| Every
one of us should be adaptive paddlers. Outfit your boat to
fit your body. Learn to paddle with good form and technique!
Proper posture while kayaking will solve and prevent many
physical discomforts. I also can’t say enough about
the benefits of an occupational or physical therapist, or
a personal trainer.
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Learn how to use your body correctly, how
to build needed muscles, and what not to do while performing
certain tasks so you don’t get injured. Whether you
chose to work out in a gym, or get exercises to take home,
it is imperative that you keep your body as strong and limber
as possible. Finally, get excellent kayak instruction. I have
an obvious bias here. Make sure the instructor has been certified
with a recognized organization such as the ACA, BCU, or CRCA.
These folks have had training and experience
in teaching you how to kayak. If possible take instruction
with someone who is familiar with your needs & abilities
and has the training to help you.
Sit up straight or lean slightly forward.
Do not slouch or lean back. Replace a hard kayak seat back
with a backband or carve minicell foam to fit your back. Try
a self-inflating lumbar support between your back and the
seat back or band.
Use under-thigh supports. There are several
on the market. Some inflate and others are made of foam. You
can carve your own foam or roll up a sleeping or yoga pad
and place it under your thighs. Be sure the support is easily
removable or flattens down out of your way to avoid entrapment
in a capsize.
Engage your lower body while paddling. Push
gently with one or both feet as your paddle catches the water
to get leverage in your strokes, achieve better torso rotation,
and use your larger muscles (glutes and quads) to help push
the boat forward.
Relax that foot as your paddle exits and
you wind up your torso for the catch on the other side. Your
forward stroke will improve and blood will flow to your lower
body. It’s sort of like doing isometric exercises with
your quadriceps and gluteus maximus muscles.
Try raising or lowering your seat bottom.
Try a gel or foam seat pad. If you remove the stock seat you
may have to make some side supports to hold the kayak’s
structural integrity. Carve ethafoam, line it with neoprene,
ensolite or minicell foam and wedge it in at your hip area
between the deck and the hull.
Replace uncomfortable foot pegs with a whitewater
style bulkhead or carve ethafoam to make a bulkhead, experiment
with the best angle (normally one’s toes should be slightly
forward). Place a float bag between the existing bulkhead
and your new footbrace bulkhead. Wedge the ethafoam in place
and duct tape secure. You can pad it with softer minicell
or ensolite foam.
If you have a rudder you need your footpegs.
You can do the above method behind your existing footpegs,
just raise the middle portion of your new bulkhead to rest
your feet on when not using the rudder.
Another option is to make a larger, softer
foot peg with minicell foam. Sand the foam to the best angle
and shape for your foot. Use contact cement to adhere it to
a rigid piece of sheet plastic or epoxy-impregnated marine
plywood. Drill a hole in your kayak’s footbrace and
screw the new pad in place on top of the existing one.
Pad under your heels for cushion and support
using neoprene or soft foam.
Try a kayak with a lower deck to drop your
hands lower in your lap.
Kayaking is dangerous. You can drown in an
inch of water. The above suggestions may or may not be suitable
for your individual needs. Check with your physician before
undertaking the sport of kayaking or making outfitting adjustments
to paddles or boats.
Be sure you are properly trained in the use
of tools and materials before making any adaptations.
Buying
Your First Kayak | Safety
Equipment and Kayaking | Inflatable
Kayak Reviews |
Sea Kayak
Sales | Taking
a Kayaking Vacation | Adaptive
Paddling Tips | Packing
A Sea Kayak |
Why Fish
From a Kayak? | Choosing
the right kayak | Kayak
Safety Tips | Outfitting
a kayak for fishing|
Are
Inflatable Kayaks Safe?| Sea
Kayaking security |
