Starting on my 5th month of paddling. To my surprise I never had ANY pain or stiffness in my lower back following 2 hours of trolling around. Recently I figured out that my seat position was too far back and moved it up some. Now I am getting the leg bracing and have the leg position I see in all the videos and everything finally feels right when I am paddling, but my back gets stiff. Maybe it will take some time to get used to this (second time out with seat moved up 2 inches) or maybe I have screwed around with the seat too much and pushing with my feet is irritating my back. It would seem if the seat was slightly sloped forward like the top of this symbol (>) it would be more comfortable. My hamstrings are really flexable so not sure what is going on or if this is a normal thing that I will adapt to. If anyone has any suggestion, thank you. I would love to get on a different canoe and take a long paddle and see how I feel. This is where the boat would make a big difference if something was more comfortable!
Submitted by Shawn Michael on Mon, 05/26/2008 - 12:12pm
Around April 10, I was at work and out of the blue (pop). I pinched something back there and since then I've paddled when i can but really crimped my sesone. I'v been to the Chiropractor and had acupuncture and today I will start to personal trainer my Chiropractor referred me to I guess I weakened a part of my back that needs to be rebuilt. I think it's part of paddling life. I’ve always had this lower back pain near the A$$. They said no operation is necessary and also in the past have taken two cat scan on seperat ocations, and can’t see anything. I wondered what else was a solution besides heat, Ice, and stretching. so I’ll try a personal trainer. to work on that area to strengthen it but she work’s out of the same office as my Chiropractor so will have my medical history. but if you take a long look at how we are designed and what we are doing , as a carpenter I can see why we give there and why.
#1 Tue, 05/27/2008 - 5:34am
Shawn
I too have altered my seating position this year like you so I can benefit from the mechanics. I am sitting more forward, have more hip flexion and my knees bent more so I can have more leg use and bracing with my paddle stroke. First few weeks out my lower back would get tired as well over my paddles as my training time and volume increased.
I started working on some bent over rows and deadlifts which has been great and general flexibility as well. I think its just a time and adaptation thing with your body adjusting to your new paddling position given you don't sound like you have a history of back pain or issues.
Mahalo...
#2 Tue, 05/27/2008 - 7:12am
Thanks. I am hoping this is the case and I am just adjusting to moving the seat. While I am out there it feels much better. I am going to try a long paddle on a different boat just to see what happen and be patient with it.
Thanks for replies, stay well!
#3 Tue, 05/27/2008 - 10:11am
Just as you vary your training with different intervals etc ... occasionally you should also vary your seat positions, paddles, canoes etc ... That way the body can adapt to the different stresses and won't be such a shock when it's forced onto you in a changes race or relay.
Cheers Rambo
#4 Tue, 05/27/2008 - 11:36am
I recommend seeking therapy from a spine specialists that utilizes spinal decompression therapy
This non-invasive therapy has incremently alleviated my bulging disk pains in l5-s1 and the neck area...
#5 Thu, 08/21/2008 - 4:30pm
It helps to sit upright - chin up. Don't slump.
It's a posture issue, like in a golf swing - you can't make a correct golf swing if your posture is not right.
Neither can you rotate well in a boat when you are crunched forward.
#6 Thu, 08/21/2008 - 10:07pm
From what I have learned and experienced; it is the constant forward movement that causes the spine to shift, thus causing problems to the discs (ruptures, slips, hernia) or stressing the supporting muscles etc.
Spending time to counter act the forward lean we use in paddling by correcting your posture (straight spine) and stretching the lumbar, ie: up dog in yoga.
You could have a herniated disc. As a disc degenerates, it can herniate (the inner core leaks out).. The weak spot in the outer core of the disc is directly under the spinal nerve root, so a herniation in this area puts direct pressure on the nerve, which in turn can cause sciatica -- pain that radiates all the way from back to the leg to the foot.
#7 Thu, 08/21/2008 - 11:35pm
"Neither can you rotate well in a boat when you are crunched forward."
Doesn't seem to bother JR :)
#8 Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:25pm
Thanks for comments, much appreciation. Just to follow up, it just took a few sessions for my back to adapt to the new seating position and back pain is back to zero...the main thing I feel is my lats a bit and hamstrings.... I also found that adding some foam to the footwells was a better solution to finding a position that felt right that changing the seat.
So I am learning that getting your boat set up right for your body is something that takes some time to figure out and can really make a difference.
#9 Sat, 08/23/2008 - 12:49am