PAINLESS KAYAK FISHING

Painless Motorized Kayak Fishing

2011-11-23T14:39:00.000-08:00

Big motorboats are more comfortable than fishing kayaks, and they offer the advantage of making much longer fishing trips. But they're also more expensive to buy and maintain, store and transport, and let's not forget that using a boat trailer is a pain in itself, not just in the figurative sense, but practically as well - Having to deal with launching a big boat from a trailer and a boat ramp, and getting the boat back on the trailer at the end of the day is neither for elderly anglers nor for anyone suffering from back problems.
So if neither kayaks nor big motorboats are good for you, how can you go fishing from a kayak and still be dry, comfortable and healthy, while maintaining a range of traveling that only motorboats can offer, but without the hassle and pain associated with motorboats??
Thinking about such a possibility sounds like an exercise in futility, until you see movies such as this one, shot by a kayak angler suffering from disabilities including back pain and sciatica:

and this one:

This is the same W kayak, which is the only fishing kayak offering NO BACK PAIN, plus a powerful outboard motor that gets you to the fish on the other side of the lake, or miles up the river, fast and effortlessly...

For those who are interested in reading more, here is an article about motorizing your fishing kayak - It explains the pros and cons of motorized kayaks, electric motors vs. outboard gas engines, etc.

Welcome to the era of Painless Motorized Kayak Fishing.

Senior Kayak Fisherman With Back Surgery and Balance Problems Finds The Solution

2011-08-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Tony, from New Hampshire, offers this testimonial:
-"The Wavewalk 500 is great. It only took a minimum amount of time of actual paddling to get used to the kayak.
The weather is still bad but I am planning to get out next week and see if I can catch a fish.
My daughter Lisa and I have spent many hours fishing out of the kayaks on the weekends but I have not slimed the 500 yet. Today we had to quit because our hands got so cold.
The 500 is very stable and easy to control. The stability is very important as I had a major surgery on my back last year and somehow it messed up my balance.
Wavewalk have designed a great craft. Thanks to you I can enjoy fishing again."

"No Issues of Any Back Problems & Numbing Pain At Last! Just Awesome"

2011-05-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

The launch was excellent! No feet were wet in the process. I brought the rod just in case. Stability was awesome! I started to stand after I got used to the W sitting. Little tricky at first because it was very windy the day I first launched….But I found that U plant and hug your feet more toward centerline (toward seat column) rather than the outside edges. This tactic is ideal in the standing position which then was a breeze. No issues of any back problems & numbing pain at last! Just awesome.
Oh, BTW, two guys wrapping up there bass boat were curious about my boat. I told them it was called Wavewalk. They said that my boat looks more comfortable than those other kayaks. I replied, that’s why I purchased it. And another guy commented about it as well. Those are the first tangible people that I came across during first launch…& already nothing but good news.
Brought the rod with me at first launch just in case. No kidding….2nd cast with a Yozuri crankbait plug….bam the fish was on. Large mouth Bass it is…he said the boat looked pretty good…and I said thank U very much…& in the water for a second life!!
Ok tight lines for sure. I gotta get set up my W for Opening Day at my local Rod & Gun Club for Saturday. It is called Ranger Lake Rod & Gun in the borough known as Egypt which is in Whitehall, PA.

Lou

6'3", 235 lbs, 70 Year Old With Back and Weak Legs Problems

2011-05-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

I’m 6’-3”; 235 lbs. I have back and weak leg problems that will keep me from safely balancing in the standing position, let alone jumping up and down. Sitting, I can go all day! (at 70 yrs old that’s probably an hour or so)… The saddle and sitting positions it offers are the big appeal of the Wavewalk for me. Forget about the traditional L position – I couldn’t get up, even if I had managed to get down.
Once I saw the W500 I knew that was the boat for me, but, being me, and never having tried a W500, I kept thinking I could improve on the design here and there. During the acceptance process I learned a lot, and now I’m happy to accept the hull as it is.
I’m feeling a little guilty that I didn’t have any exciting adventures to relate.
The first time out, I went to a lake with a shallow beach where I figured I could walk back to shore if I dumped the boat. I started out cautiously, right from shore, without getting my feet wet. I paddled in the shallow area for less than a minute, then headed down the lake (how’s that for quickly gaining confidence?), then all the way up to the other end (a mile?), then back down the . . . oh, oh! The breeze has kicked up. This could be trouble. A couple of mental adjustments and I was paddling into the wind and doing OK. Remember, I’m not a paddler, not ever a rowboat. I rested a bit in the lee of the eastern lakeshore then headed back to the beach 1/2-way down the lake where I dis-embarked, without getting my feet wet.
So far, nothing out of the ordinary. I initially found the boat to be tender, but that was me, not the boat. Anything that only weighs 59 pounds is bound to be tender when it’s reacting to a 235 pound novice, and the more I use it, the more compatible we become. It took a bit of adjustment to handle the paddle, which I imagine every new paddler experiences. And even though I got a couple of scares out there on the lake by digging in too hard, I didn’t dump the boat.
I haven’t been chasing fish. I realized I’m not going to be an avid fisherman but the lure is still there, and watching Fisheries pour three tanker trucks of keeper size trout into the lake whets the appetite.

Can You Paddle a Kayak After Spinal Fusion Surgery?

2011-05-29T06:01:00.000-07:00

Spinal fusion is an extreme surgical intervention performed on patients who suffer from certain chronic, serious back conditions, including severe pain, which have not responded to conservative treatment.
One of those patients recently posted a short review of her W kayak. Her testimonial sends a message of hope to other people in her situation:
I had spinal fusion six years ago. I have always wanted to Kayak but I know there is no way that I can sit in the L position on a regular kayak.
I contacted Norm Craig, a W kayaker who had spinal fusion too, and he assured me I would be fine with the W500.
I love my W kayak. I have taken it out about 7 times, and my longest trip was about 2 hours. It is very easy on my back. I just bought a new life preserver today made for kayaking. I am planning on going out tomorrow morning.
I am also going to make a cushion for the seat.

The Barge Yak: A Not So Cozy Fishing Kayak

2011-04-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

A common fishing kayak is essentially a broad, clumsy recreational kayak, in most cases a sit-on-top (SOT) kayak, which is another name for a paddle board. Sea kayakers call these types of kayaks 'barge', since they although they are stabler than sea kayaks, are also hard to paddle.
But barge kayaks are hazardous to paddle and fish from
Seriously, they can be, and that’s because fishing kayaks are used by real, everyday people like yourself, in real, everyday conditions. Life is neither a commercial video, nor a glossy ad.
Everyday people are not particularly fit, and they’re often both overweight to some extent.
The typical kayak angler is middle aged, and many kayak anglers are elderly folks. Unfortunately, these are the same people who would normally purchase a barge yak, because they are concerned about the instability of narrow sit-in and SOT kayaks, and may not want to pay for a W kayak.

So why is a slow and hard to paddle 'barge' fishing kayak potentially hazardous for such people?

It's because in the real world, where real people paddle and fish, you’re bound to get into unfavorable circumstances – sooner or later, unless you paddle and fish in a tiny pond, preferably close to home. Such circumstances usually involve changes in the weather -
When bad weather happens while you’re seated in your kayak, you’d rather not overturn it, of course, and it is assumed that barge kayaks can normally handle this challenge – not always, and not as well as W kayaks, though… unlike other kayaks that are too unstable for that. If you happen to be away from shore in bad weather, being in a barge kayak could turn out to be a bad experience for you, and it may even lead to an accident, because you could find yourself unable to get back to your launching spot, or worse – go back to shore in any part of it. If back to shore means getting back to a beach, and the place you’re paddling and fishing in is the ocean, or a big lake, you could be in trouble.
This is because big bodies of water (E.G. ocean, lake, big river) also have currents in them, and the combination of wind and current is just too powerful for you to deal with when you’re paddling a barge kayak. Waves would likely swamp you. You won’t be able to direct the kayak to safety, and you’d be drifting somewhere you don’t want to go to. When this happens, you may find yourself in an even worse situation as night comes.
So try to imagine yourself wet, cold and exhausted from useless paddling efforts, your back sore, your legs are numb, and you’re drifting somewhere in the darkness.
The heavier, older, and less fit you are, the higher the chances you’d get yourself a barge yak, and at the same time the heavier, older and less fit you are, the more likely you are to get in trouble, discomfort and pain just because you’re paddling such a kayak.
Well, life is unfair, sometimes, especially to those who don’t take it seriously, and don’t imagine worse case scenarios that unfortunately are part of many outdoor recreational sports, including kayaking and kayak fishing.
It doesn’t make much difference if you paddle your clumsy fishing kayak or propel it with a pedal drive – You’s better not venture too far from shore with it, especially in unfavorable weather circumstances, or when there’s a good chance that the weather could change for the worse, because such change may very well be unfavorable, and even dangerous to you.

Have You Been Fishing From The Wrong Kayak?

2011-01-18T12:16:00.000-08:00

Statistically speaking the almost sure answer is 'Yes': You have been fishing from the wrong kayak, since most anglers do, as most of them still use sit-in and SOT kayak for fishing, and only a minority has discovered W kayaks, and switched to them.

How do you know if the kayak you're using is bad for you?
That's easy to tell, and all you need to think about is how your back feels after about one hour paddling it, and fishing from it.
If you feel an urge to get up and 'unkink', that is stretch your legs, walk, do some physical exercise, and stretch your back and shoulders, it means that it won't be long before you start suffering from a sore back, which is the hallmark of sit-in and SOT kayaks, because they force you into the L kayaking position, while not offering real alternatives for operating the kayak.
It doesn't really matter if you're paddling your kayak or propelling it with a pedal drive - In fact, the latter means of propulsion demands that your legs push your lower back even harder against your seat's backrest.
A sore back simply tells you 'Stop Using This Kayak!'.
Why? Because if you keep paddling and fishing from this kayak, you'd be risking back injury, such as sciatica and even a herniated disk, and whether mild, severe, or permanent - it's not worth it.
If you consult with a primary care physician, and especially with a doctor who's a spine specialist, you're likely to get both good advice, as well as a detailed assessment of your situation.
If you think back pain and injuries are worth it, you may want to consider consulting with another kind of specialist :D
And here's another point to think about: Paddling and pedaling kayaks while suffering from back pain, or any pain for that matter, is unsafe, as this article about kayak fishing with a sore back explains fairly well.

Improving the Well Being of Kayak Anglers in the Netherlands

2011-01-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Kayak fishing in the Netherlands (Holland) is a fairly new sport. Anglers in the Netherlands still prefer to fish mostly from canoes and boats, because of the obvious ergonomic disadvantages associated with fishing from kayaks.
Now, Dutch anglers have an opportunity to see and test a new type of fishing kayak, one that does not cause any back pain or discomfort.
See invitation for these fishing kayaks' demo days in a few days: http://www.catamayak.com/2011/01/10/nl-kom-proefvaren-in-de-wavewalk-kayak/

