dizziness after pirouettes or other spins: While the dancer's body is spinning, he will try to keep his head and eyes focused on a fixed spot (perhaps on a wall) for as long as physically possible, then he will whip his head back around after it has turned as far as it can go. Focusing on a fixed point fools the body (to a certain extent) into thinking it is staying steady and in one place. This technique can also help reduce seasickness or carsickness. Figure skaters can sometimes use this technique, but most of the time they spin too fast for spotting. There is no way for them to keep pace with the necessary head whips, and the extra head motion would make their spins unstable. Skaters do have a few other "tricks" to reduce dizziness — skate off or turn in the opposite direction after coming out of a spin; stare at a fixed point after the spin; avoid looking down — but the real key is to simply... get used to it. Skaters aren't immune to dizziness, but after months and months of practice, they become "habituated" to it. A skater's brain still receives the "dizzy" signals, but it becomes conditioned to think that these signals are "normal," and it learns to ignore them. If this never happens, they find a different job. http://spotlight.rogers.com/fun/answerman/2010/12/1 Jul 09 10, 9:53 PM