Matt posted in reply to Gordin (snip): >>As to your paddling around the island: my advice would be to not aggravate your injury and risk making it chronic. If you must go, get a battery powered propeller system, a motorboat, or paddle a double kayak with a strong and sympathetic paddler to help (so you can slack way off). Do we have any Paddlewise volunteers from your area? Don't all speak up at once. Doug, are you out there?<< The only way to deal with this injury if it is becoming persistent is to back off activity that aggravates it -- either activities that are direct or indirect. I'm a voluntary ergonomics assessor at the Ministry of Health building where I work (an extra-curricular activity there), and I'm always appalled at how poorly situated some folks are at their work stations. How one handles office-like tasks at home should be examined too. It is really important to keep arms/elbows, and wrists in a neutral position, with forearms parallel to the floor. For paddling, a loose grip, with finger relaxation between strokes, help prevent strain injuries. A shorter paddler can help too (215cm). There is a book out somewhere with paddler-specific information on injury-negating strengthening, but I can't remember the author/title/availability. Regular paddling excursions where mileage is pushed a bit should build up some immunity to strain injuries, but with physiological variables, any weekend warrior can find themselves in a cycle of pain and inflammation in specific joints from time to time. Also, sometimes shoulder strain registers as elbow pain and visa-versa from what I understand. Masking with Ibuprofen isn't necessarily the best option, unless trying to finish off a trip. DON'T go the Cortisone route if possible - been there, done that. I will also add that there is some very poor medical providers out there with poor sportsmedicine savvy. Be careful. If one insists with continuation of a strain-producing activity and/or if there is too much carry-over pain in the evening even after backing off (in other words, pain that keeps you awake at night) then by all means a prescription antinflamatory is indicated. This was my only recourse when I was younger and proceeded with multi-day excursions during inclement weather/exposed coastlines where progress had to be made within a reasonable time schedule, though I still spent many a night in my pup tent, restless with pain and desperate for ice. Now I ice after every paddle (when ice is available), regardless of symptoms or lack thereof (shoulder pain in my case). As far as paddling with Gordin, I do miss the fact that I backed off the Victoria paddling community recently. I enjoyed his company more than most. He is a very interesting guy, and more positive than many Island paddlers I know that I can't handle anymore, but I don't want to upset anyone these days, which I seem to easily do. I can't take any stress right now, even if I cause it. I'm heavily medicated on dizzying antiarrythmia drugs and Coumadin right now (not good in a Nordkapp), awaiting a Pulmonary Vein Isolation Procedure (a 5 to 6 hour procedure, including mapping for errant electrical pathways -- if all goes well) in a month or too. So, every day "above ground" is a good one, though I miss being under water (rolling, anyway). So, get out, do lots of paddling, and enjoy this incredible Spring weather -- just remember the ice, and to be kind toward one another. Doug Lloyd Victoria BC *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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