Testing and health restrictions

[JSHalo]

Hello, all! Long time, no see!

I have a question regarding MIF tests, and health restrictions. I have a medical condition which makes a particular move difficult for me... the position causes lightheadedness and nausea. My coaches have suggested attempting to move the sequence to the end of the test and provide a doctor's note, but I feel uncomfortable doing so. I feel as though they will consider it more of an excuse as to why the move is poorly executed (and if i'm being honest, the quality is not that bad, it simply makes me ill enough to where I could potentially be unable to finish the test).

What are your thoughts on this? Will a note simply come across as begging out of a bad test? I can include MRIs, but that's running on the assumption they will know what it is they're even looking at. Thanks!

[LunarSkater]

Have you talked to your club's test chair about any accommodations that could be provided? Your coaches are good resource, but the test chair would actually know who to contact at USFSA to see what can be done.

[Query]

I can't help you with the question about what judges will say - though they are individuals, and might conceivably not all respond the same. Nor can I give you medical advice. However, I suppose a doctor's note might make some judges watch you more carefully during that move.

If you are worried about completing the test, moving the sequence to the end, if possible, as the coach suggests, makes complete sense to me. Many figure skaters don't do anything difficult for a few seconds after doing something like a fast spin or jump that could make them dizzy. Moving it to the end might be better, though you will have to stop at the end, which is another balance move.

Is the direction your head is pointed in  (e.g., up or down) the problem , or is it something akin to motion sickness, or something else?

I had problems with motion sickness when I had to operate equipment in an aircraft during stormy weather. Although in the end I dealt with that problem by changing jobs, some of what follows was a little helpful, for me:

Even if the move has a required head position and/or motion, you can still vary the direction in which you are looking with your eyes. E.g., if your eyes look at a fixed point near the horizon, does that help at all? Eyes affect balance a lot, so even if you have an issue with your inner ear balance mechanism, it isn't impossible using your eyes to improve balance might help a little.

Drugs can help with motion sickness and nausea, and perhaps with whatever your problem is - consult a doctor. Of course, some doctors would just tell you not to skate.

Motion sickness sometimes varies with the pace and rhythm of motion - is the test of such nature that those can be varied, and does that help?

Motion sickness and nausea are greatly affected by what you eat and drink, how much, and when. For the motion sickness problem, I was told to eat something like Saltine crackers that were high in salt, and not much of that, about a half hour before the flight, to "settle my stomach".

Even playing with the depth and speed of breathing, and concentrating on Yoga-like meditation exercises ("Om.....") might help a tiny bit. (E.g., if I hold my breath during a spin, I become very dizzy.)

(I was also told to close my eyes and lie down as much as I could - probably not applicable to figure skating - closing your eyes makes any balance move an order of magnitude harder, and lying down probably isn't part of the move. That advice also didn't work in my situation, because the turbulence would have injured me if I wasn't strapped in, and I was operating a computer.)

If any of those suggestions help, some combination of them might help more.

Anyway, I wish you luck.

[FigureSpins]

 

I assume it's the Eight-Step Mohawk Sequence on Adult Silver MIF, correct?  That's the first pattern - I can see why it would be a problem for completing the rest of the patterns since it makes you dizzy.  At least you don't have to do the Backward Power 3's on the Juvenile test - it's brutal to do them in the direction opposite your normal rotation. 

First and foremost, if you want to try and get a special accommodation, you must do it in advance.  Since your coaches are behind this idea, have them present it to the Test Chair for your club and ask them to get approval from the judging panel well ahead of the test session.

Unfortunately, the US Figure Skating Rulebook specifically states that patterns must be skated in order:

5021 (TR 21.02) Moves in the field are basic skating moves not set to music. The terms and judging standards applied to moves in
the field are for basic skating.
A. The elements in the moves in the field tests must be skated in the order as set forth in the schedule of tests.
B. Each element must be commenced from a standing, stationary position with a maximum of seven introductory steps
unless specified otherwise in these rules. (See rule 5035)

I tested Pre-Bronze "double paneled" with a younger skater who was testing Pre-Preliminary MIF.  I asked the Judge Referee if I could skate in the order of the other skater's patterns because the crossover circles would have been in the way of her spirals.  The ref said it wasn't an option because of that rule. 

Instead, I did the crossovers while she waited, then we continued the double paneled test doing the same patterns in opposite order.  The USFSA should re-order the APBM test to allow it to be multi-paneled with PPM.

That's not to say that your Club and judges won't allow it - stranger things have happened.  Ask nicely and see what they say.  If they initially say no, send an email to the USFSA and ask if they can waive that rule.  I assume it was to make judging easier since the elements are listed in a certain order on their sheets, but maybe they can grant a waiver.

If the answer is that you have to do it in the order specified, perform that pattern then go to the side/your coach and try to get your dizziness under control.  Take a sip of water, shake your head to settle your inner ear fluid, focus on a poster, anything you can to try and continue successfully.

You could do it half-heartedly and hope that the rest of your patterns score high enough to pass, but that's unlikely to happen on Silver. 

Best of luck - let us know how you make out.

[dlbritton]

I tested Pre-Bronze "double paneled" with a younger skater who was testing Pre-Preliminary MIF.  I asked the Judge Referee if I could skate in the order of the other skater's patterns because the crossover circles would have been in the way of her spirals.  The ref said it wasn't an option because of that rule. 

