Hi all, Kiters who have experienced the nagging aces in the upper forearm and elbow. Does anyone know what is the main cause, i.e. tight grip, position of arms etc. and what can be done to reduce the risk. I find when wind is consistent speed, I don't have the problem much, but gusty winds, make it worse. Almost all of my mates who are experienced to excellent have experienced this problem at some stage.

Would be good to here your feedback and maybe exercise that can be done.
Cheers

Swazaaaa

I had it really badly two years ago. The Quack told me that it would go away and probably come back in the other arm. It did but it hasn't which is great because whilst it is not debilitating it hurt.

I put it down to bar pressure on the Synergy I was using. Now on LEI's so it is not that much of an issue.

Long story short, if it continues to get worst, or doesn’t get better when not kiting, get it checked out.

Found out this week, after over 2 months of acupuncture, soft tissue massage etc for what I though was tennis (kiters) elbow.

Via an ultrasound I found that I have torn a hole / tear in my tendon below my elbow. Need to see specialist, however it looks like this season is over, possibly surgery, or a cast for a couple months to immobilise completely.
Warned if I continue to kite, I could tear the tendon completely off……..

During this time I have tried all sorts of pain relief, anti-inflammatories, creams etc……best thing (apart from Ice packs) I found is called “Painaway”, I got it from a market stall, now buying it online.

This stuff is 100% natural and you feel the pain drain away as your using it. Using both the spray and cream together. Apparently good for arthritis, tendonitis, back, neck and muscular pains. Google it if interested to find out more. This stuff will always live in the kite bag from now on.

Heavy bar pressure man... will do it every time.. I switched to a much lighter bar pressured kite and i have no more probs... problem solved.

I'd get a cortisone injection asap, this will reduce the swelling and allow it to heal. But don't kite on it for at least 9 weeks. During this time you can do some stretches, there are plenty of sites which show you these.
i tried all that ice / heat stuff , after cortisone pain was 95% gone.

I've had Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) for years.
The only thing that will fix it is rest but we ain't going to do that are we.

3 things that has helped me are;

1- changed to a very light bar kite.

2- Self massage muscles and tendons in the forearm and elbows before and after kiting. Find the sore spots and apply pressure just like trigger points. Amazing how it reliefs some of the pain.

3- A mate told me to change my grip on the bar. Normal grip is with fingers wrapping over and thumb under. Now kite with both fingers and thumb are over which helps big time. Must admit I thought this was a load of crap but it does help.

Best of luck

HAAK

High as a kite is right. Change your grip on the bar- fingers under the bar instead of over. Even just changing your thumb from under to over the bar will make a difference.

This change will mean you rest the tendons (whist still kiting) that were previously stressed from overuse causing tendonosis.

dave...... said...


Get a two liner and the bar pressure thing is solved

Hows that gonna solve anything?

I find I get it in the lighter winds (which has been most of our season) when constantly moving the kite for power and sheeting in.

Keep the kite parked and riding against the stopper knot helps me heaps.

Like I said....before it was deleted....i used to have that problem as a teenager....but since my lotto win a while back....that prob has gone away.....my wives look after me.

elthorpo said...

Personally, i have had kiters elbow for years. ill tell you how to fix it dont worry............................harden up you bunch of girls. So when your arms hurting dig deep and fight through the pain barrier. dont give me this repititive strain injury stuff, if your arm doesnt hurt now japie well it shows you havent given it a crack. I have broken several bones kiting and even ruptured my spleen trying to perfect tricks and you're having a cry cause your little arm hurts you poor thing. like i said harden up!!!!!!!!!!!

this link will explain how to fix kiters elbow.

LOL Agreed just starting kiting and have had 'windsurfer's elbow' for years. Harden the F**K Up

Great clip BTW

Fair dinkum, is this a kiters forum or a pussy's convention. Agree with elthorpo, harden up the lot of you!!

Japie, after wasting the lavender oil on the sore spot of your elbow, try applying it somewhere else. Not only will you smell good but you'll feel GREAT!!

.....the only problem is then you'll have WAN...S wrist and of course you'll need to put some on it as well!!

JUMPHI, I guess everyone has different pain threshholds. One person's "DEBILITATING KITERS ELBOW" is another person's minor niggle. Every season i get niggles in both my elbows......but not enough to whinge about. As for medication..... if it really hurts that bad, try BEER!! and plenty of it!!! Otherwise like I said, HARDEN UP!