Shoulder Pain

[flipperade]

Was talking to some SUP friends after a session last week as we were comparing paddles (must get a life  ) and one of them said that too shorter paddle was likely to put an unhealthy load on the lower back, which does seem to make sense.

[DavidJohn]

Was talking to some SUP friends after a session last week as we were comparing paddles (must get a life  ) and one of them said that too shorter paddle was likely to put an unhealthy load on the lower back, which does seem to make sense.

I tend to agree..I think I'd rather a bad shoulder than a bad back.

Check out the lower back bend on this guy towards the end of this vid.....My back hurts just watching it..

DJ

[flipperade]

Ouch he is not doing his back any favours his lumbar area and hips are powering those deep strokes.....trouble on the way for him.

[cammar]

Photosettle,
if you still have your old wooden paddle, I would just try to exclusively use it for a month and see if you feel any difference.

[PonoBill]

He'll be feeling that when he's sixty. Every frickin' thing i did in my twenties i feel in my sixties.

[linter]

  i'm having a constant throbbing pain in my right shoulder and wonder if shortening my paddle wouldn't help.  but i'm loath to cut it down, 'cause what if it doesn't make any diff?

  DavidJohn: this is where you come in.  With all your skills at jury rigging, seems to me if you put yer noggin to it you could figure out a way to attach some type of cross piece, a T of some sort, down the shaft a little and thus give at least an approximation of how a shorter paddle might work.  i stood in front of my werner spanker for a good ten minutes and drew a blank on how to accomplish this.  if you have time, maybe you could noodle it around.  what do you think?

[Dwight (DW)]

  i'm having a constant throbbing pain in my right shoulder and wonder if shortening my paddle wouldn't help.  but i'm loath to cut it down, 'cause what if it doesn't make any diff?

  DavidJohn: this is where you come in.  With all your skills at jury rigging, seems to me if you put yer noggin to it you could figure out a way to attach some type of cross piece, a T of some sort, down the shaft a little and thus give at least an approximation of how a shorter paddle might work.  i stood in front of my werner spanker for a good ten minutes and drew a blank on how to accomplish this.  if you have time, maybe you could noodle it around.  what do you think?

Here is how I cut my Shaka Pu'u too short, then made it longer, then shortened it again back to my original cut.

When I decided to go longer, I cut the shaft 6" below the tee. Then I found a wood dowel that fit inside the shaft perfect. 7/8" dowel was a precision fit. I extended the paddle, now with a 1" gap between the cut, with wood dowel showing. I duct taped the joint while testing the new longer length. Had I like this length, I would have used epoxy and some glass cloth to cover the joint. Since I didn't like it longer, I just pushed the ends back together tight and used expoxy to bond the dowel and joint back together.

My wife had deep shoulder pain this Winter. Now that her paddle is shorter, no more pain. Can't say for sure the shorter paddle cured it. Test at your own risk. She also switched to a smaller blade. That for sure should help.

[WindJunkie]

I tend to agree..I think I'd rather a bad shoulder than a bad back.

Check out the lower back bend on this guy towards the end of this vid.....My back hurts just watching it..

I don't think I've heard of anyone in paddle sports complain of a bad back.  Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but I just haven't heard of any.  However, I have heard of lots of shoulder problems.  If you look at the top outrigger paddlers they all paddle in a slightly forward position bent at the hip. 

I'm curious if people who are suffering from shoulder problems have their elbows up or down on their top hand.  If it is down it lowers the angle perceived at the shoulder.  Also, it stops the butterfly action.

[DavidJohn]

 DavidJohn: this is where you come in.  With all your skills at jury rigging, seems to me if you put yer noggin to it you could figure out a way to attach some type of cross piece, a T of some sort, down the shaft a little and thus give at least an approximation of how a shorter paddle might work.  i stood in front of my werner spanker for a good ten minutes and drew a blank on how to accomplish this.  if you have time, maybe you could noodle it around.  what do you think?

I'll see what I can come up with..I'm sure it can be done..and might be a good idea..The only problem is that your fingers will be spread to let the shaft through the top.

Re the shoulder pain..I've had my dose of shoulder pain..and I know other do..and I wonder if it is often a result of lifting the board onto and off the roof of the car or truck..and nothing to do with the paddling.

I know putting my board on the roof of my 4x4 and resting it down nice and gentle on the roof racks puts a huge stress on my shoulders..and it's that position of elbows above shoulders that may cause damage.

Just a thought.

DJ

[linter]

I'll see what I can come up with..I'm sure it can be done..and might be a good idea..The only problem is that your fingers will be spread to let the shaft through the top.

i see what you're saying about spread fingers.  what about a t that extended farther than normal to each side so you could get a full grip on either side of the shaft?  it wouldn't be ideal but maybe it'd be good enuf for a test run or two.

[DavidJohn]

I'll see what I can come up with..I'm sure it can be done..and might be a good idea..The only problem is that your fingers will be spread to let the shaft through the top.

i see what you're saying about spread fingers.  what about a t that extended farther than normal to each side so you could get a full grip on either side of the shaft?  it wouldn't be ideal but maybe it'd be good enough for a test run or two.

I can't see that working..because of the offset and twisting motion..and also the extra load on the clamping system that holds the T to the shaft..You don't want to clamp it too tight..Just enough to not twist.

A cheap nylon/plastic T handle..Drilled out to take the shaft diamater..and then cut in half..and then two screws either side to clamp the two halves to the shaft..That might work..but a bit of a hassle.

Do you know anyone else with a slightly shorter paddle that you could borrow?..That'd be the easiest way..

DJ

[srfnff]

I switched from a Kialoha Kole paddle (9" blade) to a 6.5" Infinity otter tail paddle and my shoulder pain decreased dramatically. There is much less pull resistance with the narrower bladed Infinity. I've tried the Kole and the Shaka Pu'u since, and the increased pull resistance always makes my shoulders hurt. Less resistance, more reps = excellent wave catching ability with less shoulder pain. If you SUP a lot, it's worth the $300 bucks.

[PonoBill]

You could attach a short angled shaft (maybe five inches) to your paddle with the T on it. You need a fishmouthed joint on the angled piece. I could cut you one with my joint jigger if I was in Portland. Its a tool that every race car fabricator has to have. You can fake one by using a hole saw the same diameter as the tubing you're cutting. 45 degree angle cut, lots of helicopter tape (or gorilla duct tape) and off you go.

the shaft will be a little bent at your lower hand, but not much.

[linter]

one thing i've learned through the spending of a big bunch o' tons o' money on paddles for this sport is, it's probably not just the length that makes the difference but the length plus the weight plus the blade size and shape plus various intangibles i know nothing about.  my point being, i have shorter paddles that i don't like but that doesn't mean i wouldn't like the werner at a shorter length.  i've tried (and own) an infinity but for some reason the blade size and i just don't get along; i went from it to the werner and my wave count zoomed; go figure.
   maybe ponobill's onto something but for the life of me i couldn't understand a word he said .  "fishmouthed joint" -- what the hell is that, bill?   
   anyway, thanks all for the input.  maybe i'll go out to the shed and stare at my werner for another ten minutes, see what happens then.

[linter]

well, standing outside did nothing, as per usual.  so i came back inside and started noodling around on google and, through a patent search, found the following food for thought.  (actually, the last one is not about the current topic but is interesting nonethless; it details a mirror mount for a paddle, so you can see just how big that big one is that's looming up on yer ass ...)