I have hurt my back numerous times over the years lifting heavy objects, but I have never hurt my back windsurfing. I find that when I decline to help lift a heavy object for a friend or co-worker, I sometimes get some sarcastic comment about how I could be healthy enough to windsurf but not to lift heavy objects. I don't know how to answer as I don't have any medical training to explain why one activity hurts my back and another activity does not. Non-windsurfers seem to think the mechanics of sailing and lifting put the same stresses on the back and spine. I don't find that to be true. Can anyone offer some advice on how to explain this?
Dunno for you - but I do know if I don't windsurf for a couple of months my back goes out and it is agony.
I think the varied movements - more than many other activites - helps keep it healthy
I have a bad back but with the right harness I don't use my back much. The force goes through the harness into the pelvis and down through the legs. Its nothing like lifting and there is very rarely much twisting force on the back in windsurfing.
I have a bad back and go windsurfing. I think the movements and stresses on the back from lifting are quite different to the movements and stresses from windsurfing. I find windsurfing, especially in moderate planning winds of around 12 to 18 knots its more about extension, extending the body out. This is versus the bending and compression with lifting, especially when its repetitive. There is a bit of twisting with windsurfing which isn't that good but you twist one way on one tack and one on the other so its probably good for you too.
Also there is a general misconception out there that windsurfing is all about floating around in light winds, falling off to uphaul the sail so one can fall off again. This is how windsurfing was for many people years ago so it must be how windsurfing still is today. I've talked to people at work about windsurfing and usually their experience, along with the tide dragging them out to sea.
Totally different. When you are sailing, if anything you are arching your back out to get a bit more leverage. Definitely not bending over and lifting up. Harness takes all the strain. Only thing could be carrying your gear to the water, that could be a problem if you aren't careful.
The simple answer is that windsurfing is an extension activity and lifting is flexion.
Activities which flex the spine put strain on the discs and if you have a damaged disc flexion may injure it further.
Having said that, windsurfing does strengthen the core muscles, so in season you can probably lift things which are a lot heavier than you could usually manage safely.
Suffered from lower back pain for years, radiator and cooling system repairs leaning over engine bay all day, shearing sheep, picking grapes, concreting, paving, garden landscaping (jack of all trades, master of none)
The best medicine, a bloody good windsurf session.
I firmly believe that the balance, coordination, rig and body mechanics helps pull the back into alignment.
Works for me every time.
Slight thread hijack, besides the solution has been defined.
I had a frozen neck, you all know what's that's like, can only rotate your head one way slightly w/o any pain,,,,, stress, I know. Anyway, I had it for about a week and was getting sick of it, missing good w'surfing days and all that, so one day I said "screw it!" and I went sailing. It was flat water stuff, using about a 6.0, going along just fine and when entering my jibe, I got launched, I couldn't unhook fast enough, over the handlebars I went, pitched out in front of my rig, flat on the water, on my back. POW!!!
I felt a click in the back of my neck, so I just laid there for awhile, taking inventory, fingers worked, toes worked, so I got around and water started out of there,,,,,,,,,,, my frozen neck was gone. Sonofabitch!!!
So I continued to sail on for about another two hours w/o any problem, and it was gone after words as well.
There is medicine in this sport.
Select to expand quoteESM said..
Non-windsurfers seem to think the mechanics of sailing and lifting put the same stresses on the back and spine.
I remember using my back a lot when I was a beginner. Maybe your co-workers are confusing uphauling and then falling off (ie: their view of windsurfing) with what is actually practiced ? 
Simple explaination for your friend is lifting things puts downward pressure on the spine, Windsurfing (in a harness) releives pressure from the spine by pulling upwards.
Every Physio I have ever seen has told me that windsurfing is good for my back condition.
keep your extracurricular activities on the down low when it comes to work. Ive found it can build resentment especially when your work activities are impacted by an injury. No explanation will ever be satisfactory to them. Stop talking about your sailing, mention that you don't do it so much anymore. overtime they may forget.
When I started windsurfing, using a chest harness, a session really helped my back. But I tried an old seat harness for a while and found that made my back worse. I think with a higher harness the lower spine isn't being compressed, but with the old seat harness it was. I then changed to a Chinnook "wave seat" the was more like a waist harness but with thigh straps, so the load was taken by the lumber region rather than the buttocks.
This also helped my back problems, as everybody else says, got a bad back? Go windsurfing that'll fix it. As long as you are powered up enough to be supported by the harness, if you're well underpowered and have to hold the sail up, that's a different matter.
I've had a bad back ever since I was 18, and docs then wanted to cut me in badly.
Always resisted, and doing better for it now.
I've learned over the years to live with it through various means.
But more importantly, that the back is one complicated "joint", that all back problems are different, and that other people's advice are never, ever applicable - just too many combinations and factors.
So won't give advice here, suffices to say that I'm one lucky bastard in that windsurfing has helped my back a lot over the years.
Very much all the best with the back, sir.
A few suggestions. Go see a good chiro, making sure that structurally everything is In the right place.Check. 2 . Go to a good gym instructor a get a program designed to increase your core strength. Forget doing your beach muscles for a while and get your inner ones working.
After having 14 years of back pain after a fracture, I'm now pain free due to a great fitness program
Thanks for all the help. I went to see the PT this morning and she confirmed what many of you said. Thanks!
gotta add though you can injure your back from sailing. I blew out 3 discs in my back from always sailing and never stretching (yes it was compounded from work). Treat it like any other sport and warm up, stretch before and after and cool down properly otherwise it will catch up to you if you sail lots. Waist harnesses are better for back than seat, if you do get seat make sure you have one with better back support, they still aren't ideal if you tend to sit more in the harness.
Hurt like hell but always found it funny (& so did the family) that sailing was one of few things I could still do but at end of day the exact period of cooling down was when I walked in door after sailing & back would just lock up and put me on the floor.
Do a search also, there has been threads before with some great advice from physio's that are on here.
For anyone that has back problems and sits at a desk for work... try using a stand-up desk. I started using a stand-up desk 2 years ago due to a hamstring injury that wouldn't go away, went to physio, a specialist etc and in the end standing up for 5 or 6 hours out of the 8 or 9 that I would usually sit in a chair for has solved the problem - It helps keep your core muscles switched on during the day. I did find that I would stand for 2 or 3 hours then sit for 1 then stand again etc. Wouldn't suggest standing at a desk all day as this can also work against you.
Several other people at my work are now also standing up who previously had severe back problems and say it has helped immensely..
Select to expand quoteDarkHorse said...
For anyone that has back problems and sits at a desk for work... try using a stand-up desk. I started using a stand-up desk 2 years ago due to a hamstring injury that wouldn't go away, went to physio, a specialist etc and in the end standing up for 5 or 6 hours out of the 8 or 9 that I would usually sit in a chair for has solved the problem - It helps keep your core muscles switched on during the day. I did find that I would stand for 2 or 3 hours then sit for 1 then stand again etc. Wouldn't suggest standing at a desk all day as this can also work against you.
Several other people at my work are now also standing up who previously had severe back problems and say it has helped immensely..
Standing is probably better but you can also get a specially built type kneeling chair that puts you in a good posture ( chiros would know).
I have an upper back problem but if I stand and move around regularly it's better - I think the thing that actually sealed my fate back wise was the 6 months sitting on light duties.That really stuffed the condition and got me medically retired..( + repetitive duties sitting).
