Most people love adventure, and kayaking is the most adventurous game worldwide. In other words, it is one of the riskiest games. People often feel aches and pains after kayaking. To clarify, people face different types of aches and pain.
Lower back pain is one of the most crucial problems of kayaking. According to a recent statistic, people in the USA spend more than 100 billion dollars every year to get rid of back pain. However, there are many types of kayaking aches and pains.
In this article, you will learn the common kayaking aches and pains and how to avoid them. So, let’s dive into the journey.
Common Kayaking Aches and Pains
Most people feel many major and minor pains due to kayaking. However, it may vary from person to person. But there are some common kayaking aches and pains. Now, I’ll discuss those in detail.
Lower Back Pain
People often buy cheap kayaks. In other words, these cheap kayaks come with low-quality seats. The seats don’t offer good quality back support. As a result, you suffer from lower back pain. However, it might be worse after a short time paddling if you are already suffering the pain.
So, you have to invest in kayaks that provide good quality seats. A good seat is comfortable, adjustable, and offers back support. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about back pain.
Sore Backside
Due to long sitting and paddling in the kayak, a sore backside may occur. It may also occur with a comfortable kayak seat. In short, stress on your bottom causes the sore backside. Then, how to prevent it?
You can use a bum cushion during kayaking. Besides, you can stretch or get up on your knees after a long paddling. You can also completely stand up to improve the blood circulation of your bottom.
Sore Arms
You have to use your arms to do paddling while kayaking. However, most people don’t know the technique of paddling. So, they put heavy stress on their arm muscles and suffer from sore arm pain.
You have to know the right technique of paddling. However, you have to keep your arms shoulder at a fixed position and use the core energy to stroke the paddle. You also must learn about grips and how to hold the paddle. Otherwise, you couldn’t avoid sore arms pain.
Leg Pain
Most non-paddlers get confused about why leg pain happens while kayaking. Beginners also won’t understand. So, the reason is when you sit and keep paddling for a long time in a kayak, lower leg muscle pain happens. It also occurs when the kayak is not adjusted or too small for you.
Therefore, you should stretch your legs whenever you can. You should also choose a kayak that adjusts with you to prevent leg pain.
How to Avoid Kayaking Aches and Pains
There are many types of kayaking aches and pains. However, you have already known the common aches and pains. You can avoid every type of aches and pain by taking some precautions. So, let’s check how to avoid kayaking aches and pains.
Stretching and Physical Exercise
You have to be physically fit to do kayaking. Because there is a lot of physical stress. Consistently, you may face different physical problems after kayaking. So, you have to do your physical exercise regularly.
Besides, you have to do stretching before going to the water. After that, you may have a good kayaking experience.
Choose a Lightweight Paddle
Paddling is a crucial part of kayaking. In other words, you have to keep using your arms to paddle the kayak. A heavy paddle puts stress on your joints and muscles. As a result, it may cause different physical problems. So, you have to choose a lightweight paddle.
Keep Light Grip
There are many techniques to do paddling comfortably. You have to learn about it to do kayaking. However, you have to paddle in the right way and keep your grip light. As a result, you can avoid kayaking arms aches and pains.
Use Paddle Gloves
Most people suffer from blisters, hotspots, etc., due to heavy paddling. You have to hold the paddle and stroke lightly. However, you can use paddle gloves to avoid these problems.
Change Your Paddle Stroke
You shouldn’t do high-angle or more aggressive paddle strokes continuously. You also shouldn’t do low-angle paddle stroke continuously. Then, what should you do? You have to keep your paddle stroke between both of them. Otherwise, you may suffer from sore arms.
Use an Adjustable and Comfortable Seat
Most cheap kayaks provide low-quality seats. As a result, people feel lower back pain after long kayaking. So, you have to buy a quality kayak with an adjustable and comfortable seat. You can also replace the low-quality seat to avoid back pain.
Use Sunglasses
The reflection of the sun from the water may create problems for your eyes. So, you have to use UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes.
Careful When In and Out of your Kayak
Most people get injured while in and out of a kayak. You may also suffer from bad knees. So, you have to enter and exit from your kayak at the dock. You also have to tie the kayak. Therefore, it won’t move, and you won’t get injured.
Take a Break
People often forget about the time during kayaking. You may also forget and keep kayaking for a long time. As a result, you may feel aches and pains after kayaking. So, you have to take a break after a while. You can also shore your kayak and walk for a while.
Final Verdict
So, do you still have any confusion about kayaking aches and pains and how to avoid them?
I don’t think so. Because I have mentioned the most common kayaking problems and their solutions through the article. So, you have to be careful and do accordingly to avoid kayaking aches and pains.