Bad option some friends went that route.
2 Likes
Regular exercise especially core exercises. Seat pad. I also wear padded fingerless gloves even in summer for added comfort on my hands. Good kneeling pad (I’m in a canoe). On rare occasions I’ll take a little Ibuprofen before a long paddle (like one the night before and one in the morning).
3 Likes
1 Like
I find aches and pains are seasonal - at the beginning of the season I’m better off not doing any real long days; 20 miles downstream tops. If I do, I pay the price. Same with blisters. (And that’s OK too. A little bit of ache and pain, the occasional blister, every now and then is good for the soul, I think. If you never feel that, you’re not really trying at all.) By mid spring if I get aches and pains, its from sleeping on a rock or something. (Or possibly fighting a head wind for an quite an extended period of time.) After paddling I’m usually just relaxed and pleasantly sleepy.
Of course not slouching helps, and that too is something I catch myself doing more early in the season than later. Not getting old would be great, and I think paddling helps mitigate some of that too. I know I feel older after a day’s paddling in spring than I do in mid summer by which time I certainly feel younger.
Especially in flat water, I’m not entirely convinced that any particular weight of boat or paddle causes aches and pains. I used to hurt more in the early season than later on even when I was younger and paddling clunkier boats and its the same now but with nicer boats. Seems like a wash to me.
A heavy boat is like a freight train. Once you get the train rolling and have momentum, just paddle hard enough to hang on to the momentum and use it. Its the starting,stopping, eddy turns and such that wears you down. If the paddle is heavy, don’t lift it, do underwater recoveries.
Its my belief that its the conditioning that counts most.
3 Likes
Thanks
2 Likes
I’ve not had aches or pains from paddling or in general, maybe because I exercise year-round or maybe because I have peasant genes. No idea.
Am a believer in getting in 30-45+ minutes of brisk exercise daily, not just in the “off” season, plus core, strength and balance training. My Concept2 D provides the cardio work needed for endurance, plus it’s a full body workout. About once a week I’ll do a series of rotator cuff exercises. Bought an Apple watch a year ago, so now I have a personal assistant on my wrist reminding me to exercise, move, and do the training. Too bad it doesn’t do motivation, but I have a video that works every time.
Since skin cancer is a concern, in the warm months I always paddle in a long sleeved rashguard made of lightweight, fast drying, moisture wicking material. Even when wet it certainly will never add weight to my arms and strain my shoulders as the article claims. It’s also cooler, even on the rare hot days we have.
My boats have minicell foam footrests so leg position is not a problem.
For those who do experience chronic pain, this article may be of interest: Pain Relief From Exercise? Brisk Walks Can Make A Difference : Shots - Health News : NPR
3 Likes
When low pressure moves in , my joints start talking. Rain moved in last night and getting out of bed was a chore. But , who wants to get up on a rainy, 50° morning if they don’t have to. I had my coffee at 10 am and have half hibernated with a book most of the day.
3 Likes
Somehow the author missed a prime tip…Use good technique. Actually the arms have not much to do with a long day… the abdominals should do the work and by pushing on one side of the paddle while pulling on the other side makes long days quite doable without a lot of fatigue.
Same goes for canoe. Arms are just fulcrums not generators of power.
4 Likes
General fitness, starting with the core muscle groups. Good technique uses the trunk and lower back muscles a lot. Arm paddlers slow down during the day. I like a rowing machine for rafting and drift boat handling of the oars.
I had a landscape company specializing in native plants for my last career. I found that using a large rake or a shovel moving dirt all the time could be used to replicate paddling strokes. Draws and prys and pull strokes are similar. Over time I developed great lats and still have them today.
2 Likes
Morphine 
2 Likes
Like most, I started in a rec kayak with a tall seatback. I thought it made sense at the time. Then came to learn it was a recovery obstacle and a crutch for good posture. I moved to a touring boat with a back band.
I came to think of the back band as more of a butt band, something to nestle against but not support my back. With practice, training the lower back muscles, I learned to comfortably sit upright for a few hours at a time.
3 Likes
I built a Pygmy kayak but was never comfortable in it. Sitting in a kayak for long periods was like torture to me with a history of lower back problems. I sold the kayak and went back to canoes. They are much more comfortable.
Now I favor drift boats which allow plenty of room for standing up and moving around and changing positions. I can bring multiple dogs and a weeks worth of equipment with a friend or two. For lakes I use a small outboard.
Technique seems to be primary. It is imperative to use the right muscles. Using arm muscles for power tends to lead to joint, tendon, and ligament problems in the elbows, wrists, and/or shoulders.
2 Likes
Brodie, Karen 2, or anybody else: Do you know of a website with a listing of qualified flatwater paddling coaches and/or workshops for intermediate flatwater paddlers to hone their paddling technique. If so, please share those. Not all of us live near a good paddling shop.
I suspect that not all backs are made the same. I can do 8-mile hikes without any back discomfort. Upright my back is fine, but sitting draws protests from the lower vertebrae. Still, I am going to give pbenter’s suggestion a try this spring. Instead of removing the back, I’ll just scoot my butt forward a half-inch in the generous seat and then try to paddle without touching the back. Thanks for the idea.
Use the ACAs drop down menu to find an instructor in your area. I recommend a Level 2, 3, or 4 instructor since you mention intermediate skills.
https://cms.americancanoe.org/Instructor-Statistics/Listing
Or, for a listing of already scheduled courses (many are not listed by instructors yet due to C19 concerns - i.e. mine will not be listed for another 3 or 4 weeks). Just guessing here, but you should be ready to sign up for a Level 1 or Level 2 skills course to begin with:
2 Likes
I have no idea - possibly the ACA website might have such a list?
Thanks KayakHank: The first link that you provided allowed me to find several instructors within 10 miles. I am going to arrange a tune-up session on my paddling technique.
Glad to help and happy you have some local instructors.
What about an achy butt from sitting so long? Any recommendations on the perfect seat cushion?