I'm basically a newbie on OC-1's and every time I go out my left leg falls asleep within 15-20 minutes or so. Is this just because I'm "amanoid", or what? Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.
Cheers.
Submitted by Poeman on Mon, 10/31/2005 - 7:21am
Its symptomatic of having too much pressure on the sciatic nerve which runs from the lower spine past the butt bone (for lack of a scientific term) down to the foot. Its generally caused by leaning too much to the left which is very common for beginners. Beginners (and even some old timers) tend to lean heavily to the left for fear of flipping. This tends to put a lot of pressure on the sciatic nerve. The pressure causes the leg to "fall asleep." Other's experience pain or a combo of the two. Make sure the canoe is level when seated to eliminate the canoe as the culprit. You can use a level for that. One trick that I have learned is to cut two large holes in the seat where your butt bones touch. This takes direct pressure off of the nerve. Some seats are like pads and provide very little support. Accordingly, one trick is to make your own seat by raising the outer edges to provide support for your body weight. The seat is shapped to cradle your butt like a bucket seat. This helps to reduce the amount of weight per square inch bearing down on the area where the sciatic nerve runs.
#1 Mon, 10/31/2005 - 7:47am
Yo Poeman, I agree with snarfblat on all accounts....I think we all experienced this sensation. In addition to it experience plays a lot in how your body feels on the canoe. The body is a thing of adaptation so it will get used to it with more experience on the water.
You should also try core training. This type of training helps the body stay balanced in an unbalanced situation. Search the internet on more info about this(it would take me about ten pages to just explain the basics). Also you may want to check out some of the custom made seats that some of the other paddlers have out there. People have been customizing their seats by cutting, sanding or using different materials on their seats to make it more comfortable!!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
#2 Tue, 11/01/2005 - 2:58pm
You can improve your core strength even if you are chained to a desk for 8 hours or more a day. I bought one of these balance ball chairs and find it's a solid addition to my core training program. It keeps your body off balance while sitting at your desk, so you have to constantly engage your core muscles. They are relatively inexpensive; I got mine from drugstore.com for $85.99 including shipping to Maui.
#3 Wed, 11/02/2005 - 9:48am
Cool, thanks everyone for your input. A buddy of mine also told me to try and move the seat closer to the pedals, which seems to have helped a bit. I'm 6'6" so I've got to cram a lot of human in a small space! Thanks again.
Cheers.
#4 Wed, 11/02/2005 - 11:19am
a lot of beginners have their legs fall asleep-- but i think that it has to do with more than just balance (which is for sure an issue also). I have never had a balance issue and i remember the first time i tried a hurricane my leg came numb. I think you just have to get used to sitting in a slightly awkward position for long periods. But i've never heard of more experienced people having problems-- so hopefully you'll soon be alright.. unless the guys who's legs fall asleep all quit..... jk
that chair looks pretty sick.
#5 Wed, 11/02/2005 - 7:45pm
I think you hear less experienced paddlers complaining about leg pain because they've figured out a way to minimize it either by balancing their boats, themselves or by changing the configuration of their seats. I've never heard of anybody complaining about their right leg going to sleep---even on the hurricane. So to me, its gotta be a balancing issue. The imbalance may be slight and therefore, imperceptible to the naked eye . Nevertheless, any weight bias towards the left of the canoe contributes toward sciatica.
And yes, that chair looks like the product of a collision between the janitor while mopping the floor at Gold's Gym and my pilates instructor .
#6 Thu, 11/03/2005 - 9:11am
I think we all agreed that we've all had sleepy leg problems, face it gang you're going to flip over one of these days. That's the kind of experience that's going to help allow your body to adapt to being in an unnatural position for a long time.
That chair looks like it could help a lot. Did you have to buy the ball separate or does it come with the chair?
#7 Fri, 11/04/2005 - 7:05pm
Do the "manly" thing and give up the ama and get on a surf ski. No more numb anything...
#8 Sun, 11/06/2005 - 2:59pm
Learn to "brace" on your right hand side. By that i mean use your paddle to stabilise yourself throughout the stroke. Anticipate a wave when its about to hit the ama when paddling on the right. Try to paddle as if you don't have an ama. You then learn not to rely on it. Easy to say. Hard to do.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Rambo
#9 Mon, 11/07/2005 - 2:12am
Aloha Kdawg, the ball comes with the chair, but it is easily removed so you can use it for other core work too. It's a 52cm ball.
#10 Mon, 11/07/2005 - 7:55am
Thanks for all the advice. Looks like I just need to spend a lot more time "in the saddle".
Cheers.
#11 Mon, 11/07/2005 - 1:13pm