Ailment: Dislocated shoulder (anterior)
CAUSE: When your elbow is raised above your shoulder, even a small amount of backward pres- sure can stretch ligaments and lever the ball of your humerus out of its socket in the scapula.
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS: The dislocated shoulder droops and the humerus ball protrudes from the pectoral area, accompanied by discomfort or in- tense pain.
PREVENTION: Keep your elbows low and tucked in when bracing and keep your lower arm bent at the elbow when doing a Duffek or draw stroke. If you do suffer a dislocation, work on your brac- ing technique because your shoulder will now be more vulnerable.
TREATMENT: Leave relocations to experts. At the scene of the injury, sling and swathe the arm in the position you find it, monitor blood circulation to the fingers and get ready for a hell of a portage out. If you are on a three-week solo expedition and you need to relocate your shoulder on your own, try sit- ting down with your knees in front of your chest, hug your knees with both arms and slowly lean backward.
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Ailment: Tendonitis
CAUSE: Repetitive contraction of the forearm muscles, leading to inflammation of the tendons. A white-knuckle death grip on an old school, straight- shaft paddle with extreme feather is a great way to afflict yourself. Tendonitis often occurs early in the season when your forearm muscles are weak and unaccustomed to paddling.
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS: Swelling, numbness, pain, loss of motor control.
PREVENTION: Loosen your grip on the paddle, choose a stick with less feather and work on strengthening your forearm muscles off the water.
TREATMENT: Rest, but since not paddling is obvi- ously out of the question, your best bets are anti- inflammatories and stretching. Chronic cases may require surgery.
Ailment: Broken nose
CAUSE: Penciling in off a large drop with your pad- dle shaft in front of your face.
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS: You’ll look and feel like an old-timer staggering out of the Legion Hall with a swollen, deformed schnoz and a dull ringing in your ears.
PREVENTION: Hold your paddle to one side, parallel to the boat, while hucking—not in front of your face.
TREATMENT: Control any bleeding by blowing out clots and pinching the bridge of your nose for 15 minutes. Plan on visiting a hospital when you get off the river. There’s no point in resetting it yourself unless you weren’t very fond of it in the first place and are willing to take some chances.
RAPID
JENS KLATT
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