Motion sickness, or kinetosis, is a common condition triggered by passive movement in vehicles, on water, or on amusement park rides. Symptoms often begin with yawning and drowsiness, progressing to cold sweats, dizziness, and intense nausea. Almost everyone with a functional balance system can experience this reaction under intense motion. Managing this condition through preparation, active techniques, and external aids allows people to enjoy attractions without discomfort.
Why Ride Movement Triggers Nausea
Motion sickness is fundamentally caused by a sensory conflict within the brain. This occurs when the body’s internal systems—the eyes, the inner ear, and the muscle and joint receptors—send contradictory signals about movement and spatial orientation.
The inner ear houses the vestibular system, which senses balance, acceleration, and head position. On a ride, the inner ear detects rapid motion, but the eyes may be focused on a fixed point, signaling less motion than the inner ear reports.
This conflict confuses the brain’s spatial orientation centers. The brain interprets these mismatched signals as a sign of poisoning, leading to the reflexive response of nausea and vomiting as a defense mechanism.
Essential Preparation Before Entering the Park
Taking preemptive steps before entering the park is an effective way to reduce susceptibility to motion sickness. Managing your physical state, particularly what you consume, helps stabilize the digestive system against motion.
Proper hydration is important, as dehydration can exacerbate feelings of queasiness. Avoid alcohol and limit excessive caffeine intake the day before and the morning of the visit, as these substances can worsen symptoms.
Manage stomach contents by eating lightly, avoiding riding on a completely empty or very full stomach. A small, bland meal of simple carbohydrates like plain toast, crackers, or dry cereal is recommended. These foods are easily digestible and help soak up stomach acid. Avoid heavy, greasy, acidic, or spicy foods before riding, as they are slow to digest and increase the chance of stomach upset.
Active Techniques to Use While Riding
Once seated on a ride, several active strategies can reduce the sensory conflict that causes nausea.
Gaze Fixation
A primary technique involves gaze fixation: focusing your eyes on a distant, stationary point, such as the horizon line. This provides the brain with a visual reference that confirms the motion detected by the inner ear, helping to synchronize the sensory inputs. If the ride is too fast, fix your gaze on a non-moving part of the ride vehicle itself.
Posture and Seating
Adjusting your posture and seating position minimizes intense motion. Choosing a seat in the most stable part of the ride, often the middle cars of a roller coaster, results in a smoother experience than the front or back. Maintain a straight posture and keep your head still, leaning it against the headrest if possible, to reduce the amount of unexpected head rotation.
Breathing and Relaxation
Conscious breathing and relaxation help manage the anxiety and physiological stress that accompany motion sickness. Slow, deep, controlled breaths calm the nervous system and prevent symptoms from escalating. If symptoms begin, closing your eyes briefly can interrupt the conflicting visual input.
Preventing Nausea With Medication and Devices
External aids offer defense against motion sickness, working either pharmacologically or mechanically.
Medications
Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or meclizine, block signals traveling from the inner ear to the brain’s vomiting center. These oral medications must be taken proactively, typically 30 to 60 minutes before the first ride, to be absorbed and active in the bloodstream when motion begins. A common side effect is drowsiness, which should be considered when planning activities.
Natural Remedies and Devices
Ginger is a natural remedy shown to alleviate nausea. It can be consumed in various forms, including supplements, candies, or ginger snaps, and should be taken about 30 minutes before riding. Acupressure wristbands are a drug-free method, applying gentle pressure to the P6 or Nei-Kuan point on the inner wrist. This pressure point is linked to nausea relief in traditional medicine and can be effective for mild to moderate symptoms. For severe or prolonged motion exposure, prescription options like the scopolamine patch, an anticholinergic, can be applied behind the ear several hours before the event and may last up to 72 hours.