C-Forum

i've recently started to get some pain in my elbo's.
i paddle lefty, and am getting it on my left elbo, it's on the inside arm and getting tender
just wondering if others have expeirence the same pain
thanks
john c.
cincy,ohio

could be tendonitis. I've had it for a while as well. I don't have it anymore since I switched to paddles with more flex; wood shafts are good. Also H20 paddles if you get them with the glass shaft.

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

I used to have lots of problems with my elbows - switched to a smaller blade and I think that helped. Working on my technique and using torso rotation instead of pulling with my arms really helped!

Failing that, loads and loads of vitamin I.

Golfer's Elbow

Been there, done that...

Now I ice, stretch and do wrist exercises every day.

,,,And it sounds pretty far fetched, but I heard ~10yrs ago bout' the relationship between the innertube around one's gut, and one's elbow health.... Can't remember what it was based on...but aside from the normal issues...keeping one's upper body toned....not enough help from the back/torso, etc...I can't toss it off as rubbish...fwiw..

$.01.....

come on, don't knock the inner tube. Think of it more as 'secondary flotation'

I had the same thing happen while racing. A review of form found that I had gripped the shaft way too tight. As an MD who has specialized in sports injuries I have found that ice, emu oil, rest elbow (2-6 weeks, no paddling), and when the pain is gone, wrist exercises and grip strengthening. Relaxing the grip and getting a larger shaft on the paddle helped too.
My 2 cents.

Good recommendations! Another consideration may be a smaller paddle shaft. A larger paddle shaft actually allows you to generate more force when you grip it, so smaller may be better.

The real trick is to have a relaxed grip on the shaft. A death grip on the paddle puts a lot of strain on the muscles that close the hand. Focus on relaxing your grip when on easy water and with practice that will carry over to paddling on tougher water.

thanks everyone for your responses
i've been paddling alot just trying to get some skills
what about switching from open boat to c1?
i've been going back and forth between different boats

If you mean regarding your elbow- a shorter C1 would result in more strokes increasing the risk of persistent tendonitis. As 2 of us have said- keeping the shaft hand grip loose (in your case left hand) is the key to avoiding tendonitis.

Wendy, don't you mean "shaft hand" rather than left?

Wendy wrote:If you mean regarding your elbow- a shorter C1 would result in more strokes increasing the risk of persistent tendonitis. As 2 of us have said- keeping the left grip loose is the key to avoiding tendonitis.

Make me 3 - when I have tendonitis type symptoms it is when I'm "overgripping" - some times on a tense run, some times on a long day with a lot of play.

In my experience, it was worst for me with my paddle that has the largest diameter shaft (and I've got pretty big hands) - I find a "normal" to small shaft works better. So, maybe too large can be a problem, too.

Wendy, don't you mean "shaft hand" rather than left?

She had verified "Ghetto Johnny's" shaft hand, which is his left.

the innertube around one's gut

While many of us do retain a floatable innertube around our tummys (me included ), the reference is about the transverse abdominus(sp?) muscle. It's a real important muscle in many sports that use torso rotation (throwing and swinging), but I have never heard it being attributed to elbow health--but that doesn't amount to much of anything, just gotta read the right journals.

Ditto on the relaxed grip, smaller paddle shaft size, paddle shaft flex, and care for the injury (Emu oil? ).

KNeal

I have found emu oil is excellent for reducing joint pain, tendonitis, and skin problems. It doesn't have the side-effects of NSAIDs. If you decide to try it buy the oil, not the cream. a little goes a long way- used 2-3 times a day. Here is one link to read for those interested:
http://www.emu-oil.com/properties.htm

I think you need a good women!!! Doh!