No More Back Pain for Gary, A Disabled Vet, Kayak Angler From Texas

2010-12-01T07:51:00.000-08:00

I am 61, 280lbs, retired, 100% disabled, veteran Navy Officer. I have a very bad back resulting from damage done while I was on active duty. My back has 4 bad disks in the lower end, three bad disks in the neck, and pinched nerves going to my legs. Added to this I suffer from Fibromyalgia. My meds for the most part keep the pain at a semi-manageable level, but the hurt never goes completely away. If I can help some other Vet or civilian with frequent orthopedic pain be able to enjoy kayaking it’s good enough for me.
I think it is important to clarify why I am passionate about the WaveWalk W500 Kayak.
I used to be an accredited Canoe instructor, and have taught lots of Boy Scouts how to make a canoe go straight. For me a regular kayak makes “Pain Management” impossible. I have tried conventional kayaks and NONE OF THEM give me the freedom to stretch and move that I require in order to keep my back from cramping up and making fishing pure hell. The W500 was my last hope for a personal watercraft. If it weren’t for the W500, I couldn’t be a kayak owner – my back will not allow me to sit in a regular kayak for more than about 20 minutes.
The W500 allows me to move into positions that relieve the pain from where it is hurting the most and have it hurt somewhere else for a while. I found the ONLY KAYAK AVAILABLE that allows me complete freedom of movement – something none of SITS or SOTS can claim. I will match my W500 up against anything the SITS or SOTS have shown me, especially since I can use the W500 and I CAN’T use the others. It does bother some other yakkers though that I always have easy answers for the problems they are trying to solve…
I think that eventually I will manage to give HOPE to disabled people that Kayaking is not something beyond their capabilities.
Before I found the W500, kayaking was beyond my capability. You couldn’t have gotten me in a kayak for a days fishing on a bet. I would have passed on an all-expenses paid fishing trip with a guide who was fishing out of kayaks. I COULD NOT HAVE STOOD THE PAIN. Hurting just isn’t worth it.
In late January through early April the white bass will be running in the rivers near me. Kayakers have a field day getting into water that others can’t get to. I plan on showing the W500 off to many of those guys and will offer free rides. They will be bundled up in their waders and still be getting wet. I plan to entice them with a DRY RIDE.
I promote your product on the net for FUN. Its something I believe in and would like others who have the same problems as I do to have the freedom to participate in kayaking without hurting themselves more.
The biggest problem I have faced with my W500 is the comments from non-believers. Some of the things they say can be painful if you don’t have a thick hide. They make their comments UNTIL they get on the water with me. I then do things like reversing direction in the kayak and watch their faces. I also make a big deal about stretching and twisting, standing up to show that I am completely free to move as I desire.
I needed a stable kayak, that kept me dry (I mean 100% dry except for sweat) and after almost a year’s search finally decided that a WaveWalk W500 was the ticket. You are welcome to come to my home and try mine out on our neighborhood private lake. I offer this, because I had to buy mine sight unseen, untried, acting only on faith of others testimonials and several phone calls to a preacher in Corpus who owns one. The W500 is stable enough to not only stand in, but to paddle standing up. If you get wet in one its your own fault or because you decided to go wading. It has so much storage space that is so accessible that a crate isn’t needed. Unlike conventional kayaks I have a seat that is 6 feet long that I can sit anywhere on. I can stand, bend, twist, do anything I desire and stay in the kayak. Without doubt I feel I made the right choice, and I am however, a completely satisfied customer.
I read the Texas kayak fishing boards (texaskayakfishing.com and the kayak section of www.Texasfishingforum.com) and just laugh. “Regular” kayak owners complain about lack of stability, lack of storage space, wet butts and wet feet, etc. An owner of a W500 has NONE of these problems. Take launching for instance – in a regular kayak you wade out half the length of the kayak and then get in – WET already. In a W500 I walk down between the hulls for 2 1/2 feet and step into the cockpit pushing off with the last foot on dry land and have launched completely dry. Landing I do essentially the same. To land I merely slide back in the seat, thus raising the “bow” and paddle or push quite far up onto the beach. I then slide up to the front pinning the hull tips to the beach and walk out between the hull tips – DRY.
Don’t believe the hype you will hear from folks who have other kayaks, and criticize the W500, because they have no idea what they are talking about (99.9% of whom have never even seen a W500 much less paddled one) that the W500 won’t turn, is hard to paddle, won’t track. Phooey on them. I can turn a W500 literally in place using 2 methods they don’t have in their arsenal. IF I need to change direction immediately I just turn around in the kayak (don’t try this in a regular kayak) and paddle the opposite direction OR I slide to the back of the seat lifting the front tips and do a couple of back paddles on the same side of the W500 and pivot in place. Regular turning is no problem either. Anchoring is another problem solved in a W500. A regular kayak MUST have an anchor trolley to be able to keep the anchor in the proper position to keep the kayak from going broadside to waves. The anchor trolley moves the anchor from place to place. In a W500, I can move from the back to the front of the kayak and I can move the anchor with me. I do have an anchor trolley on my W500, but its for MY CONVENIENCE mostly with Drift Socks so I can move the socks in small increments to keep me in position on a drift Quickly so as not to interfere with my fishing.
The WaveWalk kayak will keep you completely dry (no scuppers for water to enter to soak your butt) both on using the kayak and upon getting in and out of the kayak. The W500 has more storage than I can effectively use (14 cubic feet). I use a crate, not because I have to, but because it allows me to have a convenient place to fly my 360 light and flag from, and a place to keep my anchor and drift sock where it is instantly available should I need it. I use an anchor trolley because it makes the adjustment of where an anchor is located, not because I have to. Unlike those who use a conventional kayak and are largely confined to one place, I have a 6 foot long cockpit seat that allows me free access to the kayak tips on both the bow and stern which are interchangeable since the kayak can be paddled equally well either direction as they are exactly the same. You talk about turning – I can turn on a dime by sliding back to the rear of the seat and giving a couple of back paddles and the W500 will swivel in place. I can reverse direction simply by turning around in the cockpit and paddling the other direction. I don’t need to add flotation as that comes standard in the kayak tips and no it does not use up some of my storage space. Can anyone who has a regular kayak even approximate these features?? The features are as they are, and I will be posting about the merits of the W500 because I believe for the big guy and more importantly for the person who has disabilities that the W500 is the best kayak going.
It is so much easier to throw a cast net when you don’t have to do it from the sitting L position, and it’s so much easier it is to get things from your crate and from the 14 cubic feet of storage in the hull tips, if you can turn completely around like in the cockpit of a W500.
I did a lot of research before I finally settled on the WaveWalk W500, and I am glad that I can continually point out the things that are HARD OR IMPOSSIBLE from a regular Kayak that are so easy from a WaveWalk. It is most important to me for DISABLED KAYAKERS to know about the only kayak that I can own and actually use. As I have said before, my legs and back will not let me sit in a regular kayak for more than about 30 minutes before I have to get out. The having to get out is true for both paddling or sitting one place fishing.
The other fun and easy stuff like having max storage space, having max stability, ability to throw cast nets, are just gravy, because if you can’t get comfortable in the kayak, then you won’t use it and the subject is moot. IF I had a fishing kayak with the pedal drive I could not use it, and would not use it, because my disabilities keep me from using it. That said, after having a WaveWalk W500, I would still not use a pedal drive kayak even if I could. There are just too many other advantages to the WaveWalk that I would want to take advantage of. Why would I use a kayak with reduced capability and comfort???”
Give me a call or better yet come and paddle my W500,
Gary Johnson, Texas

No Back Pain In This Stand Up Fly Fishing Kayak

2010-11-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

What Is Kayak Back Pain, and What Does It Mean?

2010-11-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

A new just article got published on this painful subject.
Here's a quote of a couple of comments made by readers:

1. "Glad you mentioned unmanly and bragging about being out for a long time. Heard that many times and still do on a regular basis. Some folks even comment about how they are in such great shape and it can’t happen to them. Frankly they don’t get the joke, being in good shape does not make up for the fact the body is damaged by the wrong position. Now maybe if they commented how much they could stand pain verses someone else OK. But being out there fishing in pain kinda sorta takes away from the enjoyment." and -

2. "Sporting injuries are more frequent among people who exercise on a regular basis than among people who don’t exercise at all. Each sport and physical activity carries some potential problems that people who practice it should be aware of. Some sports and activities are more prone to get you injured, that’s all. It’s not a mere coincidence that kayakers appear in ads for pain medication – Kayaking has become almost synonym with back problems, and people who aren’t aware of this issue learn as soon as they start.
The main point here, in my view, is that physical damage can happen to you over time – You don’t get a herniated lumbar disc the first time you go fishing in your kayak, but over time, your risk of suffering from such a severe injury increases."

The article explains what kayak back pain is, what are the nerves involved in it, the meaning of back pain when you’re kayaking, or kayak fishing, what to do and what to avoid, and the benefits of paddling Wavewalk kayaks, fishing from them, as far as your back is concerned.

How Does Pedaling a Fishing Kayak Affect Your Back, Legs, Feet, etc.

2010-10-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

A new, recently published article offers a remarkable insight on pedal driven fishing kayaks.It discusses practically every issue related to pedal drives, from every angle, including Ergonomics, Mechanics, Hydrodynamics and Real Life Performance.
This blog is interested in the ergonomic and bio-mechanical aspects of kayak fishing, and here are the findings on these subjects (quote):

Pedaling Kayaks’ Ergonomics - How Does It Feel To Operate a Pedal Driven Kayak?
The first and main argument in favor of pedaling kayaks instead of paddling them, is that our legs are far more powerful than our arms are, and therefore it makes more sense to use our legs for difficult tasks such as propulsion, rather than using our arms.
While being generally true, this argument is not necessarily applicable to the propulsion of kayaks. This is because although our legs have the biggest and most powerful muscles in our body, and are best fit for hard, long lasting efforts, using them for propelling any vehicle must be done under certain conditions, which are dictated by our own built, and ability to endure certain types of effort -
Limbs that have bigger muscles are comparable to engines with bigger cylinders – They can burn more fuel, and thus generate more power. The legs of a kayaker pedaling their pedal driven kayak generate considerable force, and this force is transmitted from their body to their kayak through three points:
1. The kayaker’s two feet, which the kayaker’s legs push forward, against the pedals, and -
2. The kayaker’s lumbar spine and lower back, that the legs push backward, compressing them against the backrest of the kayak’s seat, so as to provide support for the legs’ pushing effort in the opposite direction.
The force each leg applies on a pedal when pushing it is equal to the force the leg applies on the kayaker’s lower back. With two legs pushing two pedals, the force the kayaker’s legs apply the the kayaker’s lumbar spine is double the force needed to move each pedal, and here lies a big ergonomic problem.
Pedaling in the L position (recumbent) is essentially different from pedaling in the upright position (e.g. biking). The difference being that in biking, our legs push against our own body weight, and its that weight which supports the legs’ downward push against the pedals, and allows them to move. Recumbent bicycles have been known to exist since the 19th century, but upright (riding) bicycles outnumber them at a ratio of more than a thousand to one, simply because recumbent bikes are harder to use, meaning that they present serious ergonomic issues that upright bikes don’t.
Pedaling common kayaks is done in the L position, which is similar to the recumbent position. The L position is kayaks is known to cause a variety of back problems starting from premature fatigue, acute pain known as yak-back, and other problems including one known as yak-ass, circulation problems in the legs. In extreme cases it may even lead to a painful, chronic condition called sciatica, caused by the vertebrae in our spine compressing the sciatic nerve, which is the largest group of nerves in our body.
These problems are accentuated by the fact that the driver of a pedal propelled kayak cannot switch positions. This means that the above mentioned symptoms tend to occur shortly after the kayaker starts pedaling, and their severity can increase rapidly.
That is to say that if paddling a kayak in the L position is highly problematic from an ergonomic standpoint, pedaling a kayak in that position is notably worse.

Herniated Lumbar Disk, Back Pain, and Long Kayak Fishing Trips

2010-10-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

This is part of a fishing kayak review combined with a fishing trip report published on the Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks blog, and on the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing forum:

I bought a Wavewalk kayak in anticipation of using it for fishing the flooded grass because of the ease of standing in it and also because my lower back had been bothering me after long trips in my [15 ft long SOT fishing kayak]. Since then I've actually herniated a lumbar disk and was out of commission for 6 weeks, but although I'm functional now using the [15 ft long SOT fishing kayak] is out of the question in the near future.
I finally got to try out the W for what I bought it for. We had flood tides over the weekend and I was anxious to pole the boat around the flooded spartina grass in search of tailing red fish.
I was not disappointed, it performed flawlessly.
It poles very easily in the grass, the view is great standing, and there is nearly no balancing effort for standing in it. I actually put a board across the top of the seat and poled standing on top of that. The view there is about 12" above the water and the perspective that gives you hunting for tails is incredible.
I've also used the boat for some short trips fishing, and find that it's a great little boat to fish out of because it allows you to be in so many positions while fishing and you never feel the need to get out and stretch or get the numbness out of your butt.
-----------------
The Wavewalk is a keeper in my kayak herd now and for the near future will probably be the only boat I'll be able to go out in. It's nice and compact, stores a lot of stuff easily and keeps it dry, plus allows those of us with non cooperating bodies to fish more comfortably.
I'm also looking forward to staying nice and dry and warm fishing out of it this winter. This is a great boat to own even if my back wasn't part of the reason I bought it.

Kevin

To read the entire review go to the Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks blog >>

Note: To review featuring on Wavewalk's blog does not reveal the mentioned SOT fishing kayak's name and brand, but if you're interested to know what it is, you'll find the info in the Jacksonville Kayak Fishing forum version.

COMMON KAYAK INJURIES

2010-09-25T12:01:00.000-07:00

Paddling a common kayak, be it a sit-on-top (SOT) kayak or a sit-in kayak (SIK) involves being seated in the non-ergonomic L position, and paddling it in the traditional kayaking style, the latter requiring typical, repetitive motion that can lead to various injuries.

Lower Back Pain
Traditional kayak paddling technique, a.k.a. kayaking is based on torso rotation initiated from your hips. This motion is impossible to perform while you're leaning backward ("slouching") and it's best performed while you're slightly leaning forward. The combination of leaning with continuous, repetitive rotation puts strain on the lower part of your spine, known as the lumber spine, as it must support the body even while rotating. What makes matters significantly worse is the fact that while your lumbar spine is constantly rotating, your legs compress it against the backrest of your seat in order to transmit your paddling effort from your paddle, through your body, and finally - to your kayak, so it can move forward through the water. This considerable force is applied constantly on your lower spine, an area that has no other bones to protect or support it.
Regardless of how much padding your so-called "ergonomic" kayak seat my have, you will always feel discomfort to some degree, as long as you paddle either sit-in or SOT kayaks.
Only W kayaks do not require that you be seated in the L position, and only W kayaks offer a wide range of paddling positions that you can switch to anytime you feel like it.The ability to introduce change into your posture offers to reduce stress levels from particular areas in the body, and provide relief. Similarly, the ability to stretch offered by the W kayak's saddle is highly beneficial in this regard.

Sciatica
The L seated position in a kayak forces the lowest part of your spine, known as the tailbone, down onto the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. The sciatic nerve is formed by nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord in the lower back, and it runs from the lower back down through the buttocks to the feet.
Prolonged sitting in the L kayak position can result in pinching of the sciatic nerve. As a result, you will feel an acute pain starting deep in the rear that could travel down the leg.
Being unable to stand up, stretch, or even switch to another sitting position will increase the severity of the problem.

Shoulder Pain
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles in your shoulder, which connect the upper arm (humerus) to the shoulder blade (scapula).
In kayaking, the rotator cuff has to withstand a great deal of torque (twisting motion), especially in turning maneuvers and control paddle strokes. Such force applied on the shoulder often results in injury in the the rotator cuff tendons and muscles.
Being able to change paddling positions and paddling styles is beneficial, as well as changing paddle strokes, but only W kayaks offer a variety of options that are sufficiently different from each other.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Wrist Injury
Carpus is a word derived from the Greek word karpos, meaning 'wrist'. The wrist joint is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally supports it. The Carpal Tunnel is tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel and receives sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms include numbness and tingling of the hand in the distribution of the median nerve, that is the thumb, index, middle, and part of the fourth fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be a temporary condition that completely resolves or it can persist and progress.
Traditional kayaking technique involves repeated, typical wrist flexion combined with torsion, and can often result in carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to minimize the risk for such injury to occur, you need to be able to change paddling styles and paddle strokes as often as you feel like, but the range of change and motion that common sit-in and SOT kayaks present is minimal.
Only W kayaks enable you to switch between a wide variety of paddling styles and paddle strokes, and paddle from totally different positions, including standing up.

Foot Pain and Ankle Pain
When you sit in a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak, your feet are positioned at an unnatural angle, and they serve to lock you in the kayak so that you're well connected to it. This is especially true when you're paddling and controlling the kayak, but it's true for when you're fishing as well.
This frequently leads to injuries known as Pain in the Arches (I.E. the arches of your feet), Achilles Tendon (in the back of your ankle), and Ankle pain.

