When I had my neck and back messed up via auto accident I had to stop competitive running. My C1 was rotated and running gave me wicked headaches. My L-series vertebrae routinely went "out" and I had to get them adjusted to straighten my back out again. That injury is what got me into paddling. Since I started paddling my back has got much stronger. I used good technique combined with all out arm paddling to get better. My choice of technique depended on how my back and neck were feeling. If my back hurt too much, I used arm paddling and vice-versa. Three years later I worry not about my back although I know I should stop slouching - that's a habit that is hard to stop.

I used a rowing machine soon after the accident to strengthen my back. There was no spinal twisting involved with the rowing machine. Once my back strengthened up I moved into paddling and was able to further strengthen my back. As long as I paddle, my back stays strong. When I stay away from paddling, say, because the river is #*&#$ frozen, my back weakens and begins to ache more. Get a sports doc's opinion and see a reputable physio-therapist, one who is involved with olympic athletes or competes athletically, you'll find your best help there. My physiotherapist competes at an international level so she knows what can go wrong and is very focused on healing quickly and effectively. After my plunge over the rapids my left knee was bending the wrong way, she had my knee strengthened and working well enough to get me running again in short order.

Robert N Pruden