Paddle without pain
Whether you enjoy just being on the water, floating down the river or exploring a lake – any paddling sport can be great for you. Just like any other active sport, you can have a good time while also incorporating exercise. Paddling can improve your strength, flexibility, stamina, and mental health.
Paddle injuries
If you canoe, kayak or paddle board, you know it can be demanding on the body, particularly the shoulders. Whether you’re tackling rough waters or just paddling on a calm lake, the repetitive motion can lead to strains and even injury. Your upper body strength and core muscles are mainly used during paddling. However, it’s a full-body workout that uses lower-body strength, too! When pulling or pushing with the paddle, you use your legs and lower body strength to help counter the leveraged resistance of the paddle against water. The most common injuries we see are overuse injuries: shoulder, wrist and back.
Risk Factors
Some of the factors that can increase your risk of injury include:
- Inexperience – beginners may be more prone to injury because they do not have the skills or technique to meet the demands of the sport. Start slow, take a paddling lesson and progress accordingly.
- Poor technique – holding or moving the body incorrectly can put unnecessary strain on joints, muscles and ligaments.
- Overdoing it – paddling too much and too often can lead to a wide range of overuse injuries, particularly those of the wrist and shoulder. It’s important to take breaks and listen to your body.
- Improper paddle type or fit – Each type of paddle sport has its own paddle, and having it fit properly to your body/height is a key factor in avoiding injury.
Paddling is a great activity for all ages and shapes and sizes! It’s also great for people who need to get active again after experiencing an injury. If you have questions about whether it might be right for you, contact a HealthQuest Physical Therapy location. We want you to pick an activity that helps you and doesn’t injure or reinjure you.