What's good and bad for my back about kiting

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gruezi
gruezi
WA
3464 posts
WA, 3464 posts
22 May 2005 10:54am
I'm not a doctor, but I would like to share my personal experiences with back pain and kiting.

My back operation goes back (bad pun) about 15 years now. I had pieces of something sucked out from between my vertebrea in the lower part of my back after shattering something from lifting rocks....went for one that was way toooo big. Before the op, my right leg went off and I was in a drug induced state from medicine for 6 months. Spent most times in bed. After the op I could walk again immediately and felt like a full person. However, I had to do physio therapy and there were to be no more rotations or compressions.......very depressing. No more sports like b-ball, base ball, golf, skiing...then end of the world.

But one of my Dr. friends in the US said that spinal injuries will heal, but take a very long time to do so. And it did heal! Slowly slowly I began to do all sports again but I always have to be very careful using an almost medatative approach.

My back does not like bumpy up and down motion at all. Vertical vibrations under pressure cause the material in my back to shift again. Learning to kite I took some serious risks to my fragile back, but survived by learning to use my legs and just hang from the kite... all to time streaching the spine. Going up wind in not choppy waters is very good for my back

Now that I am learning to jump I have had some very bad landings (landing flat on the board) that have cuased the material in my back to shift again. But, now for the best part....when I actaully land softly, the jumping session streatches my back so well that I'm good again.

Wow, kiting is actaully good for my one personal back.

Boy, do I need some wind....back needs some thearapy

user
user
WA
1140 posts
WA, 1140 posts
22 May 2005 12:00pm
You hit the nail on the head!
Streching is THE best thing for your back.
Kiting is good for that.
You have to be aware of some limitations.For instance I have seen lots of jumps too close to shore that resulted in the rider landing in very shallow water,or even dry beach.If you land on your bum,it is very bad for your spine.
Similarly,landing flat on your board is not real good.

If you are not floating gently down,kick your board up,so that you crash tail first into the water.Then you just pop up,and away you go!

I would recomend hanging from a tree or a structure at home after a big session. Can you hang a bar up somewhere?
gruezi
gruezi
WA
3464 posts
WA, 3464 posts
22 May 2005 12:56pm
The neighbours already think I'm nuts...now imagine what they would think if they saw me hanging from a tree.
carbine
carbine
WA
1450 posts
WA, 1450 posts
22 May 2005 1:28pm
You must have a seat harness.

Waist harnesses **** your back so hard. I was out for 4-5hrs a while ago, took some hard landings. I could barely walk the next day. Had to sleep on my side for a week.
gruezi
gruezi
WA
3464 posts
WA, 3464 posts
22 May 2005 6:18pm
No Carbine... not me, I actually use a waist harness. I used to have a seat harness, and my go back to it as I do so little walking now.

However, the waist harness can hurt you if body dragging overpowered, happened to me once. Was out on the 14m and got a 10 min. patch of 25 knots plus and had to drag in to shore because my back was being ripped to shreds trying to get my board. Some nice fellow got the board for me, but I was a hurting cookie. But the soreness was muscular, not spinal.
waveslave
waveslave
WA
4263 posts
WA, 4263 posts
22 May 2005 8:51pm
Yoga helps the body to heal itself.
azza
azza
1338 posts
1338 posts
22 May 2005 9:13pm
I find the DaKine Fusion deat to be good for my back, basically it gives great stomack and lumbar suport... my doc' warned me off all "rough" sports years ago... Fark the doc's!!

a kite that gives light bar pressure helps too... and sheeting so that you dont over-reach with your arms.

the worst part of kiteboading for my back is the two hour drive to the beach, and the drive home... a seachange would be the best thing for my back to help with kiteboarding
gruezi
gruezi
WA
3464 posts
WA, 3464 posts
22 May 2005 9:31pm
Agreed Azza, the driving long hours s*cks. Those nasty vibrations you get and just sitting in one position. I almost died driving up to Gero from Perth in Feb.

I'm very lucky here in Perth as I live within 20 min. of 6 spots, 3 only 5 min away and good in almost all wind directions. I'de love to be able to live on Rotto as I recon it is the best spot in WA all year round.
elizabethb
elizabethb
QLD
2081 posts
QLD, 2081 posts
23 May 2005 6:34pm
I have the Dakina Hawaii Fushion Seat Harness in a 'S' size, and it's brillant... I learnt in a waist harness, and it pulled up a little bit, but the seat harness really makes me feel secure...

