Hi All,
I know this has been touched on a few times however I was hoping I may get some guidance on recovery from Tendonitis or Tendinopathy.
I have been having issues the day after kiting especially in my forearms and into my arms for about 1 year. I had been resting up and icing so I can still ride one day a week however it has slowly been getting worse so I decided to get proper treatment.
I have been seeing a physio who has advised to stop all forms of training and rest/ rehab.
After 3 weeks he recons I need another 2 weeks before I can hit the gym and begin to re strengthen.
If anyone can give me some guidance on their recovery time it would be great.
cheers
I've never had this from kiting, but working on a PC and playing violin, I get it in my wrists sometimes.
The key to recovery is to take a break for longer than you think you'll need. You'll get better quicker that way and be able to get back to more kiting, rather than rationing it out and keeping your body constantly on edge. When you're better, listen to your body for the signs and take it easy in advance, it's much easier to prevent than recover.
Once you're feeling better, strengthening should help. Also take a look at your grip - are you holding the bar in a death grip? Does it have a funny angle? Are you doing any moves that tweak/ping your arms?
It sounds like your physio is spot on.
Thanks JMS, I ride a 12 and unhooking when it 20+ seems to aggravate.
I am going to switch my brand of kite when I am back on the water. Something with a big chicken loop!
cheers
Usually elbows, maybe wrists. Didn't think you got tendonitis in the forearm but I am not a medico.
I had it in the elbows for 18 months.
My experience:- was with tendonitis in my forearm was in my left arm and was from signing the kite too much in light winds. I thought that I would have to suffer with it for ages as this was 'everyone elses' experience etc.
I went and saw my Osteopath for a couple of sessions who helped relax the muscles in my shoulder and the tendons down the length of my arms...I also had a rubber ball / tennis ball that I used to rub across my bicep and down the elbow joint and across the forearm, also use to put it on the desk or kitchen table and roll the palm of my hand across it. You will find 'hot spots' these got extra attention.
My remedial masseur also did some trigger point therapy down my left arm...it was intense, it hurt but it went away in about 6 - 8 weeks. During this time, I did use a strap across my forearm when kiting and didn't 'over do it'.
Everyone heals differently and different things work for different people.
Good luck - wishing you a speedy recovery 
Select to expand quotesuniboy21 said..
I've found that drinking plenty of beer after a session helps a lot!
I'm with you on that one! Nice!
Dont joke, it is a great mucsle relaxant and has great antimflamatory properies.
Arnold Swarzeniger used to drink one stien of beer post training to aid with recovery for this reason and it had heaps of carbs for energy to repair/ rebuild.
Im sold anyway
Mate I feel your pain... just started kiting this season and although I’m fairly fit I’m not kitesurf fit especially in the forearms. The pain started fairly early in the season and I blame carrying the board while doing the “walk of shame” back upwind, but only being hit by a bus was going to stop me nailing this sport. During the season I received slightly conflicting diagnoses- chiro and physo said tennis and golf elbow and the doc said “over use” of the muscles, personally I reckon I had a bit of both. This might help you as it helped me; physio said if I wasn’t going the do any R&R than I would have to maintain the forearms until the end of the season and recommended “acupuncture threading” which involves using 75mm needles in the muscle group that’s causing trouble. The threading acupuncture and nightly massage got me through the season and I’m hoping it now helps me heal quickly so I can start to strengthen my forearms ready for next season. I don’t think there is a magic cure but if you come across something please let me know. I’ve also purchased a thermal elbow support to try and keep the heat in the elbow at night. Good luck... Agree with you as well BoardGirl.
Was getting tendonitis in the elbows badly one season, replaced all my kites Best HP's for kites with low bar pressure but still with direct feel. No problems since in the last 2 years, almost an instant cure. Got back on a mates 8 mtr HP, only lasted one run out, pain started to return. No more high bar pressure kites for me.
Elbow strap only when working the problem area,stretch and massage before during and after work ,ice after work.rest until your sire its settled,know the warning signs and be disciplined while in recovery,over time it will build stregth,doctors can give advice but no one will know it better than you.be patiet.oh yeah warm it up before start stressing it.
hi all,
Thanks so much for the reply's
BoardGirl your diagnosis sounds very similar running into the upper arms and shoulders. Will give the tennis ball a crack. Have been riding for 12 years (on and off) and never had an issue. Maybe i am getting weaker now I work in an office.
airsail what year model are your kites? I moved from a hybrid back to a C kite in the last year.
Happy riding all
hey mate. im in the same boat when I rock climb. anything overhuge and I get it through my elbow. this was effecting me for a good 6 months. I ended up finding a doctor that injects glucose by needle into the trouble areas, not sure how it works tho. took 2 injections but was cured.
its been about 5 months since my treatment and haven't had any pain at all.
worth a look into!!!
good luck
I had a case of "kiters" elbow a few years back. Got so bad I could barely turn a door knob.
I solved it by making more use of my stopper ball in light winds, relaxing my grip a little, straightening my arms on occasions and rotating between "over" and "under hand" grip on the bar when possible.
Relax your grip, I've found this to be the major cause and you do it unconsciously. I found having lighter bar pressure helps big time.
Also check out Voodoo flossing, a little controversial - check out MobilityWOD.com
*Everyone is different but this works for me, good luck.
Hey Airhead.
I actually just thought about that now.
My c4 has no stopper ball which obviously would give less resistance!
I wonder if I can install one.
Cheers
James,
I had a demo on the Reo, Drifter and Element, found the element had a nicer direct feel than the others with similar fly attributes. Cost was also an issue so now fly Elements in the waves, 11,9 and 7. Been on them for 2 seasons now, no issues.
Until I get a kite with lower bar pressure, I found the following helpful for kiters (tennis) elbow.
1. More use of stopper ball
2. Specific workout of the opposing muscle group. For tendonitis on the outside of the elbow, this means weighted wrist curls with light dumb bells
3. Less kiting :(
Ride palm up as much as you can with the dodgy arm, that has seen me through all summer. They say it takes 2 to 3 months rest for it to go away.
I had it bad quite a while ago. Couldn't hold a fork or squeeze toothpaste. Fingers would also go into cramp. Mine was from bar pressure. Switchblade 1 when it first came out which had pulleys on the bar. Was fine on a fuel before that. Grip changes assisted, but wasn't until I changed kites that it went. I only fly kites with low bar pressure because of it. You may find that hard to achieve unhooking. Try a phisio's TENS machine. Shoots electronic impulse in muscles and joints. Great for rehabilitation and sports recovery. Should pick up a decent one on ebay for around $80