Arizona Kayak Angler Finds Solution For His Yak Back Pain Problem

2010-09-03T11:08:00.000-07:00

This is fishing kayak review that appeared on the Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks blog:

I have been looking for a kayak or canoe that fits my needs for quite a while.
I love the sport, and find it a relaxing and useful mode of transportation. However, as I get “older” I found that the body does not necessarily wants to do everything my mind wants to do. I am 65 years old, 5’9” and 190 lbs having had back surgery a few years ago.
The hours on end I used to spend paddling along the coast, around lakes and down rivers looking for thinks to photograph, enjoying the views or drowning some worms became a painful experience after half an hour of sitting in a common fishing kayak in the infamous “L” position.
I could not find a comfortable position and after about one hour I could not get out of the kayak in a graceful manner (actually I had to roll out on the dirt) and was unable to straighten for several hours.
I had to either stop doing what I enjoy, or find a different way to do it.
After a lot of web surfing I found Wavewalk kayaks website and was intrigued by the new design and its claim of ergonomic delights. I was disappointed that there were no dealers or a place where I could actually try it (or even see one,) other than in pictures and You-Tube videos, but my back kept screaming to try it and get my mind off my back, literally, so I called Yoav and ordered a W500.
As soon as it arrived, I went to one of the lakes north of Tucson, AZ and gave it a try. The lake was very busy with many motor boats so the water was choppy with lots of wakes. The W handled well and although at times felt a bit unstable, after getting used to it, it became easier to handle and I enjoyed the outing.

The following weekend I made a trip to San Diego and took the W kayak with me to give it a more thorough workout. In the calm water of Mission Bay it felt a lot more stable and easier to handle. I paddled the kayak for several hours without discomfort to my back.
I went camping in a long and narrow lake in the northern mountains of Arizona. I loaded it with a lot of camping equipment, water, food, etc for a 4-day trip, which was too much, and the overloaded W kayak was riding too low on the water, and felt unstable. So the following day, with an unloaded and lighter W kayak, I was able to paddle 14 miles in it and for about 6 hours, including breaks, side trips, etc. without discomfort, something I have not been able to do in other kayaks.
I am using and enjoying the W kayak very much. It is fun to be able to spend long hours on a kayak again and do the things I enjoy such as photography, fishing and sightseeing in the water. Overall, I am happy with the W.

Jose paddling standing in his fishing kayak, Mission Bay, San Diego

View of Arizona river - Photo taken from Jose's fishing kayak

No Yak Back Issues for This Kayak Angler – Minnesota

2010-08-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

The delivery process of my Wavewalk w500 kayak was seamless …I was pleased by how quickly it arrived.
I’m having a blast so far. My back tolerates and actually benefits from using this kayak.
I have significant back challenges (that’s what actually got me to your site via Google) and I’m just thrilled.
I feel good about what you’ve got there.
I have massive back issues that I’ve been working on since a surgery gone wrong about 10 years ago. The ww fishing kayak keeps my core engaged and my posture correct…amazingly comfortable. It’s a real pleasure.
I’ve included a shot of what I caught this weekend…my first bowfin, caught Sunday. Definitely was looking for bass and this thing took a spinnerbait. Fights extremely hard, before it got hung in some weeds…I really liked how I can reel the kayak in to the fish in those situations, I hate breaking lines on hooked fish (yak fishing all new to me).
W. Taylor

"Your kayak design will give me another 10 years on the water."

2010-08-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some paragraphs from a newly published kayak review of the Wavewalk W500 -

My last fishing kayak was a [12' long, popular sit-in brand].
Being a 220 # male with some physical limitations, including arthritis, knee, mobility and lumbar issues, my sit-in fishing kayak was getting very difficult to use. I was thinking I was at the end of my kayak days due to my physical limitations, and this is why I’ve become interested in W kayaks, since I thought this craft will overcome them.
I was very pleased with the W and my progress on that initial trip with it. With my knee and back limitations, I knew I’d be advancing slowly.
I’m very grateful for being able to get out on the water again at all. Being able to launch and land easily is more than worth the cost of the W kayak. I am now thankful that I’ll get many more years on the water.
I think you have one hell of a nice product.
Mike Ratigan, Rochester NY

Over 1,000 Visitors To Painles Kayak Fishing Blog Since Beginning Of Year

2010-07-27T18:36:00.000-07:00

This blog, Painless Kayak Fishing, got over 1,000 unique visitors since the beginning of the year, and the monthly number of visits keeps increasing.

Most visitors find Painless Kayak Fishing through Internet search engines, mainly Google.
It proves that kayak fishing related back pain is a real, painful subject, and that kayak anglers are actively seeking information on this problem, and other, related problems, such as leg pain, leg numbness, kayak fishing and old age, etc.

As for kayak fishing magazines and websites, they keep ignoring this subject, and some even promote the notion that kayak fishing in pedal driven fishing kayaks is great, without mentioning the fact that the person operating the pedal drive uses their legs to push their lumber spine against the backrest of their seat - not a beneficial thing for the back, and neither for the legs.

How Sit-In and SOT Fishing Kayaks Defeat The Purpose Of Kayak Fishing

2010-06-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

This headline doesn't make sense to you if you haven't tried fishing from a sit-in or sit-on-top fishing kayak, just to find that after some time your legs feel uncomfortable, and your back hurts from sitting in the L kayak position, and you're unable to switch to any other sitting position, while standing up is just hype that those fishing kayaks manufacturers and distributors promote, but it's not a realistic proposition - if you intend to stay dry...
In other words, kayak fishing is meant to be an enjoyable, recreational outdoor activity (or sport), and and for many people it feels like torture, while for others it's just so uncomfortable that they feel they can't go on with, and eventually they switch to either a fishing boat, or a Wavewalk kayak.

Critical ergonomic problems such as those associated with sit-in and SOT fishing kayaks cannot be solved by words, and they won't go away if ignored. Marketing hype generated by kayak manufacturers can lure people to kayak fishing, but it can't make them keep fishing from sit-in and SOT fishing kayaks once they realize they're facing a serious problem involving discomfort and pain that ruin their experience, and defeat the purpose of kayak fishing.

Similarly, the notion that you can stand up in one of those fishing kayaks is fallacious, simply because such kayaks don't feature a 'Plan B' - something that enables you to safely and effectively regain your balance once you lose it, because you're bound to lose it sooner or later, whether your fishing kayak is one of those over-wide models that are so hard to paddle, or one of the many kayaks equipped with some sort of outriggers (stabilizers).
Therefore, there is no fishing kayak out there enabling you to stand up confidently and safely (except W kayaks), which is why sit-in and SOT fishing kayaks effectively force you to remain seated in the notorious L position, and endure numbness and pain in your legs, butt and back.

Great Exercise for Your Back and Legs: Rowing Your Fishing Kayak

2010-06-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

When it comes to ergonomics, being able to change positions and movements is very important, as it enables using different groups of muscles, while letting others rest and recuperate, as seen in this review of a fishing kayak rigged with rowing oars from Pennsylvania.

This is more good news for you, if you happen to be suffering from kayaking back pain, circulation problems in your legs, etc.
Note that this rowing setup doesn't necessarily have to replace the paddling setup, as you can carry a paddle on board.

Stand Up Fishing Kayak, and the Benefits of Stretching for Your Back

2010-05-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

All fishing kayaks today are either sit-in or SOT kayaks, which means they're neither stable enough for true stand up fishing, nor comfortable and ergonomic for long fishing trips.
Wavewalk's patented concept is very different, and stable enough to allow a regular angler to practice kayak fishing standing in confidence and more more safely that in any other kayak, including those featuring outriggers.
Furthermore, the W500 allows for witching paddling and fishing positions, resting and even stretching, as this demo movie shows:

More on the world's only true stand up fishing kayak >>

Kayak Fishing and Old Age - The Comfort Factor in Fishing Kayaks

2010-04-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a new report about an elderly kayak angler from Florida who couldn't keep fishing from any type of kayak, because he felt too uncomfortable. In other words, he felt pain - back pain, butt pain, leg pain etc.

This angler used to own a couple of fancy pedal driven fishing kayaks that boasted various 'ergonomic solutions', but those expensive kayaks only made him sore and miserable.
Finally he sold all his other kayaks, and got himself a W500, and since then he can go on long kayak fishing trips, and even participate in demanding kayak fishing tournaments.

The question is, how many more people are there in his situation? - Middle aged and senior kayakers and anglers, who just won't take the physical abuse involved in paddling SOT kayaks and traditional kayaks, and fishing from them...

Faux Comfort in Fishing Kayaks

2010-03-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Whether you're paddling or pedaling a kayak, any combination of footrests with a backrest would eventually cause you discomfort of some kind since you're sitting in the infamous L position, and eventually that could lead to a condition called 'yakback' or yak-back, with different variations including leg pain, leg numbness, butt pain (a.k.a. 'yakass') and so on.
Whether you paddle or pedal your kayak, or fish from it, the constant pressure your legs exert on your lumbar spine is an unhealthy thing that should be avoided.
But it can't be avoided in any kayak that's either a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak, so what do manufacturers of such kayaks do? - They can't ignore the problem, obviously, since doing could hurt their sales. So they advertise their faulty products as being comfortable, ergonomic etc., and they assume that even if you took one of those kayaks for a 15-20 minute test ride, you'd be unlikely to notice the problem, as it usually takes longer than that for the passenger to start perceiving it.

They'll advertise faux-features such as 'new ergonomic design', 'improved lumbar support' and any other combination of words that could convey a false sense of comfort, and get people to believe their problem is solved.
Some kayak manufacturers would even go further, and tell the world that their kayak is as comfortable as a real fishing boat, hoping that maybe some people would fall for this illusion of comfort.
But since kayaking and kayak fishing trips take longer than average test rides, sooner or later you're likely to find that faux-comfort is not real comfort, and you're having ergonomic problems, as you feared you would. In such cases you'll probably end giving up kayak fishing, as many have done before, and for similar reasons, or switch to a W kayak, as a growing number of kayak anglers do.

Is 'No Pain, No Gain' Always True in Kayak Fishing?

2010-03-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows the motto 'no pain, no gain', and most people assume it's true for kayak fishing as well - with a twist: Kayak fishing involves spending long hours seated in the infamous L position, which tends to become literally painful after some time.
But does it really have to be so?
-Not if you get a W fishing kayak, as these new, patented watercraft don't require their passengers to sit in the L kayaking position to begin with, and they offer a variety of other, more comfortable positions to switch between - anytime, including standing up in full confidence - that is for real, and not as some wishful thinking kayak manufacturers advertise...

So, next time you're seated in a fishing kayak in the L position, with your own legs relentlessly pushing your lower back against your kayak seat, and causing you discomfort and pain, remember it doesn't have to be so, and you have an alternative, finally.

What Happens If You Suffer From Back Pain and You Keep Kayak Fishing?

2010-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

If you're suffering from back pain that's not properly diagnosed, you should stop paddling your kayak and fishing from it, and consult a physician without delay.
Don't start playing with foam in your kayak seat or under your knees, or hope that a new, fancier and more expensive kayak seat would solve your problem, because it won't.

Different sports can cause different injuries, and kayaking and kayak fishing can cause injuries in the shoulders, elbows and wrists, but are they known to be especially hard on the back, and this is why you should be cautious and attentive to any signs of a potential developing back injury.

Paddling a traditional kayak, whether it's a sit-in or a SOT won't help you, and it may very well be the cause of your back problem, or at least a factor contributing to it. Therefore, don't procrastinate, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Delaying treatment and keeping paddling and fishing from those kayaks could aggravate your condition, and make it more difficult to treat your problem.
Similarly, leg pain, leg numbness, tickle in your legs, butt pain and other unusual physical symptoms in your lower body shouldn't be taken lightly, because they could be linked to a developing back problem, such as sciatica.

Back Pain Blog - All You Wanted To Know About Back Pain...

2010-03-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

This blog, Painless Kayak Fishing, is about back pain (and other pain) associated with paddling kayaks and fishing from them (a.k.a. 'yak-back'). It focuses on education, and prevention by avoiding using the types of kayaks that are likely to cause back pain, that is sit-in and SOT kayaks.

However, we discovered a blog that's entirely about back pain, from every possible aspect. It's simply called Backpain, and it contains a lot of information about treatments for back pain, medication etc.

Here is how Barmac, the blogger describes her own blog:
-"My blog is all about back and neck pain and everything that comes with it. It starts with my low back problems, spinal operations and things that went wrong. I've also included the different types of treatments I've had from chiropractors and physiotherapists to alternative therapies and treatments, spinal injections and pain management. You name it, I've tried it, in a bid to find true and lasting pain relief."

Needless to say that we recommend visiting it to anyone who's already suffering from back pain, or just contemplating getting into kayak fishing...

Too Much Comfort in a Fishing Kayak?

2010-03-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

Kayak anglers who normally suffer from leg numbness, leg pain, butt pain (yakass) and back pain (yak-back) will surely think this headline has some error in it.
First because traditionally, kayaks are infamous for the discomfort their passengers must endure, ans second, because comfort is a good thing, so how could a kayak possibly be too comfortable?

Well, discomfort, fatigue and pain in different parts of our body appear as a result of our being forced to spend a long time paddling and fishing while seated in the non-ergonomic L kayaking position, with neither option to switch to other positions, nor the possibility to stretch effectively. So basically, discomfort comes with sit-in and SOT kayaks, and those who paddle W kayaks and fish from them are spared.

But when can a W fishing kayak be too comfortable?
This article named 'Resting in Your Fishing Kayak' raises the issue of falling asleep while lying down to rest on the W kayak saddle. This position is so restful and comfortable, that the kayak angler trying it could fall asleep, and that's where the danger lies.

Photo: Getting some rest in a W500 fishing kayak

Do You Suffer From Compulsive Kayak Fishing Disorder (CKFD)?

2010-03-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

The name of this disorder is self-explanatory, so there's no need to describe the symptoms in detail. Basically, it's that urge to take your kayak and go fishing whenever you can, and what could possibly be wrong with that?
People who have Compulsive Kayak Fishing Disorder often describe themselves as as fisholic, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a real problem for them, or for anyone else.
So what could possibly be wrong with fishing from a kayak? It's a fun, relaxing, quiet, non-polluting outdoor activity that disturbs no-one, and unlike fishing from big motorboats, its impact on the environment is minimal.