It stays down, but the first time I wore it two things:
- I didn't do it up tight enough and the bar puled up to my ribs ouch
- It felt like I was being body dragged from my stomach and bottom... strange feeling

But overall.... a jolly good harness... especially my back isn't sore...

Yah.... C'mon wind and I'll be able to get back out there again...

Elizabeth - Wello Grommit
stoff
stoff
WA
248 posts
WA, 248 posts
23 May 2005 4:44pm
I agree that a kite with lower bar pressure is better for the back.
I couldn't believe the difference when i changed from my north rhino 1 and 2 to airush 04 lifts. I could have a 4 hour session and feel like i could keep going all day. This was also due to the kites going upwind so well which means you dont have to edge as hard, therefore putting less pressure on the back. I now have a rhino 4 which is also easy on the back.
Re: soft landings. I recently demoed the peter lynn venom 13 & 19 and found that they give you the biggest floatiest jumps with amazingly gentle landings. Now i know why the old boys love em. Definately worth trying if you have back or knee probs.
paulio
paulio
QLD
890 posts
QLD, 890 posts
23 May 2005 7:01pm
I feel your plight guys, driving annoys the s#&t out of me. Sometimes i have to go through 3 traffic lights and two roundabouts and i dont even get time to finsh my Ice Break before i get there. If i walk across the road i can only kite it in a southerly. See my dilema!! And you reckon you have it bad there's always someone worse off than you
122 posts
23 May 2005 6:37pm
Yeah backs are one of those things, easily F--ked.
Too much=soreback, Not enough=soreback.

This years fashion seems to be Pilates, I went to a couple of lessons and found the stuff I learnt really helped. Increased core muscle strength stops the pain and.... lets you do tricks more easily.

On the subject of seat vs waist harnesses, can anyone tell me if one is better than the other for your back?
elizabethb
elizabethb
QLD
2081 posts
QLD, 2081 posts
23 May 2005 9:25pm
quote:
On the subject of seat vs waist harnesses, can anyone tell me if one is better than the other for your back?


I would definately say a seat harness supports your back a lot more, and provides a more stable board to hold onto your back and for you to lean against... A waist harness pulls on your back and can give you a sore back...

I have A DaKine Hawaii Fushion Seat Harness and it's brillant... no sore back, super comfortable, and moulds really well into your back shape... anwyways... that's what I've found...
Cheers

Elizabeth - Wello Grommit
poor relative
poor relative
WA
9106 posts
WA, 9106 posts
24 May 2005 2:53pm
gruiezi
I would suggest you employ a bevvy of beauties who would on tap and in various states of undress provide you with full body massages .
You could keep the said beauties in your shed. They wouldnt complain and wouldnt ask for too much in return.
Their massages would probably do nothing for your back but it would certianly assist with your heart rate, libido and you'd be the envy of all your mates.
lurch
lurch
WA
312 posts
WA, 312 posts
24 May 2005 7:25pm
Just get out there and hammer it until your body breaks down to the point where its unuseable. Then go shoot yourself in the head, it worked for my great uncle and I reckon it'll work for me.
not on board
not on board
210 posts
210 posts
25 May 2005 7:41am
It is true that a waist harness can put a strain on your back but not if you learn good form. When I started I got a really sore back from bending at the waist and sitting in the Mr. Poo position that almost all newbies have. But in order to reduce the strain I was forced to stand up straighter and lean back and arch. A couple of weeks ago I rode in high winds for 5 hours with no back discomfort at all. The better form lets me hold a lot more edge as I can lean all the way back to where I can scrape the water with my back without my ass catching the wave.
If I had been using a Seat harness I probably would have been content with my bad form for a lot longer and would have progressed slower in wave riding and toeside riding.
gruezi
gruezi
WA
3464 posts
WA, 3464 posts
26 May 2005 3:06pm
Lurch you are a sick puppy.

And doh....."not on board," it is about the form...and not just kiting, then you can do almost anything because the back is not used for anything except keeping your head screwed on.
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