I have to get back surgery. I need a fusion between L-3 & L-4 and possibly down to L-5 / S-1. I race a 12' 6" Boardworks Excalibur and have been fairly successful; (2) 1st, (2) 2nd place and a 6th and 8th place. I only say it because I paddle 4-6 days a week (before my injury). I have this idea that prone paddling would be a way in getting back for recovery. Not knelling (yet). I am a competitive swimmer so I assume it will translate. I just love being on the water and want to get back on it as soon as a can. I want to continue SUP and I imagine I will want to compete in prone. Is my thought that prone will be better on my back wrong?

i, and many others i know, got into SUP as a substitute way of waveriding purely because of lower back issues that make prone surfing too painful. the combination of arching the back upwards and paddling at the same time is crippling on my lower discs.

good luck with it.

Thanks, I love Paddling and wasn't sure what was better on the lower back. I just assumed laying down with a headrest would be a good substitute. Believe me I want to paddle but I am looking for something that I can do while I recover. What about OC? I like speed but maybe a less aggressive kayak? I am not a surfer (unless a beach start and finish) more of a flat water (inlet) with chop, depending on the wind. Thanks for the response.

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Brokedude said..
I have to get back surgery. I need a fusion between L-3 & L-4 and possibly down to L-5 / S-1. I race a 12' 6" Boardworks Excalibur and have been fairly successful; (2) 1st, (2) 2nd place and a 6th and 8th place. I only say it because I paddle 4-6 days a week (before my injury). I have this idea that prone paddling would be a way in getting back for recovery. Not knelling (yet). I am a competitive swimmer so I assume it will translate. I just love being on the water and want to get back on it as soon as a can. I want to continue SUP and I imagine I will want to compete in prone. Is my thought that prone will be better on my back wrong?

I had a fusion, L5 S1 a few years ago. I was a prone surfer. I started on the sup after fusion as I found prone surfing too difficult/painful. I believe supping contributed to my recovery more than any other activity. I have never gone back to prone surfing as surfing on the sup is so much fun and causes a lot less pain, and I am not just referring to the lower back eg neck pain etc.
All the best with the operation. Staying positive and motivated to get back on the water will ensure you have a great recovery and a positive outcome.

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Brokedude said..
Thanks, I love Paddling and wasn't sure what was better on the lower back. I just assumed laying down with a headrest would be a good substitute. Believe me I want to paddle but I am looking for something that I can do while I recover. What about OC? I like speed but maybe a less aggressive kayak? I am not a surfer (unless a beach start and finish) more of a flat water (inlet) with chop, depending on the wind. Thanks for the response.

talk to the medical professionals before you take up anything new. you don't want your recovery sport to cause more problems than it solves.

Personally, i find mixing up the movements across a few sports helps me to manage my herniated discs, sciatica and arthritic pain. i SUP, paddle a waveski, wakeboard (cable) and kitesurf whenever conditions allow and also run a few times a week and stretch daily.

stay active and positive, but get some professional guidance.

For 10 years I only supped , then started Sup foiling and now only prone foil , took me about a month to get used to paddling around on small prone boards. Now I can surf for 2 to 3 hours prone foiling and my back has never been better. I'm on 4-4 x 35 litre (I'm 88kg) which sounds crazy small but because your knees are off the board it takes all that pressure off your back and neck. I still get stiff when I back up after multiple sessions as like most blokes my age (56) we all have some form of a back issue , but just some simple stretching keeps me going and my core strength is now better than when I was 30 .

I have a history of fairly chronic lower back trouble - manage it OK with exercises. I got a 12' stock prone board, found it OK on the lower back but pretty punishing on the neck - paddle along with forehead resting on the board a lot. I haven't given it enough time, but will get back in to it soon. Don't possess the balance to paddle on my knees - I think that would be hard on the lower back.
OC1 I have had no trouble with lower back, but you would need to try before you buy as seating position varies a lot between boats - mine has me very high on the boat with legs down in a footwell, I tried a mate's boat, where seat was more like a kayak, very low in the boat with legs straight out in front - couldn't paddle it anywhere due to lower back pain.

Thank you to everyone who responded. Very helpful.

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Brokedude said..
I have to get back surgery. I need a fusion between L-3 & L-4 and possibly down to L-5 / S-1. I race a 12' 6" Boardworks Excalibur and have been fairly successful; (2) 1st, (2) 2nd place and a 6th and 8th place. I only say it because I paddle 4-6 days a week (before my injury). I have this idea that prone paddling would be a way in getting back for recovery. Not knelling (yet). I am a competitive swimmer so I assume it will translate. I just love being on the water and want to get back on it as soon as a can. I want to continue SUP and I imagine I will want to compete in prone. Is my thought that prone will be better on my back wrong?

Select to expand quote

lam said..

Brokedude said..
I have to get back surgery. I need a fusion between L-3 & L-4 and possibly down to L-5 / S-1. I race a 12' 6" Boardworks Excalibur and have been fairly successful; (2) 1st, (2) 2nd place and a 6th and 8th place. I only say it because I paddle 4-6 days a week (before my injury). I have this idea that prone paddling would be a way in getting back for recovery. Not knelling (yet). I am a competitive swimmer so I assume it will translate. I just love being on the water and want to get back on it as soon as a can. I want to continue SUP and I imagine I will want to compete in prone. Is my thought that prone will be better on my back wrong?

I had a fusion, L5 S1 a few years ago. I was a prone surfer. I started on the sup after fusion as I found prone surfing too difficult/painful. I believe supping contributed to my recovery more than any other activity. I have never gone back to prone surfing as surfing on the sup is so much fun and causes a lot less pain, and I am not just referring to the lower back eg neck pain etc.
All the best with the operation. Staying positive and motivated to get back on the water will ensure you have a great recovery and a positive outcome.

Thank you. I look forward to my comeback.

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Brokedude said..
I have to get back surgery. I need a fusion between L-3 & L-4 and possibly down to L-5 / S-1. I race a 12' 6" Boardworks Excalibur and have been fairly successful; (2) 1st, (2) 2nd place and a 6th and 8th place. I only say it because I paddle 4-6 days a week (before my injury). I have this idea that prone paddling would be a way in getting back for recovery. Not knelling (yet). I am a competitive swimmer so I assume it will translate. I just love being on the water and want to get back on it as soon as a can. I want to continue SUP and I imagine I will want to compete in prone. Is my thought that prone will be better on my back wrong?

Wow, that's heavy. What does your doctor say? Do they think it will be ok? Back surgery is serious stuff.