[Paddlewise] Bent Shaft paddles

	Mel wrote:

	>I was wondering if people who use the
>bent shaft paddles and have had carpal tunnel really found them to be
>effective.  I'm trying to decide whether or not to cough up the dough for
>an AT bent shaft carbon paddle.....

	I can respond to Mel's inquiry about the effectiveness of bent shaft
paddles in relation to wrist/hand injury.
	While we cannot directly compare injury between paddlers, I can say that I
have been professionally treated this past year for DeQuervain's
tenosynovitis, which some PaddleWisers may know, is a painful affliction
often mistaken for 'carpal tunnel syndrome'. DeQuervain's occurs when the
lubricating fluid dries up in the sheath which contains the two tendons
controlling thumb movements at the wrist. 
	I am no medico, but you get to learn a lot when an injury prevents you
getting out on the water!
	The test for DeQuervain [ who I believe was a French physician ] is the
Finklestein movement... cocking your thumb into the palm of the hand on the
injured wrist with your palm on the vertical plane and turning your hand
downwards.  Ouch.
	A year of non-invasive treatment basically achieved nothing  and I have
recently had to have the sheath cut open by a hand surgeon.  This frees up
the tendons and relieves the inflammation. [ Swelling at the wrist is an
indication of DeQuervain's.]
	While paddling was not the initial cause of this affliction, it certainly
did not help, and the Sydney surgeon who operated on me indicated paddlers
were a reliable source of income for his profession!
	On to Mel's inquiry concerning AT paddles.  I bought one of their
breakdown touring paddles [ and if you think they are expensive in the
States, try buying one with Australian dollars!_at_XX%&]
	But the good news is that I can report after some significant paddles,
sometimes in winds of 25knots plus and with accompanying seas,  the AT
paddle has proved an investment.  The set of the wrist at the end of the
forward stroke is anatomically more neutral,  or in other words the wrist
is not in a cocked position at the forward end of the stroke. 
	BTW, my injury was not on my control side, and I have always used  break
down paddles which have allowed a variety of feathering degrees. 
	Anecdotally, people talk about 'carpal tunnel syndrome' when they are
actually describing some other type of tenosynitis,  but caused , like
DeQuervain's, by years of repetitive similar movements. 
	In summary, I hope from my misfortune other Paddlwisers may be helped.  I
am back paddling with no restriction,  enjoying the Southern summer after a
convalescence of just six weeks or so.  I still have my straight shaft
paddles, but they are for spare use only.  The jury is still out on how the
AT will stand up to wear and tear, but I guess the same caveats apply to
any gear which is kevlar and carbon fibre.   I have no commercial or any
other association with the makers and distributors of AT paddles.  Regards,
 Peter Rattenbury


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************