Hello friends,
I do allot of paddling as I accompany people out both for lessons and for fun sessions.
Our house reef is about 1 km at sea so there is always some sweet to get out and specially to come in after 2-3 hours...

When I have to go 4-5 days in a row my shoulder start to hurt quite bad.
I think is more like an inflammation of the tendons more then the muscle...

Any how! If I use a Carbon paddle I'm a wreck after 2 days... After I started to use a fiberglass paddle (more flexible) I can normally endure a bit longer..
But I'm not getting any younger and lately I have been in the water 7 out of 7..

So I started to experiment with the length of the paddle. Having all the sizes for the school makes life easier.. My normal size is always been about a shaka and 1 cm over my head. Lately I tried longer one and shorter one..

Today I used a paddle that is just over my head and I have to say I felt less pain in my shoulder!! I just had to adjust my technique a bit..
Having a short paddle your arm never go higher then the shoulder.

Anyone else?
Bye Jankie

Easier on the shoulders, harder on the lower back.

kitesurfbali said...

Time will tell...
I never really feel pain on my lower back!
Also I don't really have to change my stance or bend more to paddle.
Bye Jankie

I agree that the shorter paddle can cause back issues from bending over to fully dip the paddle.. Do you have a short vid of yourself paddling?

DJ

kitesurfbali said...

Today I used a paddle that is just over my head and I have to say I felt less pain in my shoulder!!

Did you find it was nicer to surf with too? More agile/lively and doesn't catch on the wave face as much?

To answer to few questions:
In have been paddling on a SUP for over 3 years and I made it my profession.
I also use to teach kayaking many years ago.

Sometime I pick up the first paddle that come on hand, so I really use all sizes!
The paddle I use today is by far the shorter of all the one on the school quiver.
(just cut it yesterday as I wanted to change the handle!)

I always went with the rules of the shaka over the head and felt I like better just to have 1 to 2 cm longer then that.

Now my top hand doesn't go over my chin..

Maybe my stroke is a bit shorter but it doesn't really matter!
I'm totally into waves compare to flat water paddling and no racing or downwinder so board speed is not of a concern.

Yes I found the a shorter paddle is more agile in waves.

I'm not saying that a shorter paddle is better then the classic shaka rules...
Just that a short paddle seems to give less stress to the shoulders.
Try one day the paddle of your wife and see!
Bye Jankie

My wife has been suffering pain under her shoulder blade for 6 months. She has been using short paddles for 3 years.

She just keeps going smaller on the blade trying to reduce loading. I hope less stress at the catch helps her.

I'm still not sure the manufacturers have gone small enough on blade sizing.

Most shoulder pain from paddling results from impingement of various inflammed soft tissues within the shoulder joint (specifically the rotator cuff tendons and the subacromial bursa).The higher that you lift your arm above shoulder height,the greater the impingement-it would stand to reason therefore that a shorter paddle would see you working in a lower arc.As a result,potentially less pain.
As already mentioned however it may result in other issues elsewhere if you go too short.

Well Jankie perhaps 7 days a week is overdoing it a little for men of our seniority.
Last time I saw Dave Muir messing around locally he was using a paddle about the size of a long handled cricket bat.
See you when the Dengue subsides.
Any news from Big John M btw?

Hi Jankie
Yes I am a doctor in real life-but what you really need is probably a physio!
Ideally you should have an ultrasound to see what is going on in your shoulder
Shoulder issues are very common in surfers over the age of...ahem..40 or so
I happen to own a problem one myself!
Some simple anti-inflammatory medicine like Ibuprofen could be helpful and is reasonably safe for a short period of time.
Google 'surfers shoulder' and you will keep yourself busy for a month or so of light reading
Cheers
Rod