I agree that wrist pain can be caused by poor technique. However much of
the time it's usually caused by using a paddle that has to much feather
angle thus over rotating the wrists and can also be caused by using a shaft
that is to big for one's hands causing over gripping. Some people are more
prone to wrist problems than other just by their body make up and especially
if their job already requires wrist stress. A bent shaft can be a great
reliever to these stresses as well as a small shaft bent shaft. I acquired
this information when I repped for a Werner and felt the full benefits of a
small shaft bent shaft after several years of having carpal tunnel.

Courtney


"Melissa" wrote in message
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Hi Brian,

On Sun, 08 May 2005 13:07:31 GMT, you wrote:

Also, unless you have a specific problem that a bent shaft paddle
will help to resolve (wrist pain, etc.), the limited hand positions
they offer are a disadvantage. If yo like to slide the paddle, you
won't like a bent shaft. Additionally, it seems that many people
with wrist, elbow or shoulder problems are turning to Greenland
paddles for relief.

I concur, though I would add the following...

Often enough, "wrist pain, etc." is caused by poor technique. In
cases like that, seeking a technical solution (bent shaft) might
represent a needless restriction of one's ultimate possibilities.
Also, choosing a Greenland Paddle certainly doesn't have to be seen
as a solution to wrist pain; especially the type caused by poor
technique. Poor technique with a GP can cause just as much pain as
with any other type of paddle.

For my first several years of paddling, I used, exclusively, a
fiberglass Werner San Juan with an 80 degree feather. I paddled, as
I still do, almost every day, year 'round. Most often for several
hours a day, and often in demanding conditions that necessitated
non-stop paddling for hours on end in wind, waves, and current. Never
once, in all those years, did I experience any wrist, hand, or arm
pain. Even so, once I discovered the joys of using a Greenland
Paddle, I made the switch, and I've been very happy with it. I'm
still comfortable using the old paddle with the 80 degree feather,
but I just prefer the GP.

Now, if someone really does suffer from certain types of chronic pain
*not* caused by poor technique, and can only find relief with either
a bent shaft or GP (or any other alternative), that's great. I would
just recommend that most people look first at their techniques, and
think about their preferred methods of manipulating a paddle in
general before deciding that simply switching from one type of paddle
to another will be the "cure" to the problems they're having.

- --
Melissa

PGP Public Keys: http://www.freewebs.com/kuviahunnihautik/

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