Just wondering if anyone else experiences right arm / leading main arm fatigue from too much paddling / sup surfing / working etc?
I recently noticed that it does not go away, my forearm and shoulder (only the one side) appear to stay in a constant state of discomfort (from very mild to a bit intense at times depending on the strain / activity), I have been trying to use my left hand /arm more often for things like brushing my teeth, holding a water bottle, paddling, avoid sleeping on it etc, but it is hard when you have been right handed all your life?:-)
Any ideas would be appreciated :-)

Get a paddle that is way longer than the wise people suggest.
Control the location of the top of the paddle with your top arm.

I had a shoulder problem. Maybe still have but not nearly as bad as it was. I think hanging by my hands helped a bit. Just hang from a bar for 20 - 30secs a few times a day. But I am not sure if the Covid and a back and foot issues may have made a difference as well. Didn't SUP or surf as much as usual during that period. I was told to stop paddling by physio. All of the above but the hanging did help. I used to have hand problems when I was sailboarding back in the 80's and 90's. I stopped sailing and it went away. If I use a pick or hammer for too long it does aggravate my hand still. When I SUP I have minimum grip on paddle unless it is critical eg paddling over white water in the surf etc. I don't know if any of this helps. If you have carpal tunnel it could be surgery or try acupuncture. Good luck.

I have had similar issues. "golfer's elbow" which is on the inside of the forearm and elbow and still shoulders. I mainly sup surf. This video from Mo Freitas, which is super short, helped alot in aligning my wrists differently which took alot of pressure off of my shoulders/arms. Haven't had an issue for a few months. In fact, went out for 5 hours and no soreness beyond just being dead tired.

I have had similar issues. "golfer's elbow" which is on the inside of the forearm and elbow and my shoulders. I mainly sup surf. This video from Mo Freitas, which is super short, helped alot in aligning my wrists differently which took alot of pressure off of my shoulders/arms. Haven't had an issue for a few months. In fact, went out for 5 hours and no soreness beyond just being dead tired.



btw I didn't change my paddle length and its pretty short for sup surfing. I use the XTuf S shaft from Kenalu, and that hasn't changed either.

A warning sign for you to back off before it becomes permanent damage, learn the cause, change your approach and start again.

Suspect list:
Technique, if not right can cause shoulder impingement e.g.
Overuse (lack of a fitness training approach with planned recovery between sessions, cross training)
Muscle imbalance or tightness
Needing some compensation, preventive therapy, often just a few minutes of resistance or range of motion exercise.

If the discomfort has pins and needles or numbness associated with it , it may be worth getting the cartlidges in your neck checked out. I have that problem. You can ease it with a simple stretch even on the board.
NOTE if it is you left arm may be worth getting you heart checked.
This is in addition to the above , not instead.
Edit: Should have remembered this one . If you use a mouse or a laptop a lot, you may have RSI from that. It tends to show up earlier when you do stuff like paddling or playing tennis etc.

Had the same golfers elbow,from gripping the paddle,I now place the handle in my palm with no grip and use my core twist and push the paddle thru the water,not grip the handle.

It helped me,as after a paddle I used to struggled to lift the board on the car.

Hanging from a bar etc.. definitely helped my shoulder. Resistance exercises with a band also greatly assisted. Do you bias one side when surf supping? My shoulder issue came down to simple over use. Maybe resting, shorter sessions, sit down between sets etc... may help. GL

What you describe happens to me when I surf and have a long session with a fair bit of paddling. My sup is in for some minor repairs so had to prone it this morning and have the symptoms you describe. I don't get it from sup paddling but somehow the rotation of prone paddling sets it off when I have a largish session.

And to make matters worse, I get less waves, have less fun and spend my time wishing I was on my SUP!

Luckily for me though it is temporary, and goes away after a few days as long as I don't aggravate it further. I hope you get to the bottoms of yours though

John you'd be best served getting it checked out by a sports physio or osteopath. They can look at alignments, movements, palpate the area and locate where/what may be causing the pain and even refer you on for more definitive diagnosis like radiology and/or specialists. Money and time well spent if it's gunna keep you surfing - not to mention dental hygiene and I'm glad we didn't elaborate on bum wiping

I can't comment on if the paddle length affects the shoulder (thought it was long paddles that strain shoulders?).

Have had various strains over the years, have been lucky enough to have a good physio who helps me out, best thing I have found is to listen to his advice and not to 'keep on trucking' when it is sore - they can take ages to come good if you push it too far.

I have hurt mine when I have not warmed up properly, bad form in paddling (going for a wave when not in a good posture to do so) or have not paddled in a while and then go for a long session. Using the rubber bands to keep the tendons and ligaments strong often, swimming and warming up do it for me. Have always just made the paddle head height.

When I had an adjustable paddle and made it too short I got a sore back and thats how i found head height works for me.

In general have had far less niggles SUPing then I did prone surfing but I guess nothing is without risk.

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supsean said..
IThis video from Mo Freitas, which is super short, helped alot in aligning my wrists differently

Is it me, or in this video he shows a technique (breaking your wrist so that the heel of your hand touches the shaft, in a carpal tunnel-inducing posture), but then when "demonstrating" it in action he... does NOT use it, having his wrist aligned with the forearm (which seems the safer way).

That seems to prove that exceptional technical talent does not always mean great analysis or teaching capabilities :-)

Thanks for all the useful comments from everyone but it appears that my condition is getting better, I am working on better technique and rest during my surf sessions, as well as cross training, and better work practices (it is getting hard to stay in tip top shape when one is in their late 50s now:-)

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colas said..

supsean said..
IThis video from Mo Freitas, which is super short, helped alot in aligning my wrists differently

Is it me, or in this video he shows a technique (breaking your wrist so that the heel of your hand touches the shaft, in a carpal tunnel-inducing posture), but then when "demonstrating" it in action he... does NOT use it, having his wrist aligned with the forearm (which seems the safer way).

That seems to prove that exceptional technical talent does not always mean great analysis or teaching capabilities :-)

Funny that I didn't notice that when I was a beginner. What I took from it was focusing on keeping your wrist more aligned with your arm as I had a tendency to push my wrist above the rest of my hand (his example of a bad position). Helped me a lot both in power and stressing my forearm.

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supsean said..
Funny that I didn't notice that when I was a beginner. What I took from it was focusing on keeping your wrist more aligned with your arm as I had a tendency to push my wrist above the rest of my hand (his example of a bad position). Helped me a lot both in power and stressing my forearm.

Yep, this video is great if you do like he does, not like what he says :-)

Sounds like it is getting better but no one mentioned trying a smaller blade size. Did wonders for me. Faster paddling and pain free.

I always thought bigger blades meant more speed and just muscled through.

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emz003 said..
Sounds like it is getting better but no one mentioned trying a smaller blade size. Did wonders for me. Faster paddling and pain free.

I always thought bigger blades meant more speed and just muscled through.

also experimenting with less paddle shaft stiffness is helpful (although can be uncomfortable to ask about). I bought the XTuf shaft from Kenalu upon recommendations as it has less stiffness than the pure carbon.

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emz003 said..
Sounds like it is getting better but no one mentioned trying a smaller blade size. Did wonders for me. Faster paddling and pain free.

I always thought bigger blades meant more speed and just muscled through.

also experimenting with less paddle shaft stiffness is helpful (although can be uncomfortable to ask about). I bought the XTuf shaft from Kenalu upon recommendations as it has less stiffness than the pure carbon.

Thanks for all the advice from every one but I think I need some stretching exercises / physio etc: for my arm:-)

Time and good form exercise can't be beat for sure. Good luck !