Wind Tunnel physical therapy?

[GflyDog 0]

Recently, I requested 'clearance' from my neuro-muscular specialist to return to skydiving. After beginning to feel much better and what I believed was a reasonable length of time, to recover from a moderate lower back injury. Much to my surprise, my physician (who does not and never has tried the sport) said everything looks good from her end, and she sees no reason why not. But suggested I 'test the waters' in a much safer way suggesting I first, check how my lower lumbar (where the injury originated) responds to the skydiving simulation of the wind tunnel. I was stunned by her knowledge on the subject, since she's not in the sport and a bit ashamed that I hadn't thought of it myself. (of course she now holds the highest score on my 'I never knew you were this cool-O-meter) As much as I respect and agree with her advice, I would like to hear the opinions and advice from some of you that may or may not have had, similar injuries and wind tunnel experience. Sounds like great advice, but any opinions on how many 'wind tunnel tests' would be sufficent? I would like to hear what you think. Hit me with your best shot.

[JohnDeere 0]

See if your doc will write a letter and get the tunnel coverd by insurance. I would suggest doig 1 min segments, just as you do in the air. Maybe do 3 or 4 in a row and go from there. And when you get back to the air do some hop n pops to get used to opening and canopy control agian. Best of luck

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!

[LouDiamond 1]

Make sure you let the tunnel instructor in the tunnel with you know what you are doing and explain your goal. You may find your endurance to fly is lower and you may have muscle soreness for a few days afterwards. Depending on the extent of your injury, you may be able to handle 30 mins no problem or only a few minutes, listen to you what your body is telling you and adjust accordingly. It's better to build up to something than to go full bore after a layoff or an injury.

Aside from building your stamina back up and evaluating your back, take time to go over and practice your freefall skills and emergency procedures while in the tunnel. Go into the tunnel with a plan and get the most out of the time that you are in there.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
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[Adriandavies 0]

The CCI from the Langar DZ in the UK used time in Bodyflight to get back into the air. He had a shoulder rather than back injury but without tunnel time he probably would not have got back in the air.

[mdrejhon 8]

I am impressed your doctor knew about wind tunnels. It shows that they are slowly becoming more mainstream -- including news coverage and new installations at amusement facilities, etc.

[VivaHeadDown 0]

The physical risks in a wind tunnel are different than those in the sky.

With skydiving, we worry about opening shock or hard landings. Although we can't control opening shock completely, we can take a more conservative approach to landings to ensure safety.

In a wind tunnel, there is the danger of impacting the walls or net or even rolling over and being caught by the instructor (which is rarely an easy thing on the body). These are common occurences that people just don't have time to react to unless they are super experienced tunnel flyers prior to their injury. And even with that being said, it's usually the more experienced flyers who end up injuring themselves.

It's nice that your doctor said you were good to go, but there's is a reason why the waiver at a tunnel specifically lists prior back, neck, and shoulder injuries as reasons you should not fly. Longer exposer to wind pressure, imovable hard surfaces just a couple feet away from you, and the potential to get lulled into a false sence of security are all dangers that people seem to over look when considering wind tunnels as a safe alternative to the sky.

Be cautious, and make sure your insurance is up to date no matter what activities you take on after an injury.

Don't Confuse Me With My Own Words

[GflyDog 0]

Thanks for the words of advice everyone. I will take all into consideration.

[GflyDog 0]

Quote

I am impressed your doctor knew about wind tunnels. It shows that they are slowly becoming more mainstream -- including news coverage and new installations at amusement facilities, etc.

me too. Like I said she has ranked an all-time high score on my I never knew you were so Cool-O-Meter.

[sartre 0]

This response may be a bit late, but I wanted to give you my input as a therapist and as someone who has done both tunnel (quite a bit of it) and skydiving (still a newbie).

In my experience, tunnel flight is much harder on the body than the appx 60 seconds of free fall you experience in the air. I have a bum shoulder, and trying to sitfly in the tunnel puts much more stress on it than doing so in the sky.
My suggestion would be to do very short intervals without the wind speed up very high. And I would practice pull position, as that is probably the most critical time for being in good position and not injuring your back.

Also, I wouldn't do a lot of minutes first time back in. Two to three one minute rounds and see how that settles.

Of course, if you've already gotten in, **nevermind**.

[GflyDog 0]

The tips are not at all late, but perfect timing tank ya kindly. I have not had time with my busy schedule to hit the wind tunnels. That is no longer the case I am pleased to say. I now have two weeks vacation, that I am ready to take, for just this purpose and maybe even get in a couple of dives, assuming the wind tunnel therapy tells me I am good to go.

Tank ya kindly for each reply and tip. I intend to incorporate the tunnel therapy into a regular vacation. Any recommendations for good places to go for the combination wind tunnel time and maybe a some dives if I'm ready for that as well?

My places of interest for this include Florida Georgia Texas and So. California.

[JohnDeere 0]

As much as we would love you to come to Texas for some jumps, we dont have a tunnel. But there is only one place i can recomend. Colorado tunnel and Mile hi for jumps. SV colorado is the place for the best instructors

Nothing opens like a Deere!

You ignorant fool! Checks are for workers!