The only problem is that for many people kayak fishing leads to unwanted physical results, such as fatigue, leg numbness, leg pain, butt pain and back pain (yak-back). Spending too much time fishing from a sit-in or SOT kayak, or paddling such kayaks, can result in acute and prolonged pain, and in extreme cases even in back injuries. These symptoms increase with age and weight, and less-than-perfect physical shape.

But not all fishing kayaks have the same physical impact on paddlers and anglers.
Kayaks that do not require their users to paddle or fish seated in the L position don't cause these problems, even if you're addicted to kayak fishing and paddling, and must go on long fishing trips.
The key is to be able to operate the kayak from a different position, and preferably from several positions that can be alternated at will, so when you spend long hours in the kayak, you're able to relieve stress and tension from your back and your legs by changing positions anytime you feel like it - Stand up, stretch, etc., and such are the new, patented Wavewalk fishing kayaks

So if you consider yourself as having Compulsive Kayak Fishing Disorder (CKFD), you shouldn't necessarily give up your addiction, but rather make sure it doesn't hurt you.

Kayak Back Pain - Why Is Everybody Silent About It?

2010-03-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

Just a quick thought -
It took many decades before doctors began investigating the effect of smoking on their patients' health, and it took even longer before a causal link was firmly established between smoking and certain lung and heart diseases.
This is although anyone could see that people who smoked had more breathing and lung problems then those who didn't, and suffered from more heart problems as well as deteriorated health.
In the beginning, cigarette manufacturers promoted their products as being healthy, and later as 'cool', 'in' and socially appealing. The data related to health problems was concealed, and when anyone brought it up, cigarette manufactures would ignore or dismiss it, but that didn't prevent them from offering low-tar, low nicotine and other types of 'healthier' cigarettes that were far from being healthy, unfortunately.

This is reminding of the situation with kayak seats designed for the traditional L kayaking position: Everybody knows they are uncomfortable and cause back pain, and in some cases may even cause certain injuries, but nobody wants to admit it, or investigate it.
Everybody knows there's a link between kayaking and fishing in the L position and leg numbness, discomfort, fatigue and pain. However, that doesn't prevent kayak and kayak-seat manufacturers from offering kayak seats that are promoted as being 'ergonomic', although they don't really solve any problem.
It's possible to say that the equivalent of the 'improved' cigarette filter is the extra padding in the newer, more expensive kayak seats, and the equivalent of the low-tar and 'healthier' cigarette is the 'ergonomic' kayak seat.

Let's say it again: Sitting for long hours in your sit-in or SOT kayak in the L position isn't a good thing for your lumbar spine, your circulation and your well being.
Padded seats won't help you, because the problem isn't related to insufficient padding - It comes from the fact you're locked in a single position and unable to switch to another position, while your legs keep pushing your lower back against the backrest of your kayak's seat.

Don't expect paddling or fishing magazines to expose this story. It won't happen because those publications depend on kayak manufacturers' advertising dollars.

Yak Back Pain: The Eight Hundred Pound Gorilla In The Room

2010-02-04T12:37:00.000-08:00

The eight hundred pound gorilla in a market for a certain product is the biggest player in that market, and the eight hundred pound gorilla in the room is an expression that means the obvious problem no one is talking about.

As with everything related to sit-in and SOT kayaks, that problem in kayak fishing is poor ergonomics, especially back pain and discomfort that prevent many anglers from joining the ranks of kayak anglers, and causing a considerable number of kayak anglers to quit the sport once they realize the problem is intolerable for them, and there is nothing they can effectively do about it.

These ergonomic problems are often discussed in private, or in online forums, but usually the attitude towards them is either acceptance, as something that's inherently part of the sport (like getting wet is supposed to be), or as a personal problem of the person complaining about it, and one that can be superficially addressed with some extra foam under the knees, or on top of the kayak seat.

Manufacturers and other vendors of sit-in and SOT kayaks have identified these serious ergonomic problems, and use them as an opportunity to sell more gear - mainly expensive kayak seats with extra cushioning and varying angles for the backrest, none of which can in fact solve any of the problems in question.

Sit-in kayaks have been used for centuries, and SOT kayaks have been commercially available for over four decades. Had there been a way to solve this problem that comes with the use of these kayaks, it would have been discovered and offered to the public. But there is no such solution, because of the L position and the footrests-backrest system designed to allow modern kayak paddlers and anglers to stay in place and exert control over their kayak through their legs continuously pushing their lower back against the backrest.
This means that as long as a kayak passenger is required to sit with their legs stretched in front of them, there will be a need for them to use footrests and a backrest, as well as use their legs to push their back against the backrest - constantly, thus creating pressure in the lumbar area - resulting in discomfort and pain.

In contrast, the new W kayaks present a solution that frees both paddlers and anglers from back pain, due to these kayaks' patented form, which requires their passengers neither to sit in the L position, nor to use any type of footrests, or backrest.
W kayak passengers are free to switch between a number of ergonomic positions anytime they choose to do so, and even stand up if they feel like paddling or fishing standing, or just in order to stretch. The new W500 series is stable enough to enable the passenger to lie down and rest, stretch, and relax.

Over the years, reporters and editors in publications that cover kayaking and kayak fishing have systematically avoided reporting about either this critical ergonomic problem, or the real solution recently found to it.
Talking openly about that eight hundred pound gorilla in the room would have surely annoyed the kayak market's eight hundred pound gorilla, as well as the smaller players, who pay for advertising their kayaks and kayak seats in those specialized publications.

Meanwhile, a large part of the public is still unaware of the solution offered to their kayaking and kayak fishing problem, and they are not getting this information from the paddling or fishing media.

More Foam in the Backrest of Your Kayak Seat - Is This the Solution For Your Back Pain?

2010-01-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

Can more foam padding in your kayak seat backrest help protect your lumbar spine, and prevent back problems?

This article on Kayaks and Lumbar Spine Problems explains in detail how the basic sitting position in kayaks (the L position) combined with backrest and footrests is the very cause of the discomfort and pain you feel in lower back.
Padding your seat with additional foam can make you feel better for a while, but it doesn't solve the problem, really. The reason is that what pushes your lumber spine against the back of your seat (backrest) is the most powerful set of muscles in your body, which are your own legs:
Your legs are powerful enough to propel you over long distances, even at running speed, and they can also lift your entire body up in the air, when you're jumping.
When you're seated in your kayak in the L position, your legs act as two two powerful pistons constantly pushing your unprotected lower back backwards, against your kayak seat's backrest. This pressure is concentrated on a few vertebrae, since there are no other bones in this area of your body, and there are no big muscles to protect them.
In other words, although the forces in action are smaller than the force required to support your body (I.E. equivalent to your body weight), they are in the same range.
The more intense your paddling and the more tense your body is, the more power is required to keep your body in its position in, or on top of your kayak.
This means that if you're tired or uncomfortable, you body becomes tense, and your legs need to work harder to keep you in place, which means they have to increase the pressure on the lower part of your back, that is your lumber spine.

That is to say that foam doesn't present a good solution to your back pain problem to begin with, and since foam has a tendency to compress over time, even the initial, temporary relief you may feel will vanish after a while.

By the way, if you're heavy, you're likely to feel discomfort and pain in your butt too, after sitting in your kayak in the L position. Foam won't help much in your case because it will get compressed, as will the nerves in this part of your body. Compressed nerves are at the source of phenomena well known to kayak paddlers and anglers, such as leg numbness, leg pain, and butt pain.
This discomfort and pain is not a trivial matter at all, once you start feeling it.

In sum, nearly all sit-in and sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks today are outfitted with foam padded seats, and still, most paddlers and anglers who use these kayaks feel one or more of the following symptoms: Premature fatigue, sore back, leg numbness, leg pain, sore butt etc., and therefore seek a break, in order to stretch, and 'un-kink'.

In comparison, the basic paddling position in W kayaks is the Riding Position, and it's similar to the position of being mounted on horseback. In this position, your legs comfortably help you support your body weight, and take part in your balancing, paddling, controlling and fishing efforts.
In addition, this new type of kayak offers you to switch anytime to a number of other positions, including Sitting (similar to being seated in a canoe) and Standing Up. This means you can stretch, relax and stay comfortable for considerably longer periods of time, without attaining a situation where any part of your body would ache.

Kayak Fishing USA Magazine

2010-01-24T06:36:00.000-08:00

Kayak Fishing USA Magazine is a new online publication, sponsored by Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks.
The magazine is still in its initial phase, offering fishing reviews and kayak fishing stories classified by region: Northeast, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest, Texas and Southeast.

Interestingly, the recurring theme in many of the reviews is ergonomics. In other words, kayak anglers nationwide have problems adapting to pain and discomfort generated by old fashion sit-in and SOT fishing kayaks. Many of these anglers quit fishing from kayaks and go back to fishing from shore, or from full-size boats.

Those who switch from traditional fishing kayaks to W fishing kayaks seem to have found the solution that enables them to paddle and fish comfortably, without feeling premature fatigue, leg numbness and pain, butt pain, and a sore back.

Naturally, different kayak anglers appreciate different things in their kayaks, and the consequently, the reviews focus on different aspects of the reviewer's kayak fishing experience. Kayak anglers in their teens and twenties seem rather unaware of serious ergonomic issues, and like paddling and fishing standing, but the older the kayak angler gets the more they seem to appreciate comfort in its broadest sense.

Kayak Fishing Safety: Is It Safe To Paddle An Uncomfortable Kayak And Fish From It?

2010-01-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

This question is an important one, as thousands of kayak anglers are risking paddling and fishing accidents because of their kayaks' poor ergonomics.

The hazards are many and diverse:
First, there's the danger of being unable to paddle back to shore, as a result of fatigue, and even exhaustion.

Strong wind and tidal current are external forces that could be hazardous to a tired kayak angler, especially if elderly or inexperienced. If your kayak makes you prematurely tired, you need to consider switching to something more comfortable that tracks and paddles better, namely a Wavewalk kayak.

Additionally, overheating in summer, and hypothermia in winter should not be underestimated, since they reduce your ability to paddle effectively and get back to your launching spot, and could even prevent you from getting back to shore.

If your kayak exposes you to cold wind and water, you should avoid paddling it under such circumstances, unless you're willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a dry suit. Remember: wearing waders and boots while operating small boats is very dangerous, since such heavy clothing might prevent you from swimming, and from getting back into your boat, or kayak.

Furthermore, there's the hazard of cramps, leg numbness and being practically paralyzed by pain in your back, or in your butt.

Cramps in your legs can be very painful, and last a long time if you can't stand up safely and relax. Sit-in and SOT kayaks offer only one position, which is sitting in an L shape, with your legs pointing forward and being restricted by footrests. Paddling or fishing in this position for a long time is s recipe for cramps, and for leg numbness, which is not as dramatic, but still most unpleasant, and undesirable as far as paddling is concerned.

Both leg pain and leg numbness are also dangerous because they prevent you from balancing and maneuvering your kayak efficiently.

Pain in your back or butt is dangerous, since it can literally cripple you, and compromise your paddling efforts. Moreover, you might find yourself close to shore and still unable to beach your kayak, or get out of it, as Don, this California kayak angler describes in his kayak review:

-"I fished for 8 years in an [Brand, Model]. The "L" sitting position and it's effect on my back is what finished standard kayaking for me... One day I beached the bow of that 16 footer and was still about 10-12 feet out in the water where I was sitting. I discovered I couldn't move my legs. Getting out of that thing without causing all kinds of laughter from spectators was one of my greatest physical accomplishments.
I was sure I'd avoid those scenarios with the"W", and I could hardly wait to find out all the wonderful differences."
Read this entire kayak review >>

This is not a rare example, and in fact many people report experiencing similar things with their sit-in and SOT kayaks.

Actually, most kayakers and kayak anglers have grown used to frequently stopping their paddling and fishing, just to go on shore an 'unkink'. This 'unkinking' basically means stretching, and allowing some rest for the sore back and aching legs. Stretching your legs and back improves circulation, and relaxes muscles and tendons.

Some kayak fishermen in warm regions just stand in the water, if it's shallow enough. If such frequent ergonomic stops are impossible, the only solution anglers face is to cut short their fishing trip, and paddle back to their launching spot.

The combination of back pain or leg pain and cold is dangerous because the cold further contracts your muscles, and thus increases the pain, and therefor makes it harder for you to paddle.

Paddling in intense heat, especially if you've suffered from a sun stroke or dehydration is dangerous if you have pains, because such combination can increase the danger of premature fatigue and exhaustion.

More on kayak fishing pains

Kayak Angler's Reflexions on Kayak Fishing, Old Age, and Sore Backs

2010-01-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

The following paragraph is taken from a new kayak fishing trip report written by Florida kayak angler Jeff McGovern:

A really remarkable thing that struck me about this whole day was the comfort we had fishing from these boats. None of us are young men –I am the youngest at 55, both Ed and Gary are the 70 year old range. Between us there have been back issues ranging from simple sciatic problems to major surgeries. To a man, the W500 is a boat we could use easily and comfortable. In any other fishing kayaks, our range would not have been as great and there would have been many more stops to get out for unkinking. This trip was only the start. There will be many more to come, fishing the waters off Florida’s west coast in the world’s most comfortable and fishable paddle craft."

The important point is that elderly kayak anglers may be more aware of health problems, including back pain, leg pain etc., as they've had more opportunities to experience such problems, but young kayak anglers and paddlers should be aware of those things as well, since sooner or later they will experience them to some extent.

That is to say that prevention is the best cure, and if you feel uncomfortable paddling a sit-in or SOT kayak or fishing from such a kayak, it's basically because it's not a well designed watercraft, and sooner or later it would make you feel worse: Those things don't just go away by themselves, and more padding in your seat and below your knees may provide you with a momentary illusion of relief, but they can't and won't solve your problem.

Read Jeff's entire kayak fishing report

Old Kayak Anglers and New Fishing Kayaks

2009-12-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

Most people over a certain age suffer from back pain and leg pain when they go kayak fishing, or just paddling. The older we get, the more difficult it becomes for us to paddle kayaks and fish from them. The main issue is comfort, obviously, but stability is another key factor.

