Re: [Paddlewise] Vertigo

From: Ulli Hoeger <uhoeger_at_is.dal.ca>
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 13:45:25 -0400
Hey,
I know this was posted already a couple of days ago, but since I 
was away for some time -no paddling :(- I just catch up with the 
history.  There is a good possibility that somebody already came 
up with the stuff I will mention.
Two weeks ago before I took off I borrowed a book from our public 
library " Contributions to kayak studies/ edited by E.Y. Arima ... [et 
al.]."  In this article collection were 2 papers which didn't deal with 
kayak construction, they were about a phenomenon called "kayak 
angst" or "kayak fear".  As far as I recall these situation was often 
triggered by situations were the kayaker (studies restricted to 
native paddlers) lost landmarks due to fog, distance from land, sea 
and weather conditions.  Symptoms described vary between 
dizziness, lack of balance and room perception, nausea, vomiting, 
tickling in legs and arms up to the impression that the kayak filled 
up with cold water (which didn't happened).  The company of a 
paddling buddy often eased this fear, most likely by giving a 
orientation point to judge the own posture in the room.
Recalling what I read in the book and reading your email I see 
some similarities. 
Unfortunately I had not time to read the articles in deep, but I will 
get that book one more time and read with more concentration.  I 
am not an expert (i.e. shrink or something like that), but to me it 
looks like a psychological phenomenon that leads to real 
physiological problems and symptoms.

My 0.02$

Ulli


Dr. Ulli Hoeger
Dept. Physiology and Biophysics
Dalhousie University
Halifax, B3H4H7, Nova Scotia
Canada

Phone I : 902-494-2673
Fax: 902-494-1685
Phone II :902-488-6796
http://is.dal.ca/~uhoeger

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Received on Fri Nov 10 2000 - 09:51:31 PST

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