Pain in bicep after surfing. Suggestions?

[lachyd333]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced and has suggestions on how to relieve. I get a mild achve in my right bicep after surfing. It is not in the bone. It seems to feel as though its in the lower part of my right bicep. I get no pain in the joint of hte elbow or the shoulder at all, just a dull ache in my bicep.

Best,

Lachlan

[waikikikichan]

1) Do you "CUP" you hands during the paddle ?
2) Is you wetsuit correct fitting ? too much gap, too tight
3) Do you do a lot of turtle rolls ?
4) Do you push up goofy or regular stance ?

[lachyd333]

I push up regular stance.

My wetsuit doesn't feel too tight. If anything it's possibly the mildest bit lose around my ankles.
I'm not sure if I cup my hands while I paddle to be honest. I'm fairly sure I do.

[waikikikichan]

I'm not sure if I cup my hands while I paddle to be honest. I'm fairly sure I do.

That could be part of the problem. Right now at your desk, do some air paddles with only right hand. First cup your hand, ......... see you bicep engage. Do some paddles. Now relax you hand, bicep doesn't flex out as much or even, do some paddles. Do Not cup your hands when you paddle.
"So if that the problem, then why only the right side ?" you might ask. Most people have a strong side / favor one side more during the paddle.
But I also think it has some to do with the turtle roll.

[lachyd333]

I was under the impression that it was the correct technique to cup hands while paddling? I'll give not cupping a go

[OlegLupusov]

I have bicep pain after struggling with big waves to keep the board close to me. It does include turtle rolls and holding with only one hand.

[RinkyDink]

If it's muscle pain, then I'd recommend foam rolling it. I use a lacrosse ball instead of a foam roller for my arms when they flare up. I also just use my fingers to knead the muscle.

[Big H]

I have a large studded foam roller, a hand roller with handles (like a rolling pin) a softball kept at home and one in the drawer in my office and a lacrosse ball. Big advocate of rolling away the kinks.

[lachyd333]

Cheers for advice. I find I instinctively massage it. I've been doing some stretching and strengthening excercisez for the tendons around the area and it seems to help

[SaltFree]

Lachyd33,

I seem to be having a similar problem. Were you ever able to completely resolve the problem? If so, what did you do specifically?

Thanks!

[IB_Surfer]

The muscles from surfing are different than workouts. Yes, biceps, rotator, etc, you will ache from time to time.

Double doze of aleve does it for me, and some aspirin rub if bad.

[SnakePlissken]

+1 for rolling. I picked it up in mma years ago and it is amazing, and works surprisingly fast.

So what was the cause? Did you nail it down?

[Smash]

I’m a beginner so take this advice with a grain of salt.
Every time I surfed I had excruciating lower bicep pain in both arms and shoulder pain to the point where I had problems rotating it. I would rest, do stretches, bicep and shoulder strengthening exercises, Alleve, IcyHot... pretty much everything but the pain would still come after a couple of surf sessions (2 or 3+ a week). I’m about 6’ tall about 210 pounds using a 8’ foamie (i’ll avoid name brands so you won’t think this is a marketing plug of some sort)... The bicep and shoulder pain was so bad that I couldn’t even pop-up after catching a few breaks. So I decided to go a foot larger and purchased a thicker more buoyant 9’ foamie and it actually made a big difference with the pain. I no longer had the lower bicep pain and the shoulder pains seemed to disappear. Another thing I did differently at the same time was paddle for the wave a lot sooner to gain momentum. Since the board was more buoyant I was able to pick speed a lot easier. Once I had a lot of momentum going, when the wave was closing in I booked it. Catching the wave was a lot more effortless (with lesser fatigue and stress on the muscles). I’m not saying go right out and buy a new board but try renting a bigger one out at the same time paddling sooner for the wave. Hopefully this’ll help you out or maybe somebody else who’s suffering from the same thing.

[jaffa1949]

Nice first time post It offers help and encouragement, Welcome!