Yep, inter-costal muscle/ rib seperation is far, far more complicated for healing than a mear fractured/ broken rib!

I tore mine about 1.5 years ago, and it still hurts after an hours session with a waist harness. Was off the water for months before gingerly getting back on it with a pair of boardshorty harness thingys.

Even doing pull-ups and other exercises, it gets sore....

The point is it may be the same thing from a medical viewpoint but its far from the same thing when you have to go through it and the length of time it takes to heal,i think that was the point of the post,theres a huge difference between a light fracture and a total seperation in terms of healing and how well it even knits back.

Who really cares the point is there are way differing degrees of breaks and fractures so it comes down to how severe as to length of time to heal and the individual.
Basically if in doubt dont go out.

I broke the rib above the floating rib recently, using a waist harness. I took 3 weeks off and couldn't stay away from kiting for any longer. It feels a bit stiff after a kite but the worst is over. Back to a seat harness though.

thorn said...

You know when it's fixed. Have a go, if your not ready you will know.

Hey Gordknot,
How's the recuperation going?
Your incident definitely sounds like a more fractured fracture ;P than mine.
20ft above the sand is not where I want to be. Were you on a C kite? 25kts?
better a broken rib than a leg I concur.
but sneezing and laughing were both big no nos for me a week or two ago.

Mine has been 4 1/2 weeks now.
I started surfing again at 3 weeks and I am ok for up to 90 minutes then the muscles or ligaments or whatever start to tell me it's time to come in so it's not fully healed. I can't lift heavy weights above my head which I found out whilst moving some furniture with a m8 on the weekend.

I have kited with a seat harness the whole time and it's not been a issue at all but for flipping the kite on the beach in a bit of a breeze. So as thorn said, the only real way to know is just to go. But I never even thought about taking the waist harness out. I quite like the seat anyway! It's a Pat Love model with a Jay bar which has definitely also helped as I don't get twisted as much.

yours is probably around 6 and a bit weeks now so I'm assuming you're back on the water, did you go the seat or are you comfy in the waist again m8?
Cheers

Haha, good to hear your ready to go. I went out yesterday and had a ball in 15 - 20 kts Gold Coast. Rib's still a bit funny every now and then but not prohibitive at all to kite with, especially in the nappy! Gotta luv em!
Hope to hear some good news from your saturday kite, wind looks good so far...
I hope you have some long arms for when you slide your girdle up to your armpits Gordknot ;P
Good luck m8
Cheers