Paddling involves the repetition of certain movements and strokes. Although acute injury- the injury that results from sudden trauma – is uncommon among paddling athletes, repetitive injury is very common. This is because of the repetitive motions the athlete must perform when training or racing. At the end of a training season, paddlers may have taken several hundred stokes.
Not only can the repetitive motion of paddling be damaging, but the motions themselves may cause injury. The force exerted by the athlete onto the water causes a reaction force from the water to be transferred back through the athlete’s body, to ultimately shoot the boat forward. It is this reactant force, affecting numerous muscles and joints throughout the body, that is the cause of many injuries. Common sites of injury in paddling athletes are the hip, back, shoulder, and forearm. The integrated manner, in which the muscles and joints of the athlete must work while paddling, is known as the “kinetic chain”.
Sometimes, the underlying cause of injury lies not in the actions of paddling, but in the athletes themselves. In response to problems with strength, flexibility or balance in muscles or joints, the body will try to compensate. These “movement compensations” are generally inefficient and can be damaging. Although these “movement compensations” do not usually cause problems in the demands of everyday activities, they cause the athlete great problems while paddling. The forces associated with each stroke can not properly be controlled by an athlete with “movement compensations”, and consequently, the athlete moves inefficiently. Additionally, the force of each stroke is not evenly received throughout the body, as it is usually concentrated on the area of the “movement compensation”.
It is possible that by attempting to repair itself, the body can in fact worsen an injury. Over time, strains that result from paddling can develop into what is called micro-trauma. The body will build up scar tissue as it attempts to heal what may initially be painless strains. However, as time goes on, the body develops new strains, which in turn cause the body to build up more scar tissue. When enough scar tissue is accumulated, it negatively impacts the health and function of the muscles. Built up scar tissue at this stage is referred to as an “adhesion”. Muscles must work against the adhesions, which consequently causes additional strain. Adhesions may also reduce blood flow, restrict joint motion, or cause pain, tightness, and stiffness. This repetitive cycle of micro-trauma and adhesions, may over time turn into an acute injury, as stain builds.
It is therefore critical that the human kinetic chain be in good condition. If an athlete has sufficient flexibility, strength, and muscle balance, they will be much less susceptible to injury. It is wise to address these issues before they start negatively impacting your performance and lead to injury which keeps you out of action.
written by: Megan Meisner