Problems like sciatica, poor circulation in the legs, and fatigue are more common among old people.

Old age restricts our ability to withstand the effect of kayaks' poor ergonomic design. We feel the discomfort and pain more quickly and for a longer time, and it takes us a longer time to recover. Sometimes we simply have to quit paddling kayaks and kayak fishing altogether.

Here are some fishing kayak reviews from elderly kayak anglers, who tell how the new, patented W fishing kayak help them overcome their physical problems, and fish comfortably:

Fishing Kayak Review By 80 Year Old Kayak Angler From Kentucky (saltwater, offshore)

Fishing Kayak Review By 72 Year Old Kayak Angler From Washington (saltwater, offshore)

Review of Fishing Kayak From Senior Kayak Angler, West Virginia

Review of Fishing Kayak From 67 Year Old Kayak Angler, Florida

Review of Fishing Kayak By 66 Year Old Kayak Angler, Texas

Fishing Kayak Review By Senior Kayak Angler, California

Fishing Kayak Review By 68 Year Old Kayak Angler, Florida

Kayak Fishing and the Pain of Being Wet (Wet Ride)

2009-11-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Paddling kayaks and fishing from them is viewed by many as a pain just because the paddler or angler can expect to get wet, and stay wet for long hours on board their kayak, whether it's a sit-in or sit-on-top (SOT) kayak.

Many people avoid using SOT kayaks just because paddling them and fishing from them inevitably means getting one's feet and butt wet (soggy bottom). For others, even sit-in kayaks are a turnoff just because they require stepping in water when entering and exiting them, and they don't assure the passengers' dryness, to say the least.

An article named 'A Wet Ride - Problem and Solutions' first appeared on the Wavewalk fishing kayaks website over a year ago. Since then, it's been updated, as evidence and other information is accumulating.

This article exposes and explains the various ailments that may result from staying wet while paddling a kayak and fishing from it. Those ailments and problems include bacterial and fungal infections, pruritic eruptions, exposure to various aquatic parasites, diarrhea, jaundice, fever, headaches, muscle aches, rashes, and enlargement of the liver and spleen.

Obviously, exposure to wind while wearing wet clothes is increasing the risk of hypothermia, a condition that in extreme cases could lead to death. This is especially true for elderly people, and people who aren't in good physical condition for other reasons (E.G. recent illness, weakness).

Needless to say, that if you're suffering from other kayak fishing and paddling related problems, such as sciatica, back pain, shoulder pain etc., being wet and consequently being cold is not a good practice for you, as it would contract the muscles in the aching area, and increase your discomfort and pain.

In sum, avoiding prolonged wetness is a good idea, in general, and the old fashion sit-in and SOT kayaks commonly available for paddling and fishing don't offer sufficiently dry usage conditions. This is yet another serious ergonomic issue that is hardly ever addressed by kayaking and kayak fishing professionals, or by paddling and kayak fishing magazines. The common attitude they usually display is "So what? If I get wet so can you, and besides, kayaking and kayak fishing are water sports, and that means you get wet!". In our opinion, such attitude is unprofessional, inconsiderate, and non-constructive. It just increases people's discontent and frustration with kayaks.

As for yourself, if you like paddling and fishing, and you don't like getting wet, you may want to consider a W kayak, since these new, patented kayaks offer easy, dry entry and exit, as well as a dry ride, whether you're fishing from your kayak or just paddling it for fun.

Better Circulation, No Fatigue and No Pain in This New Fishing Kayak (Review)

2009-10-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

This is a new review of the W500 fishing kayak
Here are some passages from it:
As a 72 year old who tries to stay active, I have been kayaking for about 10 years and have both sit in and sit on top kayaks. The problem has been that after an hour or so of paddling, the fun turns to a search for a place to land and take a stretch and get the circulation back in the lower half.---
I have been following the evolution of the W kayak on it’s web site for several years as a possible solution to this problem and the introduction of the W500 really got my attention.---
On the maiden voyage, the first impression was of excellent stability and all kinds of room to move around and stretch or change position.---
Best of all after quite a long paddle, the ability to move around kept me feeling fresh.---
...-But, as usual, the wife ended up catching the salmon. I did net it for her though, and the high seating position and great stability of the 500 made for a successful capture.---
.... that design can extend the enjoyment of kayaking for us seniors for many years.

The No-Yak-Back Fishing Kayak

2009-10-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

This is an opportunity to take a virtual tour of the new generation of fishing kayaks, which are totally back-pain free, and cause no other ergonomic problems:

This fishing kayak named W500, from Wavewalk fishing kayaks, enables switching between paddling and fishing positions, standing up (for paddling and fishing) in confidence and safety, and offers plenty of storage space in its large size cockpit, so that you don't have to turn around and risk capsizing your kayak just to get hold of a fishing tackle or fishing gear that's stashed in a hatch.
You can stretch on the saddle and rest, or even take a short nap - on flat water.

No back pain, no leg numbness - this kayak finally solves the ergonomic problems that plague sit-in and sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks.

Stretching in Your Kayak to Relief Tension and Fatigue, Improve Circulation, and Prevent Back Pain

2009-10-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

Stretching is recommended by doctors, chiropractors and various therapists as means to relief tension from muscles, tendons and the spine, and get the blood flowing better in those tissues. Stretching helps prevent fatigue, relief fatigue, and eventually prevent possible injury and pain, mainly in your back.
In sum, stretching is beneficial for your circulation, your legs, and your spine.
Being unable to stretch your legs and back while sitting in your kayak is an unpleasant feeling that some people experience as a trauma. Many kayak paddlers and anglers feel they have to paddle back to shore or get off their kayak in shallow water once in a while, just to be able to stand up and stretch.
Sit-in and sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks don't lend themselves to stretching, simply because they are designed to keep the paddler, or angler compacted in the L position so they don't fall overboard and capsize their kayak. Try stretching in such a kayak and you'll find you become even more frustrated because of the impossibility to do so.
Some kayak anglers feel a maddening urge to get up, stand up, and stretch, especially those who suffer from yak-back (lower back pain, lumbar pain) and yak-ass (pain in the buttocks and thighs) after being seated for a while.

In contrast with this grim picture, W kayaks offer their users to stand up and stretch anytime they feel like it, in full confidence, and safely - since if they lose balance they're likely to land on their W kayak's saddle, in a stable position, instead of falling overboard as would be the scenario in old style kayaks (sit-in and SOT). Furthermore, the new W500 series offer such a high level of stability and internal space that one can fully stretch their back, legs and arms in a horizontal position, while laying down comfortably on the saddle.
Some people even manage to take a short cat nap in this position.

Image courtesy of Roxanne Davis

Paddling Kayaks Can Cause Back Pain, But Apparently Canoes Are Problematic Too

2009-09-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

This is W kayak review from a Canadian canoeist who has suffered from back pain:

-"The most important thing for me is that I can ride the [W] kayak “straddled” [I.E. in the Riding Position] with my knees bent. I have a back condition that has made the past few years of using a regular canoe painful after a short time out. I must always kneel in a canoe because I cannot sit with my legs straight out in front of me without causing back pain.
I still can use the canoe but am limited to about 1/2 hour before I need to hit the beach and get out and stretch. Your design is much easier on my back and I can easily turn around when I need to stretch a bit."

Read the entire review >>

Sleepless in Seattle, Because of SOT Kayak Back Pain and Sciatica

2009-09-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

"I have back pain and and have to say my w-500 is the most comfortable boat I’ve ever paddled.
I had an unfortunate encounter with a bad chiropractor and have issues with L5 and sciatica now, and had tried SOT kayaks with bad results… but I could see the w kayak is entirely a different story after only one outing!"

This is part of a new kayak review of the W500 fishing kayak featuring on the Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks blog.

Disabled Person in Fishing Kayak

2009-09-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

This is a new review of the W500 fishing kayak from Wavewalk:
It was written by a woman from Wisconsin who's slightly disabled. She uses her kayak for paddling and fishing.
In her review she describes how the spacious legroom and multiple sitting positions offered in the kayak helps her prevent her leg from getting stiff and painful, and how it's easy for her to get into the cockpit and out of it, although she has to use a walking stick.
It's a must read.

More Relaxed, More Roomy, More Positions = No Back Pain, No Leg Pain, etc.

2009-09-21T13:31:00.000-07:00

This is another fishing kayak review about the W500 from Wavewalk:
-"Comfort wise the boat allows you to relax more. The extra width is nice around your legs and feet. The other thing is much more movement can be made inside the boat. At one point I was just trying all different positions backwards and forwards, the boat was stable the whole time."
This time it's by Jeff McGovern, from Florida

Read this fishing kayak review

Watch Jeff's movie:

BTW, Jeff used to suffer from sciatica, and he says that paddling his old W300 and fishing from it, as well as stretching in it actually helped him.
More about Jeff's sciatica and kayak fishing

Stretching and Catching a Cat Nap in a Fishing Kayak?

2009-09-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

Some people wish they had a fishing kayak that would enable them to relax and take a short nap while kayak fishing.

What could be more relaxing and reinvigorating, and can anyone think of a better exercise for your back than stretching?
Well, now it's all possible, in the new W500 Wavewalk kayak.

Three Days Kayak Fishing Trip and no Yak-Back Noticed, As Always

2009-09-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

A newly published fishing kayak review from a Wisconsin kayak fisherman tells about a three day long fishing trip that produced no back problems whatsoever: (quote) -"As always no yak-back was noticed".
It is worth noting that the author of this review is a big, heavy guy (quote) -"I would suggest the W500 for anyone who is larger framed than the average.", and such people usually suffer from more kayaking and kayak fishing related back problems than smaller people do.

Paddling vs. Pedaling in the L Position - Does it Matter to Your Back?

2009-09-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

Pedaling small watercraft has been offered as alternative to recreational rowing and paddling since the 19th century. In recent years, with kayaks becoming more popular, some kayak manufacturers have started offering pedal powered kayaks. These water crafts are propelled by the passenger's legs, who are either pushing pedals (push-pedals) or rotating pedals (rotational pedals) - depending on the type of propeller they are required to activate (flaps or rotor).
In either case, the kayak passengers are seated in the L kayaking position, with their legs stretched in front of them, and their lumbar spine pressed against the backrest.
Do these pedal kayakers and kayak fishremen gain anything from using their legs for propulsion, instead of using a paddle in the traditional kayaking style?
Apparently, using ones legs for propulsion makes a lot of sense, if the alternative is using the arms. This is because our legs are much more powerful, and better suited for sustaining such efforts. However, many pedal kayakers and fishermen soon discover that physical reality is far from the ideal picture that pedal kayak manufacturers portray: This is because of the L position - the same position that makes paddling a traditional sit-in or SOT kayak difficult and uncomfortable also makes it hard to pedal such a kayak.
Pedaling a normal bike is easy for most people, who can ride a bike for hours (on flat terrain) without getting tired, but pedaling while one's legs are stretched forward and apply all their power to pressurize the lumbar spine against the backrest is far from being ergonomic or sensible. Pedaling in this posture is guaranteed to lead to premature fatigue, circulation problems in the legs, butt pain, numbness and lower back pain, whether the legs' motion is forward-push or rotational.
And as for 'hands-free kayak fishing' - the idea that a fisherman could navigate by pedaling, while using his arms for fishing - a closer look would reveal a different reality:
First of all, if you observe pedal kayakers you'll find they must operate a hand-activated rudder, which simply means that one hand can't be free for fishing, and as far as single handed fishing goes, some people would say it is not the most practical idea...
Second, while your legs are stretched forward and pushing pedals, they don't work to balance your kayak. This is why pedal kayakers are often seen holding their yak with both their hands, while their arms are stretched on their sides - This is an attempt to compensate for the lost stability. Practically, this means that your fishing kayak is even less astable while you're pedaling it, and if you try try fishing from it while in motion you'll be less steady and less comfortable than if you fished from it while it is stationary.
Bottom line: Marketing hype and facts don't always coexist in the real world, and you'd better use your common sense as well as your sense of observation before you venture into kayak pedaling and pedal-kayak fishing.

"No Back Pain or Leg Pain, 7 1/2 Hours of Pure Fishing and Paddling Heaven"

2009-08-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is a new kayak fishing report from Roxanne, a kayak angler from Connecticut:
Kayak Fishing Action: Rox’ Battle With A 20.5″ Large Mouth Bass

In her fascinating action story, Rox tells about her battle with a 20.5 large mouth bass - A must read for any kayak fisherman.

Interestingly, for years Roxanne was prevented from practicing her favorite sport, kayak fishing, because of severe sciatica problems related to the use of sit-in and sit-on-top fishing kayaks. She says that the L position was simply too much for her, and the back and leg pain unbearable.

That changed completely once she got her first W fishing kayak, in 2005. Since then Rox has been able to go kayak fishing anytime time she wants (New England weather permitting...) and stay on the water for as long as she feels like.
Rox recently bought a W500 model, that she prefers over her first, smaller W fishing kayaks (she has two of those). She motorized one of her W fishing kayaks, but she also paddles often, since doing so is easy for her in this new type of kayaks.

Hamstring Theory, Yak Back, and Kayaking Ergonomics

2009-08-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

This short article will attempt to examine the 'hamstring theory' about the source of back pain and leg pain in kayaking and kayak fishing, both as an explanation of the causes of these widespread ailments, and in practical terms related to what you can and should do to prevent them.

What are hamstrings?
Hamstring is the name given to any of the tendons at the rear hollow of the human knee.
A hamstring muscle is the name given to any of the three muscles constituting the back of the upper leg that serve to flex the knee joint, draw the leg inward, and extend the thigh.

