Could it be my Paddle?

[Jimmyz123]

So Tuesday I paddled about 8.5 miles for the entire day. By the end of the day I noticed some slight pain in my left wrist right about where a watch would be worn. So my thought is could it be the length of the paddle I'm using, the type of shaft, or just that I did a lot of paddling and my wrist was not use to that. Anyone else ever have anything like this?

[zinkysd]

Get A Hobie and your wrist problems will go away.


Ken
Team Dana Point Jet Ski

[Jimmyz123]

Thanks Ken, I knew there would be at least one Hobie post. I loved your video of the spotties you were nailing the other day.

[old_rookie]

If I were paddling 8.5 miles, I'd be sore someplace. Probably need to change your style or rhythm slightly. When I first started paddling, the handle was pinching up into the bone of my thumbs - I wrapped tennis handle grips around the handles - helped a lot. Just saying you might need to make modifications.

[dorado50]

I use to spend alot of money on equipment that made my body ache, finally figured out it was'nt the equipment but the body! Now i spend lots of money for the doctor.

[Iceman]

Are you feathering the paddle? I would consider technique.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by Jimmyz123

Anyone else ever have anything like this?

Sure have... Think of this in mechanical terms.

When you paddle a long time your working joints muscles etc... Since your wrists and hands are the are right at the paddle they are getting constant stress and torque put on them. It's like the ball joint at an end of a drive shaft. All the energy you are creating through your shoulders is going right through your wrists.

Hours of paddling, if it's not something you do all the time is going to make you sore, and your wrists are likely places to get irritation or pain.



Just like your shoulder muscles apply force to drive you foreward the small muscles in the wrist and arm control the position of your wrists and hands, and how the distribute that force to the paddle. Those muscles can get tired and change the way your holding the paddle without you even thinking about it.

Next time try varying your grip and where your hands are on the paddle.

Sometimes I've found my wrist is hurting and realized that I'm holding the paddle closer to the end with that hand, or that I'm just pushing to hard and gripping the paddle too tight.

Altering your grip will slightly change how your paddle stroke is putting tension and energy from you shoulders through your wrist. They idea is you want a relaxed grip that doesn't add stress, but that applies the torque to the paddle in a fluid steady motion.

Ultimately when I get pain I just think I need to paddle more. From back pain to shoulder pain to pretty much anything involved muscles controll the alignment of joints bones etc... the stronger the muslces are the more likely things will have the propper alignment under load.

Unless your doing something that is actually causing a repetitive injury these type of things will disappear as you paddle more and strengthen the muscles involved.

Jim

[dorado50]

being a health and fitness nut an 8-10 mile paddle should be a piece of cake.

[Jimmyz123]

8 to 10 miles paddling for the first time wasn't so bad. Running 8 to 10 miles would have been no problem at all. Trust me the muscle memory for paddling that many hours in a day has not been built up yet, but it will be. With all that said I plan on upgrading my paddle and working on my technique. Seeing how this was my 6th time out on a Kayak, I think I'm doing pretty good. Each time I have gone out I have increased my paddling distances greatly trying to get ready for La Jolla, I think I'm ready honestly.

[roby]

I own a Hobie now for kayak fishing, but I used to just kayak/paddle on a sit-in. My advice may not be too helpful since sit-on-top kayaks sit a bit higher then sit-in kayaks.

I was taught not to use my wrist at all when paddling. There were two concepts I remembered that may be useful.

First - when you paddle you are actually using your torso to move the paddle through the water. Your arms will fatigue sooner than your body will. Go grab a paddle and a big inflatable ball and sit on the ground. I'll wait.... Now go ahead and hold the paddle in your hands like you are going to paddle out to Lake La Jolla. Wedge the ball between your chest, arms and paddle; or imagine there is one there. Now pretend to paddle. You notice you have to dip your paddle into the water by moving your torso and twisting your body. Many paddlers do not twist their torso, but just move there arms. There should be very minimal arm movement when paddling.

Second - Most paddlers use only a push movement when they paddle when they can use a pulling action at the same time, thus sharing the burden of moving the paddle through the water. This concept is really hard to describe yet very easy to show. Go grab your paddle again. If you are putting your left blade into the water you would pull with your left hand as well...but wait. You can also push the paddle with your right hand at the SAME time. If you do this you can move the paddle through the water using a push and pull movement and NOT just the push movement. If I was to freeze frame your hand posture in this example above your left hand could be in a cradle (not fist) and your right hand could be an open palm. Now you wouldn't paddle this way, but you can do this to visualize the idea I'm trying to show. This concept is really useful when you are cruising and not necessarily looking for a burst of speed. For example, don't do this while your are launching through the surf.

Your legs and knees come into play as well, but I think it is more pronounced with sit-in kayaks. The basic idea is to paddle with your body not just your arms/wrists.

