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A GUIDE TO STAYING
INJURY-FREE WHILE PADDLING
WORDS : LEANNE BIRD PHOTOS : LEANNE BIRD , SIMON BARTLETT , PIOTR KADZIELA , CHRIS DAVIES AND JON SIDDAL
SUP IS A FUN AND GENERALLY LOW IMPACT SPORT . HOWEVER , THE
WRONG CHOICE OF EQUIPMENT , POOR TECHNIQUE , MUSCLE IMBALANCES , TENSION AND OVERUSE CAN LEAD TO MUSCLES STRAINS OR JOINT INJURIES . THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS TO TAKE TIME OUT OF YOUR BELOVED SPORT , PARTICULARLY IF YOU ’ RE DOING IT COMPETITIVELY .
It ’ s important to remember no individual is the same , and therefore there are differences in limitations and ways our bodies behave . My yoga teacher says , ‘ there is no perfect pose ; there is just your perfection in that pose ’ ( Jeenal Mehta ); I feel this is true in paddleboarding . There ’ s no one size fits all ; your size and proportions ; previous injuries ; they all play a part . Consequently , although this guide gives you some general tips , it is often with research , exploration and time you find what is suitable for you .
Further , it ’ s not all about the body . The body does as the mind tells it . Thus , your mind can also play a huge part in paddle performance and injury risk .
The most common issues are lower back pain and shoulder injuries . People also suffer from problems with their knees and feet . Within this article , we will explore some contributory factors to these injuries / issues and how you can prevent and rectify them .
Equipment When choosing your board and paddle , it ’ s essential to think about how you will use them and what suits you . This will not only make your sessions more enjoyable and enable you to take on more challenging conditions but cause less strain on your muscles and joints and stop you tiring prematurely , a cause of injuries and mistakes . It ’ s also important to consider the weight of and how you carry your equipment to the water , e . g . using shoulder straps , taking bags off the board , adjusting for the wind , and switching sides to keep muscular balance .