What do hamstrings have to do with back pain and leg pain in kayaks?
Most people are short in their hamstring and calf, as a result of spending many hours every day seated in chairs, such as when doing office work, studying, dining, watching TV, commuting etc.
Therefore, when one sits in a kayak with legs straight, the hamstring tissue stretches, and that can be felt as pain.
This shortness of the posterior leg may cause stress in other parts of the body. It may compress nerves resulting in leg numbness or tingling. It can cause discomfort and pain in the lower back due to bad pelvis position, as the pelvis is attached to the hamstring muscles.
A short posterior leg prevents people form sitting fully upright in the L kayaking position: The hamstrings pull down on the back of the pelvis creating a 'slouch'. This rounds the low back and causes back pain.
Kayaking in the L position can also cause a sciatic nerve to get pinched . The sciatic nerve is a large nerve bundle that innervates the legs, and it is sensitive to compression:
Short hamstring muscles can cause the pelvis to shift enough to increase the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Pressure on the back of the thighs can also compress nerves, and cause circulation problems in the legs.
Kayaking in the L position may also lead to Hamstring Tendonitis: a condition which involves pain in the area above one or both knees, the biceps, and sometimes on the back of the upper legs. Tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendons that connect the muscles to the bone.

Conclusions, so far
The above diagnosis points to several problems caused by sitting in the L position, and involving hamstrings. Practically, it means that one way or another, most people who sit in kayak in the L position would feel some sort of physical discomfort, pain or injury - sooner or later.
That is simply because the L position is not fit for most people, or as most kayaking instructors and outfitters would put it - they are not fit for it.
This is where it's important to stress that the hamstring theory talks about the L position itself, as if the fact that people sitting kayaks did not have a backrest and footrests to hold them in place, and help them maintain their back in an erect position.
In other words, sitting in the L position in your living room would lead to similar sensations and problems if done for long hours, although your feet and lower back would have nothing to rest on.
Why is this important? Because the existence of footrests and a backrest aggravates to situation for you, as it causes a number of additional problems, some of which can be even more severe.

The hamstring theory - prognosis
In a nutshell, the basic idea is that since your body doesn't fit the L position, you can teach it to adapt to this position with exercise. When your body fits the L position, you'll be able to paddle correctly, that is using proper kayaking technique, and by that reduce discomfort and injuries.

Discussion
This prognosis may be true for some people who possess both time, energy, motivation and initial fitness to work on their power, flexibility and skills.
It's also a path that could lead some people to additional injuries, and more severe ones.
But most importantly, it's an approach that defies the purpose of recreational paddling and fishing by confounding means and ends: Instead of viewing kayaking and kayak fishing as possible outdoor fun activities, and mild, beneficial physical exercise, it relates to proper kayaking technique and posture as a goal in itself. Alas, this goal is practically not attainable for most people, who would keep suffering from a variety of undesirable symptoms related to the L position in itself, as well as in combination with the backrest-footrests system that all sit-in and SOT kayaks feature - simply because nearly all people in the modern world have short hamstrings, as short hamstrings are a typical result of the way we live.
This argument would have been moot, or just theoretical if alternative forms of kayaking and kayak fishing didn't exist, but luckily they do: The L kayaking position as well as the footrests and backrest that inevitably go with it are non-existent in the new, patented W kayaks that offer no-pain paddling and fishing.

SIT-IN OR SIT-ON-TOP KAYAK - ARE YOU FIT TO SIT?

2009-08-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

So here you are, considering whether you should get yourself a sit-in or sit-on-top kayak, and you're wondering which type of kayak would better suit your paddling and fishing needs.

Sit-in and SOT kayaks are different from each other in many aspects, but they do have one thing in common, which is the paddling position they offer. It's called the L kayaking position, that is with both your legs stretched in front of you, your feet pushing against footrests, and your lower back pushing against a backrest in a continuous manner. What works to provide this constant and powerful pressure are your legs, in a rather unnatural role for them.

The L position is unique in more than one sense:
First of all, it's unique because it's the only position these kayaks can offer - no alternatives.
Second, it is unique because these kayaks are the only places where you'll see people sitting in this peculiar position, as no other land or water vehicle offers it - not even as an option.

This uniqueness is not a coincidence:
If kayaks could offer any other sitting position (such as W kayaks offer), people would prefer the other positions, and leave the L position to 'purists' and other weirdos. This is because the L position is very tough on your back and on your legs.
Similarly, although you could sit in the L position while riding a bike, a snowmobile, or a horse, or when driving a motor vehicle - no one has ever thought of trying to do it because it wouldn't make sense at all - that is neither practically nor from an ergonomic standpoint.

You may have already heard of the 'Yak-Back' - which is a popular name given to a range of pain problems experienced by people who paddle sit-in and SOT kayaks, or fish from them.
The yak-back and other problems caused by sitting in the L position are the main reason why people quit kayaking and kayak fishing:
The appeal of those small, inexpensive and easy to handle crafts is huge, but the price to pay in aching back, numb legs, leg pain and butt pain (a.k.a. 'yak ass') is too high, and certainly not worth paying - especially in the long run, where simple pain issues could develop into chronic problems, such as sciatica.

The yak back is a condition caused directly by the design of sit-in and SOT kayaks:
There is no way to avoid it except stopping to use your kayak. Vendors who offers special seats for sit-in and SOT kayaks would tell you that the extra foam they put in the backrest helps solving the problem, but this is a fallacy, since the problem originates in your lumbar spine, and not in soft tissues in your lower back.

Kayaking instructors and all sorts of paddling and kayak fishing outfitters would tell you that in order to paddle your sit-in or SOT kayak and fish from it, you need to be in good shape, perform special exercises as a matter of routine, and work on your kayaking technique.
In other words, what these people say is that when it comes to sit-in and SOT kayaks, you have to continuously struggle in order to be 'fit-to-sit'.

To begin with, whether such notion makes any sense is doubtful:
After all, shouldn't your kayak be the means for you to get a healthy exercise?
However, this line of advice doesn't work because it doesn't address the root of the problem, and that basically makes any debate unnecessary.

So, going back to your initial dilemma of choosing between a sit-in kayak and a SOT kayak, the sensible answer would be -"Stay away from either of them".
Such answer would not be complete without suggesting a proper alternative, and in this case it's easy to recommend checking the touring and fishing kayaks offered by Wavewalk.

Is Yak-Back an Epidemic?

2009-08-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

It is.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Yak-Back could be considered an epidemic, or and epidemic condition-

Main Entry: ep·i·dem·ic
Function: adjective

1: affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time
2: excessively prevalent
3: of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic - "The practice had reached epidemic proportions"

Main Entry: epidemic
Function: noun

1: an outbreak of epidemic disease
2: an outbreak or product of sudden rapid spread, growth, or development-"An epidemic of bankruptcies"

We don't know how big this epidemic is, but we have some good statistical indicators:
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), some 300,000 kayaks are sold in the United States every year. The great majority of these kayaks still offer the L position as the only sitting option.
According to other institutional sources such as the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), there are millions of kayak users in the US, and most of them are adults, with a prevalence of middle aged people (the 'kayak anomaly'), and older people.

Where do these figures lead us? -Since most adults living in modern societies suffer form back problems to some extent, and hardly anyone is fit to paddle sit-in or SOT kayaks without suffering from some impact on their back, it is likely to assume that yak-back is a condition that affects tens, and possibly hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.

It is safe to assume that yak-back is the main reason why so many people quit kayaking and kayak fishing every year - They simply don't find acceptable solutions to their yak-back problems, including back pain, leg pain, leg numbness, butt pain (a.k.a 'Yak Ass Syndrome' - YAS), Sciatica etc.

New, 'ergonomic' seats and cushioned backrests don't solve any problem, because they are irrelevant to the nature of the yak-back problem.
Exercising in order to be 'fit to sit' is neither a realistic nor a sensible proposition for the vast majority of paddlers and fishermen, who rightfully expect paddling and fishing to be the healthy exercise they need, and not activities that require special, tedious physical preparations.

Out for six hours on two lakes and no back fatigue!

2009-08-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

John Fabina, from Wisconsin already owns 3 W fishing kayaks.

Like many, John had suffered from back problems when it came to paddling kayaks and fishing from them, which is one of the reasons he decided to order his first W kayak - a W300.
Here is what John wrote after his first time in his W300 fishing kayak:

-”I ventured out today to try to find crappies or blue gills. I tried two lakes, water temps were in the low 40’s. I found fish but I couldn’t coax them to bite. It may be a little early yet. More importantly it was my first time out on the W with fishing gear. Out for six hours on two lakes and no back fatigue!"

Following his good experience with W kayaks, John became a dealer for W fishing kayaks in Wisconsin.

John is an avid fisherman and camper, who likes to go on long fishing trips in the rivers and lakes of Wisconsin and Michigan. He sent a fishing trip report from one of these long trips he made in his W fishing kayak, in which he wrote:

“It was a great trip down the remote river. Again the W300 opened up new opportunities. It was the most comfortable four hour float trip I ever took. ”

"His back would ache after a couple of hours while I could literally fish all day without problem"

2009-08-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here is yet another back-pain related fishing kayak review. It was written a few years ago by Jamie Harter, a stream fly fisherman from Wisconsin.

Jamie (a doctor in his day job) wrote among other things:

"My friend would come along and fish from a basic sit-on-top kayak. His back would ache after a couple of hours while I could literally fish all day without problem.
Also, his backside was wet while I stayed dry.
He had to slop through some muck on the shore to get out, while I paddled up to shore and stepped out of the front with no problem"

Jamie also wrote about other important things related to his well-being in his kayak:

-"I could fish all day. I stayed dry with no chafing, wet feet, or other annoyances associated with regular kayaks. Sitting a little higher is great for spotting fish and seeing into the water. Standing is even better"

Read this entire fishing kayak review on Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks website.

Jeff McGovern About Fishing Kayaks' Seats and Back Pain

2009-08-13T12:25:00.000-07:00

Much of the problem comes from taking a one time play toy and converting it into a fishing craft: Sit on tops, which dominate the angling market came from craft folks used as water toys. Not much time was spent really in them as much as it was jumping on and off playing in the water. Then when the fishing market expanded and they were discovered people spent much longer periods of time in them and then problems began. The kayak firms seeing the potential death of the golden goose came back with all sorts of fancy padding and “ergonomic” seating all designed to keep you on board in some contrived form of comfort. Entire firms came about who marketed ways to keep people happy long enough to sell the stuff.
I’ve used a variety of boats over the years and this issue never came up until kayaks started growing in popularity. I remember all my years of canoeing and of course you were either using your knees or up on a much higher seat and could stand if needed.
When fishing kayaks hit here in Florida we already had a huge canoe fishing market going. Nobody complained about pain using their canoes. But when the kayaks came about you started to see folks wandering the shore line with kayaks parked close at hand.
I’m glad Wavewalk is bringing these issues to light. They exist but are the issue that could kill kayak fishing as we now see it. I’m sure the next thing we will see is firms every so slowly continuing to make the seats higher and get folks out of the L position.
An interesting note for other boats is one I have in our fleet here. It’s called a CraigCat - a small powered cat with seating that is a modified L position. On mine I have put in higher seats and still ride it upright when I can since the original L position even in a padded bass boat style seat still is a killer.
Wavewalk's saddle in the W fishing kayak may be far more revolutionary than it looks. The riding position in the W fishing kayak is the best comfort seating a kayaker could ask for to enjoy a full day on the water.

Kayaks, Back Problems, Lumbar Support - and the Simple Truth...

2009-08-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

So, you have a problem with your back as a result of paddling your kayak, or fishing from it for long hours.
You ask your kayaking instructor, or your local kayak fishing outfitter for advice, and among several possible answers you're likely to hear some recommendations to improve your seat's lumbar support - either by adding foam somewhere (the DIY approach), or by getting a brand new kayak seat that according to its manufacturer is 'ergonomically designed' to offer 'improved lumbar support'...
Your local outfitter might even offer you a deal on a new kayak with a re-designed seat with improved cushioning, and guess what - you'll find a bunch of recommendations for that kayak (and seat) in online discussion forums that are sponsored directly (or covertly) by kayak manufacturers and other vendors of fishing kayaks and fishing gear...

What's wrong with this situation is that basically no sit-in or SOT kayak seat can offer any real lumbar support. This might seem as an overstatement at first read, but consider this:
Your lumbar spine's natural support comes from your hip bones and legs, which in a natural active posture (I.E. walking, running) are placed directly below. This means your lumbar spine's natural support is vertical, and not horizontal. To understand why this matters, remember that your spine in made from bones (vertebrae) placed one on top of each other, and separated by thinner disks of softer cartilage.

In the L position, your kayak seat's backrest prevents your upper body from falling backwards, but it can do it only because your legs are pushing your lumbar area against it. Without your legs active push backward, your body would be slipping forward ('slouching').
In their turn, your legs can achieve this feat because your feet are supported by your kayak's footrests, which are placed directly in front of you - horizontally.

The bad news is that when your legs push your back against your kayak seat's backrest, the backrest pushes back with the exact force, according to Newton's third law of motion: "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."
The problem is (your problem, actually) that the backrest's reaction affects your lumbar spine from the wrong angle, continuously and with a lot of power.

In reality, your seat's backrest doesn't support your lumber spine - it pressurizes it from an unnatural direction, in an angle that doesn't offer your body a way to protect itself. This is why you feel discomfort, pain, numbness, tingling etc. - It's your lumbar spine crying foul, and warning you about potential problems developing as a result of the improper pressure applied by the seat's backrest.
So the truth is that the expression 'lumbar support' is a fallacy when it's used in connection with your kayak's backrest, since in fact such accessories don't offer support to your back's lumbar area - they just stop it from going backwards by brute force that your own legs are made to provide for this matter.
Those few lumbar vertebrae in your spine cannot support such abuse in the long run, and that's why you feel problems in your back...

Kayaking, Leg Numbness, Leg Pain and Sciatica

2009-08-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Pressure placed on the nerve root in you lower back can make you experience leg numbness, tingling, discomfort and pain. In extreme cases it could also cause sciatica.

