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wi_voter t1_j2k1rl9 wrote

I have never heard of the term "body pitch". What is it referring to? Is it the angle someone leans because they are on an incline?

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black_brook t1_j2lg62t wrote

Pitch, yaw, and roll, are the terms used for the 3 different possible rotational motions in 3d space. They are used in aeronautics and I expect other disciplines where these are important. Pitch is the motion your head makes if you nod it.

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peanutbutterwife t1_j2l1gin wrote

More or less. It's more like knowing where your head and body are in relation to the surfaces you are interacting with, i.e. the floor and the walls.

Want to test how good yours is? Take a thick cushion off of a chair or couch. Place it on the floor, far away from things, in case you fall over during the test. Now, stand on it, with your feet almost shoulder-width apart. Close your eyes. And just stand there. Feel how much your body has to react to the non-stable surface, without visual cues. Don't hold onto anything and don't put your arms out to balance yourself.

This was one of the tests they made me do for my diagnosis. My wobble was "extensive enough to warrant further testing". A bit of wobble is normal. I almost fell off the cushion thing, twice. That test was less than 60 seconds.

It's best if you have someone to watch you so they can document how much you wobble. Preferably, a physical therapist or neurologist who knows about equilibrium problems.

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wi_voter t1_j2l2n3k wrote

I am a physical therapist but haven't ever heard it called that.

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_tropical_tundra_ t1_j2l7xd4 wrote

What is it usually called?

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wi_voter t1_j2ldui7 wrote

We simply refer to it as LOB, loss of balance and the attempt to regain midline either balance or equilibrium reaction. I can see how the term pitch could fit the action of being displaced.

In this study it doesn't seem like a sudden unexpected change in displacement but a response to the incline which we'd usually call a righting reaction, assuming that is what they mean by pitch in the study. Trying to confirm so I know I'm understanding it correctly.

edit: rereading it I believe by body pitch they mean the extent the person is leaning backwards so their head/upper body is posterior to the vertical axis. That would make sense since they used the dental chair to create "pitch" without movement.

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_tropical_tundra_ t1_j2ledky wrote

Thanks! TIL!

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wi_voter t1_j2lfks6 wrote

I added this edit if you didn't see it:

rereading it I believe by body pitch they mean the extent the person is leaning backwards so their head/upper body is posterior to the vertical axis. That would make sense since they used the dental chair to create "pitch" without movement.

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rawuncutdope t1_j2l2f56 wrote

What were you diagnosed with?

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peanutbutterwife t1_j2lllza wrote

Meniere's disease, early diagnosis due to debilitating migraines

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WhiskeySpaceBear t1_j2ngz3l wrote

Maybe, menieres disease is over diagnosed at a rate of ~10x. If you suffer from migraines and dizziness, research "vestibular migraines"

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eliseannette t1_j2mzqj7 wrote

I wondered the same thing. In terms of our body on inclines. Was hoping for a hack to improve my skiing on black diamond runs. .It's crazy how steep the runs are and you have no idea until you look uphill to gain some perspective of the grade percentage or slope during the decent. Photos I've taken illustrate some scarey angles.

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wi_voter t1_j2n3ub3 wrote

I think this study was dependent on people reclining back as they are going up the incline. Without head support I wonder how many people stay completely reclined or "pitched" backwards. There is a natural reaction to want to right your head unless supported.

Skiing is interesting because it is actually the opposite. There is a decline while you are leaning forward with your upper body. However, with that lean forward you are still lined up over your base of support because of the flexion in your legs. In the experiment the upper body is out of that alignment over the lower body.

It would be interesting to have them use the vertical pole with skiers and see what the results are. I am guessing they would still be accurate but who knows.

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eliseannette t1_j2n6plh wrote

Thank you for that perspective. You make a good point about the decline and leaning forward. Physics keeps us from toppling over, but it's quite a steep line on the descent.

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wi_voter t1_j2n99bw wrote

Your pelvis, relatively the center of mass, moving backwards and lower really balances you on the slopes. The leaning forward with the upper body is already coming from a posterior position.

I love watching skiers especially on moguls. I used to ski myself until I moved to Wisconsin. The little bunny hills aren't worth the lift line.

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eliseannette t1_j2nahte wrote

I thought ur comments sounded like they were coming from a skier. Mogel skiers have some skillz. Fun to watch. I'm from Michigan iriginally.....I get it

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wi_voter t1_j2niyi3 wrote

Part from skier, part from being a physical therapist fascinated with biomechanics

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eliseannette t1_j2nr5lz wrote

I also detected your science brain and smarts. Which I failed to mention.

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