John Nestler | Outdoor Adventure & Health

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Results: Bent Shaft vs. Straight Shaft Paddle Shoulder Injury Survey

July 28, 2018 by John Nestler in Survey, Kayaking, Health

In January 2016 I released an online survey with the intent of determining whether shoulder injury rates differed among whitewater kayakers who used bent shaft or straight shaft paddles. Shoulder injuries are incredibly prevalent with whitewater paddlers, and I was personally interested in the data since I sustained multiple subluxations while kayaking ultimately resulting in surgery in 2012.

Many kayakers must have had a similar level of interest in the survey since there were over 2,700 responses. I fully expected less than 100 responses, but the survey truly went viral. Thanks for providing that data and rallying to spread the survey around! Unfortunately there are many confounding factors present, and I never had the time or technical skill to do justice to the sheer amount of data collected in the survey. I'd like to say I could put aside time for a project like this, but I'll be starting medical school next week and I don't think it's going to happen. Thus I'm making the raw data public so that people can sift through it if they're interested.

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July 28, 2018 /John Nestler
shoulder injury, dislocation, surgery
Survey, Kayaking, Health
2 Comments

Shoulder Injuries: Bent Shaft vs. Straight Shaft Paddles

January 14, 2016 by John Nestler in Kayaking, Health

Shoulders are by far the most injury prone joint in whitewater kayaking, and we all know someone who has "tweaked" it, or worse, while on the river. Recurring subluxations (partial dislocation) or full dislocations can lead to a torn labrum and the need for surgery. It's not an easy process, but eventually stabilizes the joint and reduces the risk of developing arthritis. I want to find out whether there is a significant difference in injury rates between people that use bent shaft paddles vs straight shaft paddles. Take the survey and help me find out! 

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January 14, 2016 /John Nestler
dislocations, paddles, whitewater
Kayaking, Health
10 Comments