Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Technique => Topic started by: dmounts on April 19, 2010, 08:43:47 AM
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my feet have being going a bit numb, or at least it feels as though they are, with my new board. Yesterday is was 80 degrees and no wind. I was wondering if it is the Surftech diamond pad or just pressure points on my feet holding my 195lbs. Anyone else get this feeling? Any tips? It gets better if i move my feet around a bit.
D
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Yeah, move your feet around.
Seriously, happens to a lot of people, it's a good thing. Teaches you to move around the board which you'll need to do when you get into heavier conditions.
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Some pads are worse than others at this. I had one raceboard pad that I sanded down to stop this.
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I have found that the vibram 5 finger shoes help a bunch for the numbing problem. Give them a try. They help bridge the gaps in the pad on your board
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I have found that the vibram 5 finger shoes help a bunch for the numbing problem. Give them a try. They help bridge the gaps in the pad on your board
Yeah just don't strap them on to tight because I did on one run and could'nt figure out why the hell is my feet numb.
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Bill is right (as usual) got to move the feet around. good habit to form
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What's numb feet?... ;D
DJ
(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/djp-1/IMG_1428Medium.jpg)
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I've noticed that while getting used to a new board, some people grip their toes like an orangutan. This will cause cramping and numbness. Try to consciously relax your feet.
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What's numb feet?... ;D
DJ
(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/djp-1/IMG_1428Medium.jpg)
Its when you paddle in tough conditions 99.9 percent of the time and your challenging balance. When you are getting thrown around and the body is trying to resist shock like a shock absorber. Thats numb feet.
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my feet have being going a bit numb, or at least it feels as though they are, with my new board. Yesterday is was 80 degrees and no wind. I was wondering if it is the Surftech diamond pad or just pressure points on my feet holding my 195lbs. Anyone else get this feeling? Any tips? It gets better if i move my feet around a bit.
D
My feet go numb 20 mins in flat water but I can do an hour and 20 mins out in the surf without any issues. Moving around is a good tip.
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Hey slim willy; is that you?
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Thanks for the feedback. I'll try moving a bit more on the board when paddling flat water.
Thanks
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Hey slim willy; is that you?
Yup. Still trying to keep slim. After the 40lb loss I gained 10 back on the second year. This SUP stuff already had me loose 3 lbs in 3 weeks.
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i got me a full Routine for my feet.... SLAP SLAP SLAP.....rub the arch trying to get blood down there...crack some toes and repeat....works for me....i paddle in 50f water and all is good..good luck...
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Aren't ya glad it's not a numb butt to deal with...
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how about researching techniques on stretching your feet, low legs, etc. it's all connected. check with nikki gregg for ideas. nikkigregg.com
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Insert Quote
I generally feel my balance and ability is good. I have surfed my entire life and am 44 years old got into SUP end of last summer and live in Virginia beach. Had a friend (Tim Nolte) build my board and was up and riding, got to go out in some waist high waves before the water got too cold for me and had no problem. Been doing flatwater lately to get in shape for the season but have been itching to go out and catch some waves. Loaded up the board and drove it down to the beach and despite the 10-15 mph NE wind and waves breaking on the shore with wind chop got into the water and resolved to give it a shot. The cross chop was crazy and trying to line up and get positioned for what waves we had was frustrating. Last year the days I went to the ocean happened to be glassy and the sets rolling in were easy to get lined up on, picking the best waves from outside to catch, lots of fun. If the conditions are wind choppy is it just not do-able? Also if I am flatwater conditioning my feet cramp and go numb after about 30minutes I go down to kneeling for 5min or so till they get right then get back up. Does anyone else have that problem? I have had the same thing snowboarding and before that skiing. I think it's my Fred Flintstone feet.
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After 15 minutes my feet is sore and numb. After resting for a few minutes, I'm good to go again for 30 mintues before it starts to get numb and sore again. I bought and tried the Vibram Five Finger shoes and it didn't help. I tried moving my feet around while paddling and that didn't help. I have flat feet so maybe that's the problem.
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I think we should separate out the cold water itself being the issue or SUP being the issue.
Since I am in Hawaii, I will comment on the "warm water" numbness. I definitely experienced numb feet for a while after starting SUP. I no longer get that sensation. I think as your body learns to cope with the stresses of doing SUP (especially on the feet), the issue will subside. But even today after a long run my feet will definitely be sensitive.
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I think that you will adjust, but I think that it is also true that the Surftech diamond grip pad is not the softest pad available either. It would be a real pain to swap the pad, but you could always put some different pad in the flatwater stance area and see if it helps you!
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I was on the water for several hours yesterday and found that by lying on my back on the board, and raising my legs with my feet pointed up, the numbness would go away. I also tapped my feet on the board while on my back and found that helped too. If the water is too rough to do this, then moving around the board as others have suggested will probably work as well.
I'm starting to wonder if prolonged periods of paddling is actually bad for your feet? I might experiment with sandals or aqua booties with arch supports.
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Sound like it might be blood flow. Do you have any varicose veins? The veins in your legs have valves in them that helps the blood get pumped back to your heat. If the veins are enlarged the valves don't close and you get blood pooling in your feet. Certainly could be a lot of other things, but you might give compression tights a try.
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I'm 61 190lbs, been SUP 1 yr. I usually paddle 1hr. I find that sometimes, I just get on my knees for a short break. When I finish my feet are much better. Plus, I don't so bad during the last few minutes.
