Re: [Paddlewise] [CPAKayaker] pool injuries

From: Scott Ives <ssives_at_erols.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 17:41:34 -0500
Ralph and company, 

  Don't be so sure that every shoulder separation involvling rolling
involved improper form.  I had a "chronic" shoulder problem that
resulted in a dislocation about once a year - in or out of the water. 
My dislocations were not the user friendly type the went back in place
on  their own.  No, my dislocations involved regular trips to the
emergency room where I would have to be drugged up to get the shoulder
back in.  I eventually needed shoulder surgery to correct the problem. 
The initial cause of this injury was wrestling, not kayaking. However,
my shoulder did dislocate one time during a pool rolling session in
Alexandria, Va. about seven years ago.  Again, this wasn't a rare event,
since my shoulder also gave out doing everyday activities.  In the end,
even a simple rotation of my arm in the air could cause the dislocation.

   My point is that we shouldn't be so ready to blame the paddler when a
shoulder dislocation occurs.  It reminds me of the way we all jump on a
paddler who dies without wearing a pfd or proper clothing (although many
times this criticism is warranted).  I think human nature is such that
we feel more comforted and believe it "couldn't happen to us" if the
guy/gal did something wrong.  By the way, since my shoulder surgery I
haven't dislocated my shoulder rolling, or by any other means.  (Even
though my roll still isn't very pretty!)


    Just my .02.

   - Scott Ives

rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> > In a pool session a few years ago, a student slashed his paddle down
> > through the water and slammed it into the bottom of the pool. Students with some physical strength often believe that, to roll, they must pull as hard as they can to get upright The student
> > dislocated his shoulder and was quickly shipped to the nearest
> > hospital....
***************************************************************************
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 Wed Dec 16 1998 - 14:51:37 PST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:30:02 PDT