My arms are killin' me!!

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cyberhusky
cyberhusky
VIC
68 posts
VIC, 68 posts
25 Dec 2013 8:18pm
Just got a new, shorter board (9 foot to 8'2")recently and upgraded to a lighter, but stiffer paddle than I was using.
I've also gone about 6 inches shorter on the paddle length.
I surf every weekend pretty much, but since the new board/paddle combo, my arms, above the elbow specifically, are aching like hell. To the point where after a short one hour session this morning I went looking for the Nurofen.
Is this normal or common or am I having, as my wife and daughter keep saying, the early signs of a heart attack?

Discuss?
colas
colas
5389 posts
5389 posts
25 Dec 2013 5:29pm
If the pain is in the sinews (the famous "Tennis elbow"), it is a tendinitis en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendinitis .

You should stop using this paddle at once, which is probably too stiff and/or have a too big blade. Once you have a tendinitis, it can take months to cure...

To avoid it, drink a lot, and try to change your technique to stress less the sinews: widen the distance between the hands for instance...
Leroy13
Leroy13
VIC
1174 posts
VIC, 1174 posts
25 Dec 2013 8:45pm
"Yeah drink a lot" 24 pints of Carlton Draught on both arms twice a day should do the trick!!! You'll still be in pain but you'll be unconscious!!! Oh wait a minute, I think Colas meant water, actually some of the additives work well too!!! PS. You also need to stop until the pain has completely goes away, and then start again slowly to build the muscles up around the elbows.
momasfolly
momasfolly
VIC
237 posts
VIC, 237 posts
25 Dec 2013 8:46pm
Drink more beer? Or a cup of concrete! Harden up old man. Work through it
momasfolly
momasfolly
VIC
237 posts
VIC, 237 posts
25 Dec 2013 8:47pm
Drink more beer? Or a cup of concrete! Harden up old man. Work through it
cyberhusky
cyberhusky
VIC
68 posts
VIC, 68 posts
25 Dec 2013 8:56pm
momasfolly said..

Drink more beer? Or a cup of concrete! Harden up old man. Work through it


Think I'm schooling you on the beers pussy, way disappointed that Colas is talking about water. I'm staying as well hydrated( if you can do that with beer) as possible, using a combination of Germanic, green bottled beverages, augmented by the odd shot glassed dose of medicinal herbs.

Seriously, thanks for the feedback Colas, maybe I should have gone for the smaller blade size eh?
Don't think the blade is bigger on my new paddle, but the shaft is certainly stiffer.
Fanatic carbon 40 to full Starby carbon with large size blade.
cyberhusky
cyberhusky
VIC
68 posts
VIC, 68 posts
25 Dec 2013 8:57pm
I'm on a 3 week beach holiday, rest is not an option.
Sandshoe
Sandshoe
QLD
4 posts
QLD, 4 posts
25 Dec 2013 10:06pm
Hi Husky , as Colas says stop using your paddle , if it is tennis elbow , or get used to holidays unless you are a salesman. Just had 6 months out of the water . i probably got it from my cheap paddles....Lots of exercises on utube and a good physio helps. I hope it isn't TE,,,, just from lifting too many stubbies .
DavidJohn
DavidJohn
VIC
17570 posts
VIC, 17570 posts
26 Dec 2013 12:31am
6'' shorter in one go is a huge jump..

I find just a 2-3'' change hard for my body to adjust to..

It might take 3-4 sessions for it to be comfortable.
Reflex Films
Reflex Films
WA
1463 posts
WA, 1463 posts
25 Dec 2013 11:14pm
your board is too short and you have no glide.

9'0, 9'5 and above is the go!
colas
colas
5389 posts
5389 posts
26 Dec 2013 5:03am
In my experience, length is not the issue. The main factor is the stiffness of the shaft, and blade weight and size will amplify the problem.

You should at once find some medical expertise to see if it is a tendinitis. If it is, resell the paddle at once and get a softer shaft, repeated strain will turn into tendinosis en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendinosis with invalidating pain for months. If not, well good news, it means you just have to adapt to your new paddle.
E T
E T
QLD
2286 posts
E T E T
QLD, 2286 posts
26 Dec 2013 8:08am
Sorry Colas, I can't agree with you.

The sort of change the Cyberhusky has made has a big impact on the muscle groups that you are using.