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I don't paddle with a pad on my board, but when I use my mates board I found I was getting numb after about an hour of paddling. I found that I was using my toes for stability, digging them in to the traction pad. When I lifted my toes in to the air the numbness would subside after a few minutes and then I would try to not use my toes unless I really had to when I got off balance from a wake etc. Sometimes this also applies to riding my board which does not have a traction pad, but very rarely.
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Booties with Dr. Scholls arch supports worked for me but the problem seems to be going away as my feet get stronger.
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I've noticed that while getting used to a new board, some people grip their toes like an orangutan. This will cause cramping and numbness. Try to consciously relax your feet.
We call that monkey toes. It goes with monkey paw when you grab your paddle too hard. I get people to wiggle their toes periodically and lift their heels then toes—if they aren't good at walking a board.
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Basically, numb feet refer to the forefoot, aka the "ball of the foot" and the toes. The structural design of the foot is the arch concept which includes two foundations, the forefoot and the heel.
If you overload the forefoot repetitively in an athletic activity it will go numb. The simple solution is to balance more weight on the heel. Sink your weight down onto your whole foot by bending more at the core, knees and ankles. Particularly focus more weight to the side your paddling on making the other foot light on the board. This gives the light foot a rest and improves paddling power.
Hint: If you have tight calf muscles and achilles tendons bending at the ankles will be difficult and leverage more pressure on the forefoot. Stretching and repeated use will limber this up. It also helps to wear footwear with a slightly elevated heel like Crocks or deck shoes.
Randall Barna
Certified Pedorthist
www.footform.com (http://www.footform.com)
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My feet feel tired more than they do numb. I think the causes are the same thing though. When my dogs are starting to bark, all I do is kneel down and paddle for a few minutes or even sit down and paddle for a few minutes. Hop back up good to go. Repeat as needed.
Maybe someday when I am less of svelte porker than I am now, I won't have so much of a problem. For me, 240+ pounds exerts alot of psi on the relatively small surface area my feet have to offer for support and balance
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Hey , my feet used to kill me after a couple of hours doing long distance paddles . It started with pain ,tingling and then numbness. Here are a few things that helped me alot ! Some simple exercises that i do to strengthen, increase flexability and range of motion.{PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN,SPORTS THERAPIST ,OR PODIATRIST BEFORE ATTEMPTING !} Remove shoes , relax your feet muscles by shaking them out until they feel loose. Sit on floor with legs straight out in front of you and point feet towards sky ,point feet forward ,pull feet back, side to side , small circles and large circles, message and then repeat. Try sky writing with your feet. Try standing and support yourself against a wall and picking up small objects with your toes ex[pens,marbles,rocks].Heel raises. Also try placing a tennis ball under your arch and roll it back and forth with your foot. I also got a pair of New Balance 920 aqua sneakers and they work really well ,they add a good amount of arch support ,great drainage and they dont destroy your board pads. These exercises may seem somewhat puerile ,but they worked for me . later
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I have felt the same things in my own feet. More so when I first started paddling this spring. The more I went out though, learned to move my feet & relax them, the less I felt it. Recently the water temps have started to dip into the high 50s & I am feeling it again. So I suspect that I'll need to start wearing some boots/shoes of some kind soon. I picked up a pair of cheapie neoprene jetski boots, and got what I paid for. They keep my feet warm, but have no support at all.
Yesterday I saw some Columbia Outpost "amphibious" hybrid shoes (http://www.columbia.com/Outpost%E2%84%A2-Hybrid/BL4307,default,pd.html) on Steepandcheap.com for $35. Looks like a lot of guys into kayaking, sailing & other outdoor sports involving the water like these shoes. And their normally about twice the price. So we'll see in a few days how they work out.
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Yeah my feet go numb after about an hour of of paddling. My board doesn't have a deckpad though. I prefer feeling the board on my feet for quicker response but the price is numb feet during lengthy sessions. I will try moving my feet around more.
Matt
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I got numb feet for the first time after 4 mnths of supn'. I did a 3.5 hr paddle in a little chop with a little wind. I think I just tensed up a little too tight and zoned out. Didn't move my feet enough. Longest continuous paddle yet. Open ocean. Up til then I mostly surfed or did shorter flat freshwater runs. I got my land legs pretty quick afterward.
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I get tingly and slightly numb right away on my Naish Glide.
Three other boards in the house, and others I have borrowed never do that.
Even though I wiggle my toes and loosen my grip, it still continues.
My guess its a combination of the diamond grip pad and the tippyness of the board with my 215lbs on board.
Had not thought about shoes with arch support. Kind of defeats the purpose of being on the water and feeling it on your toes.
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Same problem here on my new Naish Glide. Seems to be getting better with more tow.
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how thick is your pad? my homemade which doesn't have a pad and is waxed gives me sore feet.
- stretch before you go out - hamstrings, calves, see if that helps.
- is your board stable on flat water? are you afraid of getting wet or falling in? do you feel unstable? these things give folks sore feet or calves.
- relax! loose hands, loose body,
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it's important to learn to relax your feet. and at times, it may feel like you are relaxed but your really not. A common problem for those who start downwinding, and dont have surf experience. Relaxing your feet means being comfortable on the board.
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I have a DaKine deck pad on my board and it feels more firm than other pads. I used to think my feet would go numb because of the pad. Moving my feet around definitely helps to keep my feet from going numb.