AniaR
03-30-2017, 11:59 PM
Several of us pro mermaids in the industry took part in a newly published study on mermaid health and safety! It's now online and you can check it out: (requires adobe acrobat or a pdf viewer to read online)
https://journals.viamedica.pl/international_maritime_health/article/view/IMH.2017.0003/37887
Some interesting points:
- The biggest issue was ear infections- and I was the only pro mermaid in the sample who routinely uses ear plugs (87.5% experiencing them)
- The study looked at over 19,100+ hours of mermaiding in various water combined
-it found clear health risk differences between recreational and professional mermaids
- 31 different countries were represented by merfolk in the study
-the biggest type of work of those interviewed that took the most hours was mermaid school
-the second was actually open water activities
-50% of the mermaids who had ear infections, complained of chronic ear issues
-50% of mers interviewed experienced back pain
-this study has the current largest sample size of related studies including ones on monofin swimming/free diving
- mermaiding is easier on the upper body than traditional swimming strokes without fins
-one of our biggest risk factors is not wearing masks
https://journals.viamedica.pl/international_maritime_health/article/view/IMH.2017.0003/37887
Some interesting points:
- The biggest issue was ear infections- and I was the only pro mermaid in the sample who routinely uses ear plugs (87.5% experiencing them)
- The study looked at over 19,100+ hours of mermaiding in various water combined
-it found clear health risk differences between recreational and professional mermaids
- 31 different countries were represented by merfolk in the study
-the biggest type of work of those interviewed that took the most hours was mermaid school
-the second was actually open water activities
-50% of the mermaids who had ear infections, complained of chronic ear issues
-50% of mers interviewed experienced back pain
-this study has the current largest sample size of related studies including ones on monofin swimming/free diving
- mermaiding is easier on the upper body than traditional swimming strokes without fins
-one of our biggest risk factors is not wearing masks