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From: <nik586_at_mts.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 10:01:24 -0500
Can anyone point me to info on how to go about working out what causes leg
numbness and how to go about preventing it?  I last about 25 minutes and my
left leg is 'asleep'.  I spend a couple of evenings creating a very nice
seat and that only moved me from lasting about 20 minutes to 25.  What are
some things that you found that contributed to numbness?

Marvin
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From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 09:00:32 -0400
> Can anyone point me to info on how to go about working out what causes
leg
> numbness and how to go about preventing it?  I last about 25 minutes
and
> my
> left leg is 'asleep'.  I spend a couple of evenings creating a very
nice
> seat and that only moved me from lasting about 20 minutes to 25.  What
are
> some things that you found that contributed to numbness?

Marvin, when you built your seat, did you construct the front edge so
that it would angle your legs higher than your butt?  That's generally
the first thing to check - you need your thighs angled upwards.  To
check to see if that's the issue, stuff something (foam blocks, rolled
up towels, etc) under your thighs/knees to keep them up.   If that
solves the problem, either keep stuffing stuff under your knees, or make
another seat that puts your legs at a better angle.

Rick
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From: Steve Dent <fics_peteacher_at_hotmail.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 08:46:03 -0300
Bad foot rest position contributes to my dead legs.  I had a very bad
experience doing an open water crossing then getting out on the other side
of the bay and not being able to stand for a few minutes.  My paddling
friends found it quite amusing!!

I now have my foot rests in a certain place and NO ONE is allowed to meve
them!

Steve Dent
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From: Rafael Mier-Maza <sildriel_at_ciateq.net.mx>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 10:20:47 -0700
Can anyone point me to info on how to go about working out what causes leg
numbness and how to go about preventing it?  I last about 25 minutes and my
left leg is 'asleep'.

Hi, guys, this is gypsykayak (aka sandy kramer from miami) visiting the 
cayucochief  in mexico.

yesterday we went paddling on the laguna de san miguel de allende and iīm 
pleased to say i did not disgrace myself - IOW, i didnīt tip.

i also managed to get a free paddling lesson:  i really should practice 
torso rotation...itīs easy to get lazy when youīre paddling a sot in florida.

one of the reasons that i rarely use my decked boat (sedaīs gypsy) is 
because of the numb leg syndrome and/or arthritis.  when i mentioned to 
rafael that my right foot was numb he gave me a marvelous tip...and it worked.

he said that i should work my legs in time with the paddle.  when i dig my 
left paddle in I should put pressure on the left peg while easing back my 
right let (kind of what i do with my hands on the paddle).

once i got the hang of it (not easy while trying to concentrate on torso 
rotation) i was able to work in a nice easy rhythm.  it was kind of like 
peddling a bicycle without doing the round movement.  so i have to peddle 
while i paddle  :)

i was also fortunate to try Mayan Seasī tandem kayak the Tabasco (like the 
one he lent Arthur and Larry when their boat(s) needed repairs.  it paddled 
beautifully but i felt a bit self conscious about paddling with even 
strokes so he could keep in synch.  he told me not to worry about that.

itīs just as well iīm single - if not iīd be looking at a divorce boat :))

my next stop is the Lake Chapala area - there are about 10K gringos and 
canadians in the area and iīm checking it out for possible future retirement.

in the meantime, my mexican hosts (Rafel, Lety, and their children gus and 
andy) are treating me royally.

hasta luego, amigos

sandy kramer on the road


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From: Caroline Roth <carolineroth_at_yahoo.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 09:11:23 -0700 (PDT)
> 
> Hi, guys, this is gypsykayak (aka sandy kramer from
> miami) visiting the 
> cayucochief  in mexico.
> 
>
> he said that i should work my legs in time with the
> paddle.  when i dig my 
> left paddle in I should put pressure on the left peg
> while easing back my 
> right let (kind of what i do with my hands on the
> paddle).
> 
> once i got the hang of it (not easy while trying to
> concentrate on torso 
> rotation) i was able to work in a nice easy rhythm.

Sandy,

 if you rotate your torso to the right (enough) when
you place the left paddle, you will automatically put
pressure on the left peg and ease off the right peg. 
Now you really only have to think about one thing!
(and the pressure from the foot adds power to your
stroke)

Caroline 



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From: <cholst_at_bitstream.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 13:43:14 -0500
> one of the reasons that i rarely use my decked boat (sedaīs gypsy) is 
> because of the numb leg syndrome and/or arthritis.  when i mentioned to 
> rafael that my right foot was numb he gave me a marvelous tip...and it
> worked.
> 
> he said that i should work my legs in time with the paddle.  when i dig my 
> left paddle in I should put pressure on the left peg while easing back my 
> right let (kind of what i do with my hands on the paddle).
> 
> once i got the hang of it (not easy while trying to concentrate on torso 
> rotation) i was able to work in a nice easy rhythm.  it was kind of like 
> peddling a bicycle without doing the round movement.  so i have to peddle 
> while i paddle  :)
> 


I always pedal while I paddle, the result being that at the end of a long day 
the sorest part of me is usually the soles of my feet!

Chuck Holst
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From: Gordon Snapp <grsnapp_at_charter.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 10:12:48 -0500
Support your lower legs (just in front of your buttocks.)  A quick fix is to
put a semi inflated paddle float there.  Works like a charm.  It's a bit of
a hassle.  You have to determine how much air to put in.  It's also a pain
to slide your feet into your boat without sliding the paddle float forward
with them.  But it's not that hard, and once you get it dialed in you'll be
very glad.  Leg pain and numbness goes away.  You can paddle for hours.

The latest Sea Kayaker had a review of a new product designed to take the
place of a semi-inflated paddle float.  It's called a "SealLine Kayak
Thigh-Support Cushion by Cascade Designs."
(www.cascadedesigns.com/sealline)  It looks like it does the same thing.  It
says it has Velcro tabs to keep it from sliding forward.  The article quotes
the price as $39.95.  It might be worth a look.

Another answer is to sculpt a seat from mini-cell foam.  If your seat is
long enough, with support in front for those lower legs, it would seem that
it would be another way to solve the numb leg problem, without having to use
an inflatable device that could slide out of position.  I'm building a
Guillemot for my wife, and I'm going to have to come up with some sort of
seat for her (she insists) so I'm thinking of trying that.  If it works for
her, I may sculpt one for my Chesapeake 17.  It would be nice not to have to
worry about getting the paddle float in the right place with the proper
amount of air.


> Can anyone point me to info on how to go about working out what causes leg
> numbness and how to go about preventing it?  I last about 25 minutes and
my
> left leg is 'asleep'.  I spend a couple of evenings creating a very nice
> seat and that only moved me from lasting about 20 minutes to 25.  What are
> some things that you found that contributed to numbness?
>
> Marvin


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From: <Kevin50110_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] numb leg syndrome
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 20:38:11 EDT
I have the same problem which I blame on knee surgery, although my right leg 
is somewhat susceptible after many hours. My baidarka has a very low masik (I 
don't know the Aleut word for it), and I sorta have to bend my knees a wee bit 
backward to get in. No big deal big it creates havoc on my left knee, so much 
so I have to beach and roll out of my boat like a seal. Same now goes for 
other boats. I found a neoprene knee brace solved most of the problem for me. I 
can get out of my kayaks now without crawling on the sand. A couple of pieces 
of foam under the thighs glued in the glass boat helps too. KMN

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