Avoiding Paddling Pain in Your Upper Body by Marna Powell
Proper paddling form will allow you to paddle longer distances while avoiding injuries Photo by California Kayaker
O
nce upon a time, I accidentally came home with a kayak. Three feet from shore the angels sang, the Earth shook, and my life changed forever. Having no experi- ence or instruction, and not even knowing another kayaker had me clueless about everything. I fin- ished my paddle excited and happy and so darned sore I could not lift my arms. Luckily it had a cockpit I could drag my paddle across for leverage because I seriously could not lift my arms. Fast forward to today and my quest to teach ergonomics to anyone who will listen. Avoiding injury, paddling efficiently and ergonomically are subjects about which a very thick book could be written.
This article will address one piece of paddling ergonom- ics—paddleshaft and feather angles using the “Euro” paddle. Now would be a good time to brush up on all that forward stroke technique stuff about rotating your torso and using your lower body for leverage and strength.
The Myth: For years paddle manufacturers have “feath- ered” the paddle blades at various angles supposedly to allow the paddler to cut through the wind and waves with the blade in the air while the blade in the water does its job pulling the boat to the blade. Okay, what happens if the wind is from the side? Do you never turn?
The long sea kayak paddles are made for that low in your lap “touring stroke” which is (supposedly) easier to main- tain over distance for long periods of time, while the short whitewater paddles are meant to be used with a high shaft angle “power stroke” which is (again supposedly) more difficult to maintain over time and causes more strain on the wrist, arm, and shoulders due to the bigger bite it takes with each stroke.
The Truth: Any paddle will hurt you, perhaps causing permanent injury if you repeatedly use it without proper
ergonomics |ərgə-nämiks| plural noun [treated as sing. ]
the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment.
ergonomics. More Truth: Any paddle can be used ergo- nomically for your body. This is about your body!
So what do the “experts” say about paddle length and feather angle? Cascade Canoe and Kayak Center’s founder and former USA Canoe/Kayak National Develop- ment Coach, Dan Henderson, conducted biomechanics (physics applied to human movement) research while working on a Masters’ thesis. Henderson found that for racing efficiency a feather angle of 55° to 75° (with 60° being the most common) and a very high shaft angle is the way to go. Henderson used science, data, paddling expertise, and ergonomics on his research, and for racing I would hang on every word he has to say.
Are you doing “Park & Play” whitewater? Freestyle whitewater experts say to use an unfeathered paddle for bow stalls and such. Surf kayaking experts say that an extremely feathered paddle will act as a super bracing tool plus allow the non-driving blade to cut through when you punch through waves to get to the outside.
But for most paddlers, it depends on your personal posi- tion of comfort. We all have different bodies with different histories and it also depends on what you want to do in your kayak. I am not racing anyone and I began this sport after experiencing injuries to most of the joints in my body. For me to have a nice time paddling, my position of comfort, even in a sea kayak, is a short, fat whitewater paddle with a 45° feather and a high-shaft angle. This is the combination for my body (5’6” all legs, no torso length) that does not hurt. Adding good forward stroke technique to the combination of feather angle, shaft
California Kayaker Magazine 9
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