[Jimmyz123]

Originally Posted by roby

I own a Hobie now for kayak fishing, but I used to just kayak/paddle on a sit-in. My advice may not be too helpful since sit-on-top kayaks sit a bit higher then sit-in kayaks.

I was taught not to use my wrist at all when paddling. There were two concepts I remembered that may be useful.

First - when you paddle you are actually using your torso to move the paddle through the water. Your arms will fatigue sooner than your body will. Go grab a paddle and a big inflatable ball and sit on the ground. I'll wait.... Now go ahead and hold the paddle in your hands like you are going to paddle out to Lake La Jolla. Wedge the ball between your chest, arms and paddle; or imagine there is one there. Now pretend to paddle. You notice you have to dip your paddle into the water by moving your torso and twisting your body. Many paddlers do not twist their torso, but just move there arms. There should be very minimal arm movement when paddling.

Second - Most paddlers use only a push movement when they paddle when they can use a pulling action at the same time, thus sharing the burden of moving the paddle through the water. This concept is really hard to describe yet very easy to show. Go grab your paddle again. If you are putting your left blade into the water you would pull with your left hand as well...but wait. You can also push the paddle with your right hand at the SAME time. If you do this you can move the paddle through the water using a push and pull movement and NOT just the push movement. If I was to freeze frame your hand posture in this example above your left hand could be in a cradle (not fist) and your right hand could be an open palm. Now you wouldn't paddle this way, but you can do this to visualize the idea I'm trying to show. This concept is really useful when you are cruising and not necessarily looking for a burst of speed. For example, don't do this while your are launching through the surf.

Your legs and knees come into play as well, but I think it is more pronounced with sit-in kayaks. The basic idea is to paddle with your body not just your arms/wrists.

Everything you just mentioned I watched in a couple of Youtube videos earlier this evening so it makes perfect sense. I saw the push/pull technique and also the thing with the ball I will practice that and more than anything worry about just cruising on long paddles rather than worry about speed. I think I was trying to be that 225 horse power outboard and not just relax and paddle. Keep the pointers coming, I'm totally open minded.

[jorluivil]

That happened to me when I first started yakking, I had aches all over my body.....sore arms, sore *ss(from extended sitting), sore shoulders....etc. When I started hooping from my yak my lower back and forearms were sore the first few trips, it all went away after a few trips and it's very uncommon for me to get sore now.

I'd have to agree with Roby on the push/pull method, its amazing how much more propulsion and less fatigued you get from this technique. My buddy and I have the same yak, when we go out he can be 50yards ahead of me and I will pass him within 10-15 minutes. I out weigh him by at least 30-40lbs but can easily win him in a paddling contest.

[Jimmyz123]

It makes so much sense to me now. I hear you on the pain in the butt part. I need to add a little cushion to the seat. I am noticing however less fatigue in the arms, back, and shoulders. The wrist thing had to be a result to me trying to paddle too fast, and not paddling correctly. I still want to get a better paddle, but now I think I need to work more on technique.

[peguinpower]

Been there, had that.

If you find yourself ramping up the miles suddenly, body aches ensue.

I was training a couple years ago building up my miles. From 6, 10, 12 then 18-22 miles per session. When i broke 18, things started to breakdown. Tendonitis, rotator cuff injury and wrist problems.

Solution, ramp up the miles slowly, practice proper paddling technique (use your back, legs and torso, not your arms), find the proper paddle length, use an adjustable feather paddle (60 to 65 degrees is generally good) and adjust it so that you dont have to twist your wrist so much. The paddle should be feathered such that when your twist you torso and put the forward paddle down in the water, the paddle face should be ready for the power stroke without having to twist your wrist. This is only achievable with proper paddling techniques as below....

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_u...&v=DnUVLDGIgiw

For a lot of us kayak fishermen, paddling is an after thought. Sadly, for me at least, age in an unforgiving mistress. Better technique and training will minimize injuries.

[jorluivil]

Originally Posted by Jimmyz123

It makes so much sense to me now. I hear you on the pain in the butt part. I need to add a little cushion to the seat. I am noticing however less fatigue in the arms, back, and shoulders. The wrist thing had to be a result to me trying to paddle too fast, and not paddling correctly. I still want to get a better paddle, but now I think I need to work more on technique.

My wife replaced a few small bed pillows, I didn't realize she was dumping them until trash day came around....pulled one out, washed it and now I use it on the yak. I'm 5'10" and a slim 230lbs on a double cheeseburger with a diet coke day so the little to no padding that my C O D seat has just killed my tailbone. I couldn't go more than 2hours before I began to feel uncomfortable, now I can go a few hours on the yak with absolutely no pain to the behind. It's simply amazing how much this little cushion has helped my buttox, no more pain.