I've been really going out trying some new stuff lately, and as a result, been eatin it a lot more lately.

I'm finding that the most annoying and surprisingly painful injuries is neck whiplash. Ill land on my side or something and my head gets cranked from the impact.

Feels fine right after and I keep on rollin, but the next morning, my neck hurts so bad I have to use my hand to lift my head off my pillow to sit up in bed and I walk around like frankenstein for the next 2 days...

Anyone have a cure or at least something that helps?

I had the same thing years ago. You might want to see a chiro or therapist to make sure what is wrong. I wound up doing gentle stretching and pushing exercises to tone the muscles.

stop wiping out:moon:
Anti-inflammatories like naproxen or ibuprofen help. Light stretching can help. Ice packs for 15 minutes 4-6 times a day can help. Use ice only for the first 2 days they you can start to use heat 20-30 minutes 4-6 times a day alternating. stay hydrated to help flush your muscles out. Find a softer surface to wipe out on.

Yes Doctor, anything else? I can tell your in the Med field.
It hurts when I do this....stop doing this.:D LOL

I got a pretty good concussion in high school, and when I used to bite it on my board I didn't even have to hit my head for the symptoms of one to come back, even years after the original injury. Stetson's advice is right on- a lot of people go straight for the heat which will actually make it worse.

stretch and exercise helped me when i was having a lot of aches... exercise helped more than stretching

cant say that whiplash was ever one of my problems, though

Thanks guys, whiplash wasnt a problem for me either until i started spins last week. Sometimes you get gusted a little more than you thought...... pull the old 270 or 450 and land backwards.... lol no fun.

O well, thanks again. Ill be sure to put all these to use

no solution for the whiplash but if you are under rotating then make yourself smaller to speed up the spin. tuck your legs in equal to a fast spin or extending your legs will slow you down

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Yes Doctor, anything else? I can tell your in the Med field. It hurts when I do this....stop doing this.:D LOL

Yeah, I know. At least I know I am being a butt when I am doing it. If I was at the level of doing spins on my landboard I wouldn't stop for a sore neck. I might try and figure out some sort of neck brace though. Some day I will be there though. Keep flying flyboy! I am sure Carl has had a few days with a sore neck to get to where he is.:o

O dont you guys worry! I dont stop flyin unless the wind stops flyin. Luckily I caught a break yesterday and today, winds have been gusting 45 lol. I think that would push whiplash to fracture lol.

After a good night of rehab the night of and yesterday, Im almost back to full motion, and whatdoyaknow the winds are coming right into the butterzone in 3 hours

Quote:

Originally posted by stetson05 If I was at the level of doing spins on my landboard I wouldn't stop for a sore neck. Keep flying flyboy! I am sure Carl has had a few days with a sore neck to get to where he is.:o

Same happened to me years ago. I also ruptured 2 disks in my neck last year. I do neck specific strength training and stretching and haven't had a whiplash injury in years. For strengthening lay on your back on a hard surface and place a light weigth on a towel on your head (say 2.5 - 5 pounds to start). Now lift your head up with your back on the floor. do this 8-15 reps for 1-3 sets. Now lay on your side and and do the same with the weight on the side of your head. Swithch sides and repeat. Add weight as you you build strength but never more than 15#s. Start with very low weights and don't over due it. The key is to condition and not injure yourself. The exercises I mentioned above were approved by my chiro and PT.

it sounds like you might be moving up the learning curve fast, flying hard, pushing the limits of your skills as well...

but that approach can be pretty damaging if kept up over some time.

something to consider, eh?

take care out there, if you like the wind this much you're in it for the long haul, it's good to be careful about the risks you take on.

Quote:

Originally posted by furbowski it sounds like you might be moving up the learning curve fast, flying hard, pushing the limits of your skills as well... but that approach can be pretty damaging if kept up over some time. something to consider, eh? take care out there, if you like the wind this much you're in it for the long haul, it's good to be careful about the risks you take on.

For sure. Not to worry, I heal pretty fast, and when I don't i dont push it. When its healed its healed, then give yourself the greenlight.

I hope to stay in kiting until I have arthritis so bad I can't attach my own lines, so I will make sure to take care.

