You might try a Greenland paddle as well. They are easier on the arms and shoulders and probably the back as well. Less pull required and more strokes per minute. There is also more variety of form available and a huge range of size variations.

Foster

: Thanks all for the good advice. I should have been more specific as
: I've already done the medical route. Sports Medicine
: orthopedist, physical therapy, chiropractor, personal trainer
: and I'm on my way back. Early Sept I went from 20 mile paddles
: and training for a marathon to walking with a cane. Even when I
: could barely walk kayaking didn't seem to bother it at the time,
: but I was never quite sure that the paddling didn't contribute
: to the general pain later on that day and the next. I did back
: out of a Lake Ontario crossing last fall because I was afraid
: that I would lose it half-way across. I'm quite a bit better
: now, no pain killers, back up to 6 mile runs and my core
: strength (which was pretty good before this happened) has
: returned. Between the weights, running, core work and stretching
: my every-other day workout takes a good 2.5 hours, and I'm
: moving about quite a bit for my job on off days. As you guys
: stated sitting around is the worst. Too much time in airports
: last weekend took a toll and makes me wonder what a long paddle
: would do. I like to think I have decent technique, I've worked
: on it, but there is probably room for improvement. I was fishing
: for any kayak adaptations in terms of position or padding that
: my have helped someone else. I have found that a slightly more
: Euro, knees up position is more comfortable than the
: flatter-legged Greenland position, probably a result of my tight
: hamstrings pulling on my pelvis. In the end Bill may be quite
: right and the best thing for it is standard, good technique, and
: not some variation of it. Single digit temps and a couple of
: busy weekends have conspired to keep me out of the boat since
: the first weekend in Jan. Hopefully the weather will break a bit
: and we can get out for a couple hours this weekend and I can see
: where I'm at.
: thanks again,
: Mark