What You Need to Know About Sciatica is an article that elucidates the fact that sciatica is a symptom of a problem. Such problem is usually something compressing or irritating the nerve roots that comprise the sciatic nerve.
Equally important is the fact that sciatica tends to develop over time, as a result of wear and tear on the structures of the lower spine.
This means that a long time could pass from the time your spine starts having a problem until you're diagnosed with sciatica - sometimes even years.
That is to say that you need to take your back pain seriously and immediately as you begin feeling it, and the same is true for symptoms that you might consider as minor, such as leg numbness, leg pain and tingling. These symptoms could be caused by a pinched sciatic nerve, and this could mean bad news for you.
Using pillows, foam, cushioning and various types of kayak seats and footrests could make you feel less pain and discomfort for a while, but it's is not going to solve your back problem, because the problem lies with the way your kayak is designed to react with your lumbar spine, that is to pressurize it from behind, in an unnatural and non-ergonomic way, using the power of your own legs, which have the most powerful set of muscles in your body.
In other words, your spine doesn't stand a chance to resist such pressure in the long run, even if the muscles surrounding it try to protect it.

Your 'yak back' doesn't necessarily mean you're suffering from sciatica, but it's certainly an indication that something is causing a problem in your lower back, and you shouldn't take it lightly. Seeing a doctor would certainly help you more than listening to the advice of your local kayak outfitter, or seeking advice on an online kayak fishing forum, or a kayaking club.
As much as you'd like to keep paddling or pedaling your sit-in or SOT kayak and fishing from it, being light headed about such things could lead to severe injuries.

Read more comments on this article

Back Pain Statistics - Rethink Kayaking and Kayak Fishing

2009-08-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to an article called Back Pain Statistics that summarizes the facts related to this subject in Western Society.
According to this article, back pain is a huge problem (quote): "Back pain is the second most common cause of missed workdays due to illness and is the most common cause of disability in the United States".

Needless to say that kayaking and kayak fishing injuries are the cause of a very small part of this gloomy picture, but the frightening thing about these statistics is the fact that a large number of kayak paddlers and fishermen come to these sports activities with some prior back problem or sensitivity, caused by either injuries or diseases.
And here lies the real problem: The combination of a predisposition for back problems and poorly conceived kayaks inevitably means serious back problems for a large number of these paddlers and fishermen.
In fact, back problems are by far the main reason why kayakers and kayak fishermen quit paddling kayaks and fishing from them.
Whether the L position increases problems or creates new ones, or both, is not the main issue:
Traditional SIK and SOT kayaks are a hazard for many, and sadly, neither the paddling nor fishing media discuss this issue openly and thoroughly, as it should be.

Your Lumbar Spine Pain and the Fallacy of 'Good Kayaking Technique'

2009-08-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Some kayak outfitters still suggest that good kayaking technique (I.E. "sit straight and rotate your upper body") is the solution for lower back pain a.k.a. 'yak back'.
Well, it's not -
According to this article "Is 'Rotation Training' Hurting Your Performance? a.k.a. "Is Rotation Even A Good Idea" , rotating your lumbar spine isn't such a great idea, and in fact it could harm you.

It's about time professional kayaking instructors and some die-hard kayakers stopped saying that poor kayaking technique is the reason why kayakers and kayak fishermen feel pain in their lower back. The truth is that the back pains felt by so many is the result of bad ergonomics embedded in the design of all sit-in and SOT kayaks. It's definitely not the fault of any kayaker or kayak fisherman.
It's probably not the fault of the people who design and manufacture those kayaks either, because there's really no other practical way to keep a modern-days paddler seated in such a kayak, or on top of it, without using the combination of a footrests and a backrest that aboriginal arctic people didn't need to use in their kayaks.
This combination of footrests and backrest locks the paddler in a uniquely non-ergonomic position known as the L posture, which forces his/her legs to apply strong pressure on the lumbar spine - through the backrest (a.k.a 'lumbar support'). It's a bio-mechanical aberration:
Rotating one's upper body doesn't solve this problem because it's not supposed to solve it in the first place, and as recent research reveals - such repeated rotation is in fact not good for the spine, and could be the source of additional injury and more pain.
Good kayaking technique can improve your performance in terms of speed, but it would be irresponsible or naive (or both) to suggest that it can either prevent or cure back pain.
In order tom prevent back pain you need to paddle a kayak that doesn't force your body into unnatural postures and movements. Such kayak has to allow your legs to perform their natural role of supporting your upper body and providing power for your balance and motion efforts. This kayak should allow you freedom of movement, altering your body posture, switching between various positions anytime you feel like it, and standing up confidently while paddling and fishing, in order to relax your muscles and re-establish your blood circulation.
This kayak exists in fact. It's the patented Wavewalk Kayak.

Kayak Pain and Injuries: Two Approaches, No Solution

2009-08-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Outfitting and Exercise are the two traditional approaches to dealing with pain and injuries related to kayaking and kayak fishing.

The first approach consists of tips and tricks offered by outfitters, kayakers and kayak fishermen, in combination with home-made and commercial 'comfort' and 'ergonomic' accessories such as seats and cushions.
All of the above are supposed to help people who paddle kayaks and fish from them avoid discomfort, pain and injuries induced by kayaking and kayak fishing.
For example, the typical advice for kayak users who suffer from circulation problems in their legs that lead to discomfort, numbness and pain, is to place a small pillow under their knees in order to support them in a higher position. Like other cushioning solutions, this doesn't solve the problem at its root but merely transforms, delays or masks it - or moves it elsewhere.

The second approach is promoted by professionals who treat pain and injuries, such as chiropractors. These people are more aware of the physiological causes of discomfort, pain and injuries related to kayaks, and what they basically recommend are various forms of physical exercise that can make paddlers and fishermen more fit for their kayaks.
Such approach makes sense when considering activities that people can't do without, such as office work and driving. People don't sit behind a desk for long hours every day because they want to have fun, but because they need to make a living, and they don't spend hours every day in their car because they feel it's exciting, but simply because driving is the most practical way for them to commute. That is to say that office workers and drivers don't have a choice but to engage in non-ergonomic activities such as office work and driving.
This is not the case with paddling kayaks and fishing from them, since people are not forced to paddle and fish - they do it for fun and relaxation. Therefore, the idea that kayakers and kayak fishermen should spend time exercising at home or in fitness clubs in order to protect their bodies from physical injuries that occur as a result of leisure activities performed in kayaks doesn't make much sense to most people. Indeed, why should you waste time, energy and money exercising your body to fit a certain product just because you feel like going on water, or fishing, or both?

Paddling itself should be your healthy physical exercise, and the same is true for kayak fishing.
If sit-in and SOT kayaks require that you exercise at home or in gym in order to protect your body from injuries that are likely to occur while paddling and fishing from such kayaks, then the sensible approach would be to avoid using them, and look elsewhere.
This is a matter of common sense: Your kayak should fit you, and not vice versa.
If you're not in great shape (most people aren't...) you'd better get a kayak that would help you get into shape naturally and pleasantly, without exposing you to the common kayaking injuries, especially in your back.
Such kayak should not force you into a single posture that's uncomfortable and potentially harmful to your back. It should offer your spine support from your own legs and in a natural angle, with freedom of motion and change, and not from a padded plastic accessory that continuously pushes against your lumbar vertebrae from the wrong direction.
Unlike sit-in and SOT kayaks, this kayak should be easy to paddle in various paddling styles, in order to minimize excessive strain on particular muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.

Most chiropractors are not aware of the existence of an alternative to traditional sit-in and SOT kayaks. The good news is that such kayak exists: It's patented, tested, and offers a good, full solution to the ergonomic problems that other kayaks simply can't address.
It's called the W kayak, and it is made by Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks. The company's website offers numerous testimonials from customers who had been suffering from typical kayaking and kayak fishing problems before they switched to the W kayak. It also offers several technical articles on the new ergonomic design of this boat.

Shoulder Pain and Casting From a Kayak

2009-08-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jeff McGovern, a seasoned kayak fisherman from Florida made the following observation:
-"I realized yet another comfort issue the W kayak helps solve - I was fishing with one of my regular kayak buddies, and he commented on some shoulder concerns he needs to get fixed. He has spurs on the socket and they need to be removed. He mentioned the sitting down low casting position in his sit on top kayak is very painful at times for his shoulder. The clumsy angles hurt, and he is far better standing in the water and wade fishing. This man is only like 25 years old, so pain is not just for older people.
In comparison, the W kayak offers an obvious advantage in power casting. It's a side I had never thought about before: pain in casting from the low L position."

To put this issue in a broader perspective, the readers should try asking themselves the following question:
-"From all people who fish from shore or from fishing boats, how many cast their lines sitting in the L position? ... Who would do such a thing voluntarily, if they had another sitting option, or if the could stand up and cast?"

The obvious answers are: nobody does, and nobody would ever do it.

In other words, the L kayak fishing position cannot be considered as being even remotely appropriate for angling - It's just that SIK and SOT kayaks don't offer fishermen any other realistic option, and since these kayaks are cheaper and easier to handle than fishing boats, many people are putting up with yet another inconvenience these kayaks impose on them.

As Jeff pointed, this is not a problem in W kayaks, since the riding and standing positions these new kayaks offer are naturally comfortable and powerful.

More about shoulder pain in kayak fishing and casting.

Lumbar Spine and Kayak Back Pain: Facts

2009-08-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

The term 'Lumbar Support' appears frequently in discussions about kayak fishing and paddling related back pain. The underlying assumption in those discussions is that the lumbar area of your back (lumbar spine) requires adequate support, and if such support is provided your back pain will disappear, or at least become tolerable.

What is the Lumbar Spine?

Here is a short definition we found in a dictionary:

(lumbar)

▸ adjective: of or relating to or near the part of the back between the ribs and the hipbones ("Lumbar vertebrae")

Read more about the Lumbar Spine

As you can see, the lumbar spine consists of rigid vertebrae and more flexible cartilage between them. This part of the spine supports the combined weight of the upper part of the body, including the torso, head and arms, and it is normally supported by the massive structure of the hip bones below.
In other words, in its natural state, there is nothing that pushes, holds, or supports the lumbar spine from any direction except from its top and bottom, and what holds it in this normal position are the muscles around it.

How Did the Lumbar Spine Become a Problem for Kayak Fishermen and Paddlers?

The native people of the arctic, who originally created the first kayaks were used to sit down on the floor with their legs stretched forward, and therefore didn't have any use for additional support for their lumbar spine. This is why native kayaks did not feature a backrest, or any other 'lumbar support'.
When Westerners began paddling those aboriginal kayaks they noticed they had problems staying upright with their legs stretched forward, in the posture known as the L position. This is because they were not used to sitting in this position in everyday life, and the muscles in their body weren't adjusted to it. Rather than adjusting the paddler to the kayak, designers and manufacturers decided it would be easier to try and adapt the kayak to the paddler, and introduced a combination of backrest and footrests designed to lock the kayakers in the L position, and prevent their upper body from 'falling' backward or sliding forward ('slouching').
The kayak paddler, or fisherman is effectively 'supported' by three rigid points anchored in the kayak: two footrests and one back rest. By continuously pushing against those three points, the kayak fisherman's legs provide the power necessary to maintain his body in its place, and in the required posture.

How Does the L Posture Affect the Lumbar Spine?

Your legs have the most powerful set of muscles in your body, capable of making you run, jump and kick. When you're locked in the L position, your legs are constantly pushing against the kayak's footrests, as well as against your lumbar spine, which is 'supported' by the backrest behind it.
This strong, continuous pressure on your lumbar spine comes from an unnatural angle, that is from the backrest behind it. There is no way for you to stop it or relieve it as long as you're in this position, which is the only one that sit-in and sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks are designed to offer.
Effectively, when you're paddling such kayak or fishing from it, the only way for you to relieve the pressure is to get out of the kayak, stand up and stretch, walk, etc.

How Does it Lead to Pain, and to the 'Yak Back' Syndrome?

Getting out of the kayak in order to relieve the pressure on your lower back is not a realistic option in most cases, and this is why most kayak fishermen and paddlers keep sitting in their kayaks although they feel a growing discomfort, and eventually pain in their backs.
This pain is known as 'Yak Back', and most people who paddle sit-in and SOT kayaks for periods longer than an hour experience it sooner or later, to some extent.
The pain is the result of the abnormal pressure on the cartilage rings, and the contraction of the the muscles in this area as a result of the effort they have to make in order to prevent back (spine) injuries, or at least minimize them.
Try to imagine the fight between the extremely powerful legs pushing your lumbar spine against the backrest behind you, and the much less powerful muscles in your lower back that are trying to protect your spine, and prevent it from being damaged.
Luckily for you, your lower back would soon enough start to 'scream' that it's being hurt, or in other words - you're going to feel pain. This pain should tell you to stop this unhealthy struggle between your legs and your back, before your back gets seriously injured.
Ignoring the pain at any given moment would result in the aggravation of the problem, that is to more pain, and eventually to a more severe back injury that would take you a longer time to recover from.

How much pressure do your legs exert on your lower back (lumbar spine) in the L position?

We've measured 40 to 60 lbs in adults.
You can try and measure the pressure yourself, using a bathroom scale positioned vertically between your lower back and your kayak backrest: Have someone stand behind you and read the dial for you.
It's bad news for your lower back, considering the pressure is constant, and you can't avoid it.
It's even worse news considering the fact that effectively, this pressure is applied on a few lumbar vertebrae and cartilage discs that are badly positioned to resist it in such angle.
In terms of lbs per square inch, these pressure figures would be impressive, as well as most alarming.

Proper Paddling Technique, Cushioned Seats, and the Reality of Back Pain and Injury

Kayaking and kayak fishing instructors would tell you to sit straight in order to improve your kayaking technique and perform the required rotational movements of the torso in a more efficient manner. However, you need to remember that the people who initially invented and perfected this technique or paddling styles never used a backrest in their kayaks, because they didn't need to. Consequently, they didn't suffer from 'Yak Back' - unlike you.
This is to say that perfecting your kayaking technique would not improve your lower back's situation in any way: You will keep feeling discomfort and pain, and you'll keep being at risk of back injuries, and even chronic damage.
The obvious reason for this is the fact that your legs will keep pushing your lumbar spine against your kayak's backrest.