Thanks for the lookout everyone

"I hope to stay in kiting until I have arthritis so bad I can't attach my own lines,"
been there, still there, that's what grandkids are for. :evil:
Or it's the pills that keep you going:shocked2:

Not to be a gloomy gus, but...
Whiplash is not to be taken lightly.
Ruptured discs are the next scary ass step, (if you're a cat, scratch 1 life off the 9).
These injuries, while it SEEMS that you recover and can continue your madness, are actually often cummulitive, and have a way of sneaking up on you and taking you out when least expected.
After landing a jump 2 years ago, I looked up at my kite and that was all it took to blow a disk int my spine. Just about left me in a wheelchair for the remainder of my life. I actually heard the noise. Kinda like when you chew gum, and pop a tiny bubble while chewing.
Anyhow, it wasn't that jump that did it, but the hundreds of other tumbles and hits I've taken over the years. I'm not that extreme of a rider, & never had any SERIOUS wipeouts in my life, (so I thought).
Many, many $$ later with surgery, rehab, etc., I can get around ok, but I'll never be who I was before.
We don't have enough info on the long term affects of kiting, but it's without debate that recurring trauma to the cervical region, (the neck) will have nothing but negative consequences as we age. So many things can go wrong with the body via the neck, paralasys, suffocation, etc.
KGB s riders really should consider some kind of neck protection, IMO.
Life is short, so do live it. But it's really, really long when in a wheelchair... So play safe.
Cda

The last several days the wind has picked up and I have been riding alot.

I was just thinking on this subject since I had a few crashes trying to push my skill level.

I was going to do a post if it is better to crash falling backwards or forwards. I know in kiteboarding on water the perferred position is to land on your behind. But in landboarding, if I crash falling backwards I usually end up cracking the back of my helmet on the ground and getting the whiplash effect no matter how gentle the bump.

If I crash falling forward on my side or stomach, I might get skinned up a bit where the pads didn't protect me but I usually don't take a jolt to the head or neck.

Any input?

I've been considering those "Neck Nuts" racers wear between their helmet and shoulders. But, it, and most other protection, wouldn't be too fun wearing during hot weather.

HANS device you mean? There's something either the same or similar that Moto-X riders wear ... check out a bike shop ...

Neck protection that sheds heat well are expensive (relatively).

Google Leatt brace.

It's back to stealing from the motorcycle related gear again. Also requires a Storm Trooper membership guard. Guess you have to weigh it against how close you are skirting the edge, but that's a lot like reading tea leaves....

ATB,
Sam

Dang I hate feeling like the voice of doom.
But people who are seriously injured from kiting probably aren't avidly browsing the forums, so it's hard to keep in mind the true hazards of our sport if you don't see them in front of you.
The Leatt does seem to be the way to go, from a maximum protection standpoint. Also quite spendy. (not the 30K that my neck operation was, but spendy)
I and several healthcare professionals I've talked with think any protection is better than nothing. (obviously)
In my mind I've never taken any serious hits that would leave me a parapalegic, yet here I am, facing a life of limited functionality in my legs, all from small repetetive hits.
(oddly and miraculously I can kite fairly decently, lol)
Yes, it's a bit like reading tea leaves, but not....
From football players to moto-x riders, people have learned the neck is a vulnerable area, and put up with wearing devices that aren't cool. (talkin' heat here)
I have been working on a neck brace for my floatation vest, keeping my head from whipping back while in the h2o. It has it's limitations, so everything is a tradeoff.
It is harder to ride hard with bulky gear on, but sitting on the sidelines from a preventable injury and just watching is lame.
Also, consider major health insurance.
Ride hard but do it safely.
Cda

As I was out today working on MY landboarding skills, (I suck by the way), I realised I was so consumed in relaying my selfish point of view and story on this thread I never really answered the original questions.
After impact, heat, then ice, rest and repeat. (10-20min each)
I take asprin before NSAIDS, simply for health precautions, but take ibuprofin, etc if I must.
There are homeopathic pain and swelling reducers, and imo, you should always do the least impact to your internal organs. (more repetative abuse issues we all should consider)
Slowly and gingerly stretch your neck muscles.
With your body upright, slowly bring your chin to your chest, looking down without bending over. Then slowly bring your head up and look as high as you can comfortably. Do the same thing but with your head movement sideways, bringing your left ear towards your shoulder, hold, then slowly bring it to neutral, then rt. ear to rt. shoulder.
Also, rotate your head around in a circle, ie: chin to chest, to ear to shoulder, to looking up, to other ear on other shoulder, and back to chin on chest.
All very simple, but have an awesome way of loosening tight neck muscles.
Dont be shy about neck exercises as advised. You don't need fancy weights, (although cheap and useful)but you can just do isometric style using your hands for resistance. Be creative in your movements, don't do ANYTHING that causes pain, and do lots of repetitions of said execises.
Lastly, (whew), watch how you take hits.
Mostly in our sport it's best to stiffen the muscles, and tuck things in and forward. (chin, pelvis, knees etc)
But the problem with hits are they are all so unique, you often have to use spur of the moment judjement.
Mostly keep in mint not to be loose and flail around like a whip.
Ride on.
Scott

12 pack of BUD, couple of strippers to rub your aches and :shocked2: uhhmmm. I meant pains.. And you will be a new man ( or a very tired one ):P