Instead, I did the crossovers while she waited, then we continued the double paneled test doing the same patterns in opposite order.  The USFSA should re-order the APBM test to allow it to be multi-paneled with PPM.

I tested Pre-Bronze "double paneled" with a skater doing Pre_Pre and they just alternated us on each move. My coach liked that because I got a break between each element and we could talk briefly if needed. As soon as I finished a move the other skater started her next move and vice versa. Each judge had time to make his/her comments while the other person was skating. Apparently I could have asked to skate my test straight through without alternating with the other skater if I wished, but if the judges wanted to alternate skaters I wasn't going to object and possibly start on the bad side of the judge plus my coach liked the idea as well.

Earlier there had been pairs of PPM skaters that started staggered on stroking, etc or at opposite ends where appropriate.

[FigureSpins]

Double (or triple/quad) paneling is a crapshoot in our area - we never know what will happen until the moment of truth.  I prepare my skaters for every eventuality so they don't get rattled by the capriciousness.  It doesn't matter what the schedule says (zam end/lobby end) because the other skater might ask for my skater's assigned spot or the judges may tell them to go to their favorite place and another skater will beat my skater to his/her scheduled end.  We just roll with the punches here because there is no standard. 

For the record, your double paneled test was very expensive in terms of ice time, which is the opposite of what should happen with a paneled session. 

[FigureSpins]

I tested Pre-Bronze "double paneled" with a skater doing Pre_Pre and they just alternated us on each move. My coach liked that because I got a break between each element and we could talk briefly if needed. As soon as I finished a move the other skater started her next move and vice versa.

The OP should ask if this is an option for her test.

[JSHalo]

Thank you all for your input. The move which bothers me is the spiral sequence. Because of a medical condition, the position compresses my brain stem. I can make it 3 or 4 lobes before I start to feel lightheaded. The issue really is that, on bad days, it can lead to seizures or syncope. On very good days, I can shake it off and continue skating.

I believe my coach has mentioned it to the test chair, but I will speak to her myself the next time I see her.

[FigureSpins]

Well, at least it's the penultimate move, not the first pattern.  The power pulls do require a lot of balance.  Definitely take a moment after that move to stand by the boards with your coach.  (Would a cervical collar help at all?)

[dlbritton]

Double (or triple/quad) paneling is a crapshoot in our area - we never know what will happen until the moment of truth.  I prepare my skaters for every eventuality so they don't get rattled by the capriciousness.  It doesn't matter what the schedule says (zam end/lobby end) because the other skater might ask for my skater's assigned spot or the judges may tell them to go to their favorite place and another skater will beat my skater to his/her scheduled end.  We just roll with the punches here because there is no standard. 

For the record, your double paneled test was very expensive in terms of ice time, which is the opposite of what should happen with a paneled session.

Since I was the only Pre-Bronze and the other skater was the last PPM I guess they felt it was a little quicker having us alternate rather her skate her test then me skate my test. Probably saved a minute or 2 max. 

[Query]

My assumption that it was an inner ear problem or motion sickness issue was way off, so nothing I suggested would probably help.

Spirals are tested within the U.S. Moves in the Field sequence at several levels, and are also part of some other U.S. figure skating tests. If it is surgically inoperable, It is conceivable that your issue will impose limits on how far you can go in the sport, and what disciplines within figure skating you can do. Of course, everyone has limitations, and figure skating is a sport where flexibility is a big advantage, one which many of us have troubles with, and one in which falls are frequent. I don't know enough to say what and whether other sports might be safer and easier for you, and don't know whether you are willing to consider changing sports.

Since you say that it spirals are easier some days than others, you could take the expensive route, and schedule yourself for tests on several days, perhaps with several different clubs, and several different panels of judges, and try, try again.

An interesting question to ask your doctor, and to try to determine for yourself, is why it is easier on some days than others. (E.g., fluid levels, how long before the activity you awaken, degree of muscular stiffness/relaxation, what you do immediately before the test, stretching exercises, etc.) If you know that, maybe you can recreate the circumstances under which it is easiest.

Would it help to not look out horizontally, but to look somewhat down or sideways, and not to arch your back upwards? You may lose some points for imperfect form, but you may have to compromise. Ask your coach what you can probably get away with, and see if it helps.

Have you asked your doctor(s) and other medical specialists for advice? In addition to the cervical collar idea, I wonder if other spinal support or orthotic (I'm not talking about a foot orthotic, but am using the word in a more general sense), that keeps your spine and head in a safe configuration, or something that weighs down one part of your body, could help. In either case, your doctor(s) should probably be involved before any experimentation, because it sounds like you are playing with things that are potentially very dangerous to you. I think most of the best advice would come from medical specialists familiar with your condition, not from us. Perhaps a really good PT or other specialist could suggest any exercises or procedures that would help? Though I'm not sure if this is within their speciality.

(BTW, more doctors will be familiar with the related land-dance term "arabesque", than with the skating term "spiral", which is used in land-dance for a different set of poses. Or just show them a picture and description of the move.)

Incidentally, maybe you could wear lots of padding and a hockey helmet, with a face mask? If you have a seizure, or lose your balance, and fall, you might be unable to control your fall in a safe manner. You might need to explain to the judges there is a medical reason for the helmet, because I think some judges might consider them inappropriate attire. The helmet might also hide somewhat the precise orientation of the head, if that helps - though it is also possible some helmets would press on the back of the neck, and create more compression.

Here's to hoping you find a solution that makes you happy.