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Windsurfing / wavesailing with herniated disks
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tcevans



Joined: 16 Jul 2002
Posts: 78

PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2023 7:46 pm    Post subject: Windsurfing / wavesailing with herniated disks Reply with quote

Just got my MRI results: L4/L5 with some damage & L5/S1 extruded Sad

I know I've got some rehab & recovery ahead of me before I hit the water again.

Wanted hear any windsurfing specific do's & don'ts from anyone who has already been here.

Thanks!
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2023 12:12 pm    Post subject: Re: Windsurfing / wavesailing with herniated disks Reply with quote

Greetings TC!

I am 67, fused, and the 2 vertebrae above the fusion have (of
course) deteriorated since they now carry the load.

You are going to get a truckload of PT, strength, and stretching
advice. I'll defer that to those who've tried it and liked it.
I'm going to recommend gear and technique.


1. Get light gear (and I mean the lightest you can find). The carry in and
out of the water puts awkward pressures on your low back, less force is
good force. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than more surgery.

2. V and caves are your friend. Get a planform known to part water
rather than pound it. I'd recommend polyester here, except it's kinda
heavy (see item 1).

3. Get a rig winch (or wench, ha ha)

4. Use your harness, and I mean really use it! Hang out and way down
so that the force isn't through your back, with your arms able to leave
the boom at any time.

5. Nuke and Puke conditions require a larger sail. If it's 10-30 rig big,
the hula/rip cycle plays havoc with your lower back, rigging bigger
helps you plane through those lulls. (conversely, skip those conditions
or ride a bigger board and a smaller sail).

6. Save your lifting for recreation. If you've got issues, you're near the
end of your cycles for that motion, and there are a finite number of
cycles. I'm not saying don't exercise, or garden, or carpent, or wrench,
but being stupid about any of those things just reduces the cycles
you have left. If you're 60, and your 45 year old girlfriend drops her TV,
don't go for the save, just let that baby dash itself to bits and buy
another one, it'll save money and misery in the long run.

.02

-Craig



tcevans wrote:
Just got my MRI results: L4/L5 with some damage & L5/S1 extruded Sad

I know I've got some rehab & recovery ahead of me before I hit the water again.

Wanted hear any windsurfing specific do's & don'ts from anyone who has already been here.

Thanks!
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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You might also consider switching to a (GASP!) waist harness (if not already using one) and if it unloads your damaged discs. Even if already using one, loosen it up so it rides higher (which is more important to you ... wave riding or breathing?) Smile
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mrgybe



Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 5180

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've herniated lower back discs a couple of times. Sorry to add confusion, but I have preferred a seat harness to relieve pressure, since it since it enables me to put the lower back into a pelvic tilt position while riding. Always stretch hamstrings and lower back before going out on the water. In choppy water try to absorb the impact by using the legs like pistons rather than just smashing through the chop. Follow the strengthening and stretching program you will be given relentlessly. Good luck........I know it's miserable but the exercises will work.
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2023 4:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know another oldster that rides a seat harness to reduce back pain.
That never worked for me, and I prefer a waist harness, but I think as
MrGybe suggests, what's important is that the main load not go through your
lower back however your Kinesthetics work. I also find seat harnesses
a bit of a nuisance when swell riding, so wave sailing would be even
harder for me.........but you need your back for a lot of things, so
use what takes the pressure off.

For the OP, here's a picture (in flat water) of a little over sheeted stance
that puts very little stress on your lower back (Courtesy Jem Hall)



Jem Hall small.jpg
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Jem Hall small.jpg


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combs



Joined: 01 Apr 1997
Posts: 129

PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another vote for using a waist harness and when I got a stiff carbon one, my herniated disc pain improved dramatically!
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tcevans



Joined: 16 Jul 2002
Posts: 78

PostPosted: Sun Apr 30, 2023 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks guys for the advice!

I'm getting a rig winch.
I have have waist harness (Dakine T-9), but I'll look into getting a stiffer one.
I have light gear & I'll change the way I carry it - I agree the "normal" way can put a lot of strain on your back. I'll carry it on my head now, rig & board separate to start, maybe I'll eventually learn them connected
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

With your waist harness, I agree with Combs, something really stiff
works better for my back. I use the Ride Engine Carbon Elite. Not
cheap, but worth every penny. They do take a little getting used to.

-Craig

tcevans wrote:
Thanks guys for the advice!

I'm getting a rig winch.
I have have waist harness (Dakine T-9), but I'll look into getting a stiffer one.
I have light gear & I'll change the way I carry it - I agree the "normal" way can put a lot of strain on your back. I'll carry it on my head now, rig & board separate to start, maybe I'll eventually learn them connected
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swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Mon May 01, 2023 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Frankly, I'm with mrgybe in that I use a seat harness. After using a chest harness that worked my lower back in the 80s, I changed over to a seat harness when they came out. All my back problems vaporized never to return. Later when waist harnesses came out, I wasn't interested in paying quite a bit more for a harness that would put a lot of direct stress on my back again. While it's not cool to use a seat harness these days, particularly amongest the wave crowd, I stuck with what worked.

As a final note, I've found that waist harness users almost always quickly remove them after coming in. It's pretty obvious that they aren't that comfortable just hanging out on the beach. That's probably why waist harnesses are arguably one of the most fogotten and left behind piece of windsurfing gear.
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Tue May 02, 2023 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Steve,

I have some alternative thoughts for why waist harnesses get left at the beach and why the come off quick. I leave mine on a lot BTW.

They come off quickly, because they're really easy to remove. Seat
harnesses are harder to put on and remove. I have personally tripped over
my leg/butt straps taking off a seat harness and frankly it's pretty comical
to watch.

There are probably 4 to 1 waist harnesses vs seat harnesses (at least in the
places where I sail) so left behind is 4 times as likely (you know, probability wise).

There are lots of reasons to use (or not use) either type, Gunars runs a
seat harness, he says it's very beneficial for his back(and he's had
plenty of surgical work done). My back does better with a waist harness
(and I've had plenty of surgical work done also).

The OP should try both and see which one works best for him.

-Craig

p.s. plus I look particularly svelt in mine ;*)


swchandler wrote:


As a final note, I've found that waist harness users almost always quickly remove them after coming in. It's pretty obvious that they aren't that comfortable just hanging out on the beach. That's probably why waist harnesses are arguably one of the most fogotten and left behind piece of windsurfing gear.
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