"Bob P" wrote in message
. ..
| S. Tilts wrote:
| I badly sprained an ankle in my early 20ies, with ruptured
ligaments etc.
| and it was 'conservatively' treated, i.e. not treated at all. This
left me
| with reduced flexibility but it didn't bother me at the time as I
could
| still walk, or more to the point drive the car.
|
| I recently attended a WW canoeing course, they used boats with
kneeling
| thwarts just aft of center. I was in agony all the time because I
lacked
| any sort of ankle flexibility that would allow me to kneel,
couldn't tuck
| under toes let alone kneel with tops of feet close to the floor.
|
| I'd be keen to be able to kneel in a hired WW canoe for at least
an hour;
| ordinary seats just don't seem to connect you to the boat
positively enough
| in moderate white water and pedestal seats tend to only be found
in more
| etreme WW canoes, which is not what I am aiming for.
|
| I am wondering has anyone in the NG managed to REGAIN kneeling
flexibility?
| And how would I go about doing that?
|
| I tried stuff like sitting on my heels in front of the TV (causing
great
| hilarity) but after 20 seconds or so I feel like I am doing myself
an
| injury, and who knows if its scarred ligaments maybe they aren't
designed to
| be stretched ...
|
| Maybe there are folks here who know about canoeing AND sports
physio stuff?
|
| Or do I need to post at rec.letsfaceityouroverthehill ...
|
| S
|
|
| That you can sit on your heels at all is a good sign. When I
started
| C-1'ing, I'd have to crawl out of the boat after 45 minutes. After
a
| couple of years, I became comfortable for a couple of hours at a
time,
| even with a 6" high seat.
|
| Have you tried foam blocks underneath your ankles?
|
| You might try going to a Physical Therapist that specializes in
sports
| injuries. It's amazing how someone who knows what they're doing can
| improve things...

Have to agree with Bob. Sounds like you can't extend your foot, top
side down. So support it at the front of the ankle. make the role
large enough so your toes don't touch the bottom of the canoe.
I would also strongly suggest consultation with a sports injury
physiotherapist.