5 Common Dragon Boating Injuries

As the dragon boat racing season kicks into high gear, it's important for both novice and experienced paddlers to be aware of the common injuries. The repetitive nature of the paddling motion, combined with the intensity of training and racing, can lead to a variety of overuse injuries. Understand the most common dragon boating injuries and try to prevent them.

 

5 Common Dragon Boating Injuries

 

Shoulder Impingement: The repeated overhead paddling movement can irritate and inflame the tendons in the shoulder, leading to pain and decreased mobility.

 

Hip Flexor Strain: The powerful hip drive required to propel the boat forward can overload the hip flexor muscles and sit in a locked-in squat position for a prolonged time, leading to pain and tightness.

 

Lower Back Strain: The twisting and bending of the trunk required for the paddling stroke places a lot of stress on the lower back. Improper technique or sudden increases in training can cause strains and sprains.

 

Wrist and Forearm Tendinitis: Gripping the paddle tightly for hours on end can lead to inflammation of the tendons in the wrist and forearm. This causes pain and weakness in the hands and increased risk of injury such as "tennis elbow" and "golfer's elbow".

 

Neck Strain: The repeated neck extension and rotation required to keep in time with the pacers can overload the neck muscles and tendons, leading to stiffness, pain and reduced mobility. Restrictions in the lower neck mobility can cause / overcompensation and overextension in the upper neck.

 

Paddlers! if you suspect you might have any of above injuries, don't hesitate to reach out to your healthcare professional to make a proper assessment.