At 10:34 PM 7/27/98 +0000, you wrote: > >It is one specific area - the muscles around the base of the >thumb, and going up into the thumb, and the muscles inbetween >the thumb and the rest of the fingers. I wear my bicycle >gloves (a padded palm, fingers cut out) to paddle, so as to >prevent blisters. I already am working on loosening my >beginner's death-grip on the paddle, and perhaps this is all >the problem. > >My question to more experienced paddlers is this : >how do you handle this? Once you know what you are doing and >are reasonably proficient, do you still have problems of this >type? Are there particular hand stretches or activities that >are helpful, once you are in this condition (or to prevent it)? >Could the gloves themselves be part of the problem? Could it >be from too big a paddle shaft (even though it doesn't feel too >big)? > >And, most importantly, will somebody please tell me what I want >to hear: it will only get better if you go paddling MORE! > >Thanks > >Anne Burton Get rid of the gloves!!! These are making you grasp the paddle much tighter than you need too. (I developed "tennis elbow" this winter with neoprene gloves.) You'll note that the area of padding in a cycling glove is around the base of the thumb and heel of the hand. This is interfering with your grip. You can help prevent blisters by making sure the paddle shaft is smooth. And then keep the shaft and your hands wet. Blisters form when skin is slightly moist and rubs against something. If the skin is dry, no blisters. If the skin is wet, no blisters. I get blisters on the lower knuckle of the thumb. . . I find that a bit of sun-tan lotion in that area allows for some "slide" and helps with the blisters. Goes without saying that the feathered paddle is hard on the wrist joints. Both my doctor and my paddling instructor advise to loosen the grip on the "uphill" hand when paddling. I loosen the grip with all but the middle finger, and hold that against the crook in the thumb. No need to wrap the thumb much. Pull with the fingers on the "downhill" hand and use the thumb just to keep the paddle in place. But mostly get rid of the cycling gloves! These are made for LEANING on handlebars, not gripping a paddle. More paddling helps. . . but go with the flow! Don't push the river! ______________________________ George Bergeron, Secretary '99 Oswego Heritage Council http://www.europa.com/~heritage/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Jul 27 1998 - 22:25:49 PDT
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