Sit-in and SOT kayak vendors would offer you to 'upgrade' to the latest 'ergonomic' seat, that's bound to more more expensive than the last one you bought. They would praise the extra cushioning offered to your hips and lower back, and claim that such seats would get rid of your fatigue, back pain and leg numbness - once and for all.
The reality is quite different: Special kayak seats have been around for decades, and none of them has produced the desired effect of ending the Yak Back, simply because all seats have a backrest by definition, and no amount of cushioning can reduce the total amount of force that your legs use when they push that backrest against your lumbar spine.
On the contrary: The extra soft cushioning may reduce the point pressure on softer tissues in your lower back (E.G. skin), and by that somehow delay the sensation of discomfort and eventually pain in your lumbar spine and in the muscles that support it. In other words, you'll start feeling the problem when it's already at a more advanced stage, which is not necessarily a good thing for you, if you think about it from your a health perspective.

What Your Lumbar Spine Requires When Kayak Fishing is Considered

Obviously, you need to avoid paddling and fishing in the L position, because it's not merely uncomfortable, but in fact potentially harmful to your lower back, and sitting in it regularly for prolonged periods of time could lead to back injuries and chronic back pain.
Having said that, what would be the ideal fishing kayak for you? -One that would offer you comfort at all times, and the ability to take care of your sore back.
In fact, such kayak does exist. It's the patented W kayak, and by patent we mean a patent for an invention (utility patent), and not just a design patent.
To begin with, Wavewalk fishing kayaks feature no backrest whatsoever - similarly to bikes, horse saddles, snowmobiles, off-road motorbikes, all-terrain vehicles, and other high-performance outdoor equipment. What all of those have in common is the fact that when you ride them it's your own legs that support your upper body. This is good news for your lumbar spine, since it's basically a posture equivalent to walking, or running - since no unnatural pressure points are being created.
Second, the saddle type seat that Wavewalk kayaks feature offers a variety of positions, including standing up, plus the ability to change between any two positions at any given moment. Thus, whatever discomfort felt in your back, or local pressure building up in any part of your body can be effectively relieved as soon as you feel it.
As a result, even paddlers and anglers suffering from chronic and acute back problems report spending long hours in their W kayaks without feeling discomfort or pain. You can find such testimonials in a number of fishing kayak reviews, where they say that without their W kayak paddling or fishing from kayaks would be impossible for them - because of their back condition.

'Sit Up Straight'! - and Ruin Your Back?

2009-08-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

Here's another example of the fallacy of 'proper kayaking' in traditional kayaks:
http://www.canoekayak.com/features/techniques-tips/htposture/
The writer added a picture to his article, and that picture can serve as a perfect illustration to how and why the L position is harmful to your spine, whether you paddle your sit-in or SOT kayak, or fish from it: It shows how the paddler's legs are firmly positioned between the footrests and the backrest, and pushing against both. and while our feet are made for walking (pun!) and thereby don't have any problem with such pressure, the part of our back between the ribs and the hipbones (lumber area) is not made to withstand horizontal pressure, and that's where the real problem is.

Interestingly, 'slouching' is one way to decrease the constant, unpleasant and potentially painful pressure that your legs exert on your spine's lumbar area, but this article goes against it, in the name of proper kayaking technique...
See article about the L position and back pain on this very blog.

Think Safety: Lower Back Pain and Kayaking or “Yak Back”

2009-08-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Think Safety: Lower Back Pain and Kayaking or “Yak Back” is the name of an article that can be found on the New England Kayak Fishing website.
The author identifies himself as "riddler", and is a chiropractor.
The article talks about certain aspects of the 'yak back' syndrome, what can cause it, and the dangers of injury.

The article recommends ways to deal with it - mainly exercise, but the more you read it the more you get the feeling that it's an exercise in futility, basically because the writer ignores the principal cause for the problem, which is the kayak fisherman's own legs pushing his lower back against the backrest.
It appears that at the time this article was written the writer was not aware of the existence of a full solution to this problem, and that's to quit using sit-in and SOT fishing kayaks, and start fishing from a W kayak.

The article offers a good insight into how the rotational motion typical to traditional kayak paddling is harmful to your lumber spine.
Again, the traditional L posture in sit-in and SOT kayaks offers just one way to paddle, which is to rotate your upper body left and right while harming your spine in the lumber area. In contrast, paddling the W kayak does not require such rotational motion, and offers a variety of paddling positions and paddling styles - accordingly, as shown here: Bio-mechanical and Ergonomic Solutions in Kayaks

Fly Kayak Fishing and the L position

2009-07-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

The L position, in which both sit-in and SOT kayak fishermen have to spend long hours is notoriously uncomfortable, and potentially harmful to your back.
Many people are already aware of this fact in one way or another -
A few years ago, this fly fisherman from Wisconsin wrote a comprehensive review of his W fishing kayak.
Among other thing, he wrote:
-"I am 45 years old and not interested in jamming myself into a tube at water level and sitting in an L-position all day. I needed something in which I could stand. Also, I am a fly fisherman so standing helps a lot with fly casting. I live in Wisconsin so staying warm and dry are considerations."

Read his fishing kayak review

The L Kayak Posture and Back Pain

2009-07-31T07:41:00.001-07:00

The traditional L posture that both sit-in and SOT kayaks offer to paddlers and fishermen is different from the original Inuit kayak posture by the fact that native people of the arctic regions built their kayaks with neither backrest (lumbar support) nor footrests.
Backrest and footrests were introduced by modern times kayak makers in order to keep the paddlers and fishermen who use kayaks from sliding forward, but the price these kayakers and kayak fishermen have to pay is discomfort that leads to back pain, leg pain, leg numbness and other problems.
The combination of footrests and backrest provides your legs with a frame against which they can push in order to keep you from sliding forward. Your legs have the most powerful set of muscles in your body, and when they push against the backrest it pushes back - This is simple Newtonian Physics, and it creates a serious ergonomic problem for you, because your spine takes the brunt of this pressure, and it is a very sensitive organ.
In other words, this position known as the L posture because your legs are stretched forward, is unnatural to your body, as well as potentially harmful:
Basically, your spine is made from hard bones separated by discs of softer cartilage. This structure is best for supporting vertical loads and efforts typical to running, walking and standing up, but not for resisting horizontal pressure.
The above image illustrates how this works: Your own legs work must work against your back to support you in this posture while you're paddling and fishing.
Worst of all: You can't switch to another position because this one is the only position that sit-in and SOT kayaks offer.
As much as designers and manufacturers have tried to solve this problem by cushioning their kayak seats, it is impossible to solve the problems caused by this flawed design this way because your spine in your lower back is the only hard object between your pelvis and your rib cage, and that's exactly where the pressure is focused.

Another problem created by the L kayak posture is the vertical pressure on your tailbone and butt, as can be seen in this image:

The combined weight of your upper body with some weight of your thighs is pressing your posterior down, right in the area where your sciatic nerve is located.
Here again, your legs can't support this effort, but on the contrary - they are made tom play a role that aggravates the problem.
This constant pressure causes disruptions in the normal blood circulation to your legs, often felt as leg numbness and leg pain.
It can also harm your lower back, as your legs push harder in vain, trying to change their position and relive the the pressure on the sciatic nerve.

As you can see, this explains why so many people who use kayaks for touring and for fishing feel uncomfortable in their kayaks, and why a considerable number of them suffers from back pain and even back injuries.
Needless to say, that paddling and fishing in this position leads to premature fatigue.

Kayak Fishing Trip Report From Kayak Fisherman Who Had Spinal Fusion Surgery

2009-07-31T06:07:00.000-07:00

Norm, a fisherman from Rhode Island wanted to to go kayak fishing, but in view of his serious back problems he knew that doing it with a sit-in or sit-on-top (SOT) kayak would be impossible.
He finally found a solution, and he writes about his new W kayak:
"I spent about 3 hours on the water and again the back was not a problem considering I had a spinal fusion 5 months ago."
Read Norm's kayak fishing trip report.

How to Avoid Kayak Fishing Back Pain (For Real)

2009-07-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

Whether you're young or old, in good shape or not, eventually you're bound to feel uncomfortable sitting in your kayak, or on top of it, the traditional L kayaking position.
Cushioning your fishing kayak's seat can't help much simply because your legs will keep pushing your back against the backrest, and there's no way for you to change positions.
So what's the solution?
The solution is to use a totally different, patented kayak that enables your legs to support your body in a natural posture, that is from below.
Here's is how it works: The Riding Position That Eliminates Kayak Fishing Back Pain
In addition, this new fishing kayak offers you to switch between different positions, including standing up. This means you can improve your blood circulation, stretch, get up, and reduce fatigue to a minimum.

Back Pain in Kayak Fishing - The Design Perspective

2009-07-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

Kayaks are very old boat designs, but modern kayaks and fishing kayaks are significantly different from the kayaks that native people of the arctic created and used.
Modern kayak paddlers and fishermen are different from native kayakers: They are heavier and less in shape.
The online article called 'The Evolution of the Kayak' discusses these things, among others, from a kayak design perspective.
This is a link to the part that talks about ergonomics in kayak design:
Ergonomics: From a single, uncomfortable position to the freedom to choose from a variety of ergonomic positions

Kayaking, Back Pain and Leg Numbness

2009-07-30T14:56:00.001-07:00

This is a link to the first part on an online article by that name. The article examines the causes for these common symptoms that so many kayak paddlers and fishermen complain about, the solutions that don't work, and those who do.

Back Pain, Good Posture and Kayak Fishing

2009-07-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

Back Pain, Good Posture and Kayak Fishing is a short article published on Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks' blog.
Here too, the comments are most interesting.

Back Pain: The Best Kept Secret in Kayak Fishing

2009-07-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

When you visit kayak fishing websites and online discussion forums back pain is seldom discussed, and if happens to be mentioned the participants tend to brush off the complaints by suggesting that it's either a problem that comes with the sport, or something that a new kayak-seat model or brand would solve.

This blog post discusses the issues related to back pain in kayak fishing. The comments are particularly interesting.

Sciatic Nerve Problems, Back Pain, and Kayak Fishing

2009-07-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Jeff McGovern, a famous kayak fisherman from Florida writes:
"That sciatic nerve issue has been pain.
However a few hours in the W kayak today was almost a cure. It must be the upright position combined with the paddling that does it.
According to everything I’ve been reading from trainers and alike exercise is the key. I Don’t know why but I feel so much better after time in the W kayak - the W is really something."

Read the whole post on the Wavewalk Fishing Kayaks blog

Circulation Problems and Back Pain in Kayaks

2009-07-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

A kayak paddler from Mississippi writes:

"I have circulation problems, and also a history of occasional low back pain. In consequence, while I love small paddle boats, until now every one I’ve owned and/or tried (quite a few) has presented me with serious drawbacks to their use and enjoyment. Sea kayaks cause my legs to fall asleep, thus rendering graceful exits not only impossible but occasionally highly embarrassing. Recreational kayaks’ large cockpits, while facilitating entry, exit, and leg movement, are at risk of swamping in the Mississippi Sound where I normally paddle, as are canoes. Sit on top kayaks are wet, and due to their high center of gravity typically have shallow seats which are even less comfortable than those of a sea kayak. All the aforementioned boats also create issues for my lower back after a few hours of paddling."

Read his entire kayak review

Back on the Saddle With a New Fishing Kayak

2009-07-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

This kayak fisherman from California writes: -"I discovered I couldn't move my legs. Getting out of that thing [sit-in kayak] without causing all kinds of laughter from spectators was one of my greatest physical accomplishments."
As much as people to keep paddling and fishing their kayaks, there comes a point where they have to give up. Read the entire fishing kayak review .

Kayak Fly Fishing With No Back Pain

2009-07-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

This fishing kayak review is from a fly kayak fisherman from Pennsylvania, who has been having a lot of problems with his back, to a point where he had to give up kayak fishing - or switch to a new type of fishing kayak that offers a true solution for the yak back.

And from the same kayak fisherman, this is another testimonial about back problems and kayak fishing.

No Pain and Much to Gain for This Kayak Fisherman

2009-07-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

This is a fishing kayak review by a kayak fisherman from Rhode Island who's been suffering from severe back condition that prevents him from using any any sit-in or SOT fishing kayak.

No More Back Pain With This Kayak

2009-07-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

This is a kayak review from a guy who suffers from an acute, chronic problem in his back. The pain got so bad that he had to stop paddling his sit-in kayak, and look for an alternative, which he seems to have found now.
Quote:
-"After suffering from sciatica that developed after using my single hull kayak earlier this year, I searched for a more comfortable boat. Not only did I find the Wavewalk, I was immediately taken with its unique design that allows people like me with degenerative disk disease (I’m fifty-one) to lay back and rest, sit up straight or even stand and stretch out.
Kayaking is not for everyone but the Wavewalk opens the door for so many people that may have tried the sport and then gave it up because it just plain hurts their back. I’ve got a crushed disk that hates it when I stick my legs forward and then try to paddle as in a single hulled boat. The “saddle” combined with the twin hulls in the Wavewalk is a great invention.
I took the boat into the inner harbor in Buffalo. I didn’t try to lift it myself, I’ve got to be careful about such things. I brought along two extra items, a little waterproof pad to sit on, and a camera box on a leash. Attached are some pictures taken on my second day out. I spent the entire morning in the boat without back pain. The next day I was fine–no sciatica.
PS, I drove nine hundred miles in two days to try this boat, to be sure it was right. I’m glad I bought it. I’m “back” in the water again…"

New Kayak Fishing Website

2009-07-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

This new website called has tons of kayak fishing related articles, online movies and links on it.
This website Kayak Fishing USA is dedicated to kayak fishing, kayak fishermen, and fishing kayaks.
You'll find in it technical advice on paddling and fishing, rigging and outfitting, fishing tackle and gear, as well as pictures, videos, stories, news, articles and reports, kayak reviews, and a blog.

Kayak Fishing Without Pain

2009-07-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Kayak fishing is increasing in popularity, but it's still a pain for people who fish from sit-in kayaks (SIK) and from sit-on-top (SOT) kayaks, which consist the majority of kayaks.

This blog is dedicated to all those who are considering fishing from kayaks, those who have tried kayak fishing but stopped because of the ergonomic problems associated with this sport, and to the people who keep fishing from such inadequate fishing kayaks although they are suffering from various pains in their back, legs and butt - a condition generally called 'yak back'.

To begin with, we recommend this comprehensive article about kayak ergonomics