How to train an athlete's vestibular apparatus?

Since childhood, we all know what the human vestibular apparatus is. This is nothing more than the ability of our body to withstand various kinds of dynamic loads, such as: rotations, high-speed movements, sudden changes in body position in space, sea and air motion and other similar influences... We also know that the human vestibular apparatus can be weak and strong, and therefore it can somehow be trained, improved and developed...

As you yourself probably understand, the requirements for the vestibular apparatus of a professional athlete, in contrast to an ordinary person, are much higher, since he must be prepared for any kind of physical impact on his body. This is especially true for active team sports, such as:

1. I) Football,
2. II) Hockey,
3. III) Basketball,
4. IV) Volleyball,
5. V) Handball,
6. VI) and other similar disciplines...

It is even more relevant for power contact sports, such as:

1. American football,
2. Rugby,
3. Lacrosse,
4. Boxing, wrestling and martial arts,
5. and others …

Well, and of course, it is most relevant for the following sports disciplines:

1. Auto and motorcycle sports,
2. Parachuting,
3. Diving,
4. Parkour,
5. Windsurfing,
6. Diving,
7. and other extreme sports...

Well, I don’t think it’s even worth talking about the training of military and civilian pilots and cosmonauts - they carry out such trainings without fail and in an even more intense (close to the maximum permissible) mode.

So let’s try to answer the question: how to train the vestibular apparatus of a modern athlete? How to train his coordination? And most importantly: with the help of what simulators and technical means?

Collapsible centrifuge carousel.

The carousel centrifuge device is intended for training and improving the athlete’s orientation in the surrounding space. The device allows you to simultaneously provide both active and passive vestibular training in all its possible combinations and combinations.

In the floor, strictly at the plumb point of the upper suspension hinge axis, a threaded bushing 5 from the swashplate hinge is securely attached, into which the hinge axis 4 is screwed during assembly. After disassembly, the hole in the floor is flush-closed with a rubber plug with a diameter of 25 mm. Two “glasses” are attached to the upper part of the hinge by means of a steel pin through the eyes 3. Duralumin (hollow) poles or poles from gymnastic bars are inserted into the glasses 2. The upper ends of the poles are secured with chain links, adjusting their angle of inclination, and, consequently, the radius of rotation . The specified swashplate hinges are attached to the free links of the chains in a manner already known.

Belt 1 is attached to the hinge eyes with two carabiners, on which trainees sit or lie down. Instead of a belt, a steel rod can be inserted into the eyelets, which a person must hold on to with his hands.

Rotation around an axis along a large radius on a carousel centrifuge is performed independently or with the help of a partner manually, as well as with an electric drive built into the floor. By rotating on the belts, the trainee can adjust angular accelerations by grouping or straightening the body. A person hanging from his hands can do the same thing, spreading his legs apart and connecting them. Simultaneous rotation along large and small radii is an important stimulus for training the vestibular apparatus.

Equipment for complex motor training of the athlete’s body.

It is used primarily for training the vestibular apparatus, improving coordination of movements, and also as an entertaining sports equipment in parks and sports centers. The projectile (Fig. 2) consists of a support 2, rotating disks 3 installed on it, and support elements (eccentrics) 1 rotating on the disk.

In subsequent articles in this section we will continue the story about the educational and training tools of modern athletes and their coaches. Read more about classic fitness and bodybuilding equipment in this thread.