I have to agree with DJ. Small increments are better. A six inch change and also going hard because you are on holiday will have a massive impact.

Another issue may be that given the shorter length and lack of time adjusting you may be pulling the paddle rather than pushing it. just a thought.

Hope you get better soon. It is a bitch being crook on holidays

ET.
RJK
RJK
NSW
622 posts
RJK RJK
NSW, 622 posts
26 Dec 2013 9:20am
I found locking my arms straight when paddling puts less pressure on the tendons. Makes you engage your Lats
antonfourie
antonfourie
NSW
140 posts
NSW, 140 posts
26 Dec 2013 12:02pm
I agree with colas, stiffness of paddle makes a big difference, the length change you are more likely to feel in your lower back, remember too that a shorter shaft is going to feel stiffer than a longer one.

See if you can find a PT, they may be able to massage and work out some of the pain and give you some advice on how to manage it.

Also make sure that you are maintaining your grip width, the shorter paddle might have brought your top hand down closer to your lower hand.
sup46
sup46
WA
40 posts
WA, 40 posts
26 Dec 2013 9:49am
Ive got an adjustable paddle (boo hiss boo) and its been ideal because I started at 2m but now settling on around 2.1m, no shoulder pain. Im 6ft1, paddle 7ft. In surf and flat everywhere. Yep surprisingly in surf too. I use my core and bodyweight to apply the power and brace shoulders like RJK suggesting. And nice wide grip like antonfourie. Now make sure you use core during twisting surfing moves too because you'll not notice how much youre digging with shoulders and think "but I'm not paddling with my shoulders". To do that you got to get weight shift faster and more responsive. Upside it will make your surfing more fluid. My experience. Try it!
cyberhusky
cyberhusky
VIC
68 posts
VIC, 68 posts
26 Dec 2013 1:12pm
Thanks for the input everyone, the surf is pus today, so it looks like an enforced lay day.
I did use my old paddle yesterday, which is now the same length as my new one and still got out of the water with really sore arms, so it may be more about the length and technique rather than the shaft stiffness. I'll concentrate on using a better technique next time I'm out and see how that plays out.
laceys lane
laceys lane
QLD
19804 posts
QLD, 19804 posts
26 Dec 2013 2:38pm
RJK said..

I found locking my arms straight when paddling puts less pressure on the tendons. Makes you engage your Lats



agree. sore elbows probably means you are paddling with your arms not your body
KennyK
KennyK
QLD
395 posts
QLD, 395 posts
26 Dec 2013 7:29pm
colas said..

In my experience, length is not the issue. The main factor is the stiffness of the shaft,

Nothing viagra wouldnt fix!



gumballs
gumballs
NSW
408 posts
NSW, 408 posts
28 Dec 2013 5:38pm
Just relax and take it easy,you've got all day.Smaller boards are a lot slower to paddle and it sounds to me that your trying to get the same glide as your old board.Check out Dave Kalama's web site he has some great tutorials that will help you get the most out of your board......Good luck.
cyberhusky
cyberhusky
VIC
68 posts
VIC, 68 posts
29 Dec 2013 11:00am
Well, there's some good news and bad news.
The good news is that after a couple of sessions concentrating on using correct technique, my arms have settled right down. No pain at all in the left and some slight in the right arm after a couple of hours, but not pushing my luck.
The bad news is my whizz bang new paddle is a lot less stiff after this mornings session. I felt and heard a crack type of noise as I was paddling around at the back of the lineup and examined the shaft for anything odd. Not able to see anything wrong, I paddled for the next wave and snap, the carbon blade snapped about an inch or two below the shaft. I was a little concerned from the get go that this paddle was a bit light and possibly not up to the random stresses of surfing. Will have to see what the guys back at the shop say. Bit peeved as it was by far the most expensive paddle I've bought so far.
Glad I brought a spare with me!
micksmith
micksmith
VIC
1701 posts
VIC, 1701 posts
29 Dec 2013 12:02pm
see that's what happens when you use so called correct technique, should have had your arms slightly bent with middle finger out stretched to help absorb pressure.
cyberhusky
cyberhusky
VIC
68 posts
VIC, 68 posts
29 Dec 2013 12:06pm
micksmith said..

see that's what happens when you use so called correct technique, should have had your arms slightly bent with middle finger out stretched to help absorb pressure.


Yes, I should go back to delicately extending my pinky whilst paddling
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