Some of you have watched the Brent Reitz video; others have taken his forward stroke clinic; and, others have paddled with those who have done either (or both) of the above and have started to adopt "Brent's" forward stroke. A word of warning--doing the "chicken wing" lift and bringing the arm across the body without proper torso rotation is asking for a series of trips to the physical therapist, and an extended retirement from paddling, pending rest and rehab. It has recently been reported to me by one "member" of our group that he was having shoulder problems. After some doctors visits and work with a Physical Therapist, he took his paddle to the PT to show the mechanics of the forward stroke, the PT said "Ah Ha!" He wasn't rotating his torso as much as he should have been, thereby crunching the all the little parts in the anterior (front) portion of his shoulder. The therapist used a model of the shoulder to demonstrate what was happening and it was pretty amazing. Stopping to think about it, sure enough! So, don't crunch your shoulders--rotate that torso! The PT is working up some shoulder exercises using a rubber band (no not the ones from Office Depot--the PT kind). When I learn of them, I'll pass them on. And while your at it--keep those wrists, hands, and forearms straight, and relax that grip! John Browning *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Aug 20 2003 - 06:21:29 PDT
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