Marcia Tauber <marcia_at_simplymacintosh.com> wrote: >>I just got back from my first week long expedition in the Puget Sound. After about five days of paddling, I began noticing some tingling in the finger tips on my right hand. After the sixth day, my right hand was totally numb from the middle, ring and pinky fingers almost to my wrist. This lasted for about half a day. I was trying to be careful about not gripping the paddle too tightly, although I did have a couple of fairly long, windy crossings. What was I doing wrong and what should I do differently next time? Marcia, I can not speak with the authority of John March.. However, the situation may not be so dire as John paints it, although I agree seeing a physician is wise. Finger/hand numbness is a common paddler's complaint. I experienced similar problems beginning my second season, when I went from a 240 cm Werner San Juan paddle to a 250 San Juan. (These blades have huge surface area.) I did it because I regularly paddled alongside an animal and I wanted more bite so I could keep up with the dude. However, hand/finger numbness and elbow pain began to occur during/after paddling sessions and I had to quit for a couple months. I got a 220 cm Lightning paddle with blade area about the size of Werner's Camano, adjusted my paddling style to avoid putting any stress on the wrist when it is bent, and have been OK the 10-12 years since. Except when I lapse back into "death grip" form on the shaft, my numbness is gone. It demands concentration to avoid stressing the wrists, but after a while, it becomes a matter of muscle/reflex memory and I don't have to think about it. A couple of suggestions: 1. Get a good observer to paddle alongside you to watch carefully and analyze your stroke. 2. Get someone to videotape your stroke, and use successive video tape sessions to correct any problems you detect. Matt Broze may be able to provide some insight on this also. I suspect you can fix the mechanics of your stroke so the wrist problems will go away, but it is still a good idea to consult a physician, anyway. The issues John raised are serious, and may not apply to you, but wrists are tricky. Hope this helps. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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 Sat Aug 23 2003 - 18:38:08 PDT
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