Abstract
Since centuries ago or even more, the hula hoop has been practiced by people to keep their good health while having fun. Curiously, this simple toy made by a plastic ring, also previously made by a circle of willow, rattan, grapevines or stiff grasses, is subjected to several high and complex physical laws that make, at the same time, possible its beautiful movements. Physical laws are opposing and/or accompanying the movement of the circle-hoop-ring, such as gravity, centripetal force, friction, speed or velocity, and acceleration, in a torque or tendency to rotate. Specific muscles of the body are activated during hula hoop dancing and a general cardio exercise is happening. On the other hand, a stimulation of creativity is also occurring to make a mathematically reasonable and beautiful flow of movements for the own enjoyment or to make a performance for other people’s enjoyment. Then, the dancer with a hoop is moving the ring around several parts of his/her body (waist, core, shoulders, neck, arms), also rolling it over the body like a wheel, making waves in different axis, tossing it to the air or floor, etc. and dancer can jump him/herself through the hoop, or stealing its movements with his/her body. While motor learning happens, specific areas of the brain are activated differently during trials of learning. Then flow and fluid movements become automatic in an asymmetrical way considering our hand preference. However, for getting all this benefits, it is required a controlled practice in children and adults, that means a smooth and not violent, reasonable and measured practice in time and intensity and not negligent or irresponsible. Otherwise, some lesions have been described in literature.
Highlights
The activity of dancing a hula hoop is based on several physical laws, such as gravity, rotation, torque forces, centripetal forces, friction, inertia or eccentric movements
We suggest as a preventive consideration that another clinical cases where hula hooping or any other balance sports, might be practice very carefully, or even not practice at all, would be: 1) in persons who present very pronounce body and brain asymmetries, 2) persons who have structural asymmetries such as idiopathic scoliosis (Byl et al, 1997), 3) cases of hemiparesis with no compensatory mechanisms (Balasubramanian et al, 2007) or 4) those woman who had tears in pelvic floor after traumatic dysfunctional partum (Chaliha, 2009)
Contrary to other games such as computers competitions, video games, and game console, hula hooping has to be done in the open air, in a spacious area and it is based on natural laws and principles of nature for working and having fun
Summary
The activity of dancing a hula hoop is based on several physical laws, such as gravity, rotation, torque forces, centripetal forces, friction, inertia or eccentric movements. These physical laws are included in the game and outwitted via subtle application of impulses opposing the gravity and in the plane of the hoop (horizontally or vertically), producing changes in the angular movement of the hoop, till it reaches the momentum of being “orbiting” that has to be kept and maintained. Its shape is reminding the number zero (0) or the letter vocal (O). It is important to keep in mind algebra have an Arabic origin, (Al-Khwarizmi) that was incidentally modified as algorithm after the Latin transcription in 9th century (Tammet, 2013)
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