Anybody With Back Problems?

[surf-bum]

Having your back problems get better or worse when kayaking depends on the type of back pain you are having.

In general, if you have disc protrusion issues, the sitting and bending forward would tend to increase your pain, or your issue because it forces the disc back into the spinal cord/canal which leads to pain and numbness. In this persons case, you would want to be sitting more upright (back support/proper arch) and thus you may prefer something like the PA ( although I have never tried it). Having the PA would also give you the ability to move around and change positions which would help decrease the pain.

If you have stenosis or degenerative disc disease (loss of disc space), having a backward bend in your back would increase your pain. Bending forward should decrease this persons pain. Thus this person would benefit from a kayak that would afford more bend in the back. This could be the person that had their pain get better from kayaking.

For both conditions, regardless on kayak model, the paddling would help to strengthen the core providing you have the proper technique. This may not decrease the pain while kayaking, but it could help decrease ones pain overall.

Hope this helps. Sorry for the long explanation.

[Sdspeed]

Really do appreciate everybodys input.

[hd2001glide]

Guys, please follow this advice and it will change your life....I promise. If you are having back pain pick up the book "Healing Back Pain the Mind Body Connection" by Dr. John Sarno. The TV show 20/20 did a show on him and John Stossell swore by him and I have a L4 & L5 herniated discs and have been out of pain for 12 years now and I swear by the book. You will find this hard to believe but the battle is with your Mind not with your back/kneck or any other body part. Stop and think about it, you have tried everything but you are still in pain so pick up this book by this prominent neurologist and follow it.....it will change your life.