On Thursday, November 14, 2002, at 11:07:53 AM PST, John March wrote: > Lastly, drugs may be the best bet <grin>: the new Cox-2 NSAID, > Bextra, is pretty good for pain control. The problem with using medication to control pain is that the underlying cause of the injury/condition can continue to worsen without notice. It really is better to try and eliminate the cause rather than simply cover up the symptoms. John B. says that he uses both a Greenland paddle and a *crank shaft* Euro style paddle...and that the problem is much worse with the Euro paddle. While increasing the width of the Euro paddle's shaft can probably make a positive difference, there are more differences between the two than just the width of the shaft. Speculation follows (I'm no hand surgeon!)... I'm wondering if by using the crank shaft paddle, and somehow feeling that it promotes a more "natural" grip just by virtue of the "crankiness" of the shaft, John isn't gripping it too tightly throughout the stroke? Part of a good relaxed technique with a straight shaft paddle is to open up the "pushing" hand a bit, which, in addition to relaxing the hand and promoting greater circulation, puts more of the pressure across the palm rather than into the smaller joint areas. I wonder if by using a crank shaft, a paddler might become somewhat complacent about the little techniques that minimize pressure on the specific joints? -- Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Nov 14 2002 - 12:33:17 PST
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