Sailing with a dodgy back!

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Simon391088

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Hi,
I really want to get into sailing and i'm saving up for a boat.
However, i've got a bit of a dodgy back.
Is this a show-stopper?
Any comments appreciated!
Thanks
Simon
 
Only if you let it.
Be aware of your limitations and fit, or modify, all your sail and anchor handling gear accordingly. I have sciatica and a couple of fused vertebrae; no doubt there's others much worse than me out there.
Go for it!
 
If the back is really dodgy, you may find sailing on a cat is easier, as you wont have to cope with the boat being leaned over. They tend not to pound quite as much going to windward,
 
I like my old boat .... but !!

You are a commited Cat owner aren't you !!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Just a thought a back brace would probably be a good idea ... as whatever boat you have ... mono, power, sail, cat etc. - there will be times the back gets a bit pulled / strained .... a brace - which as I'm overweight does catch me sometimes is a thought I have to try .... may be a good trick ?>?

But don't let it stop you - we all come to our own ways to compensate ..... go for it !!
 
I had two discs removed 7 years ago, L4/5 Was a competing slalom canoeist, still paddle now and again. The advice from the Olympic Team doctor was to keep my hamstrings as supple as possible, keep streching at all times, the only time I get a problem is when I don't and then all the muscles react to each other and big pain. I have a routine that I try to do every day, PM if you want more info.

By the way I sail as often as poss on a wonderful Trapper 500
 
You have my sympathy as I've had back problems for practically all my adult life.

My advice would be to find a good Physiotherapist.

I'm inclined to suggest that you don't mess about with the NHS unless you know your local ones are good. You'll by start by waiting ages for an appointment but at least they are free. I would ask around and try to find a good private one. In my opinion it would be money well spent but if you don't get any joy with the first go find another.

Getting a correct diagnosis of the problem is important then you will, if appropriate, be given a suitable exercise programme.

I have personally found that regular swimming is great exercise for preventing the problems that I am inclined to suffer from. You may even find that your local pool offers concessionary rates during special sessions if presented with a letter from a Physio or G.P.
Correct posture when sitting is important, you may have to persuade your employer that you need a better office chair.
Having good bunk cushions on the boat is also important. Replacing the originals with firmer ones helped enomously in my case.

One thing that is very bad for backs is sitting hunched over a computer and the YBW forums!
 
Re: I like my old boat .... but !!

[ QUOTE ]
You are a commited Cat owner aren't you !!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
yes, but I wasnt when I bought my cat - in those days I only purchased her because wife and daughter dont like being heeled over.Now I would not buy a monohull.

However, I recommended it this time because I have had a couple of people onboard who were quite ill, both of whom were agreeably surprised by the difference. One of these had a very bad back, and he was a confirmed monohull man who was very surprised at the difference.

I admit to recommending a cat sometimes on these forums when it is obvious that the recipient would rather cut their arm of than try something so revolutionary, but that is to regular forumites rather than somebody with a specific problem, for which the cat might be able to provide the answer he seeks.

120catcartoon.jpg

"Oh Lord, I went sailing in a multihull and liked it!"
 
Hi Simon,
I, like many other have a long term bad back. But I don't let it hold me up. As others have said, you need to identify what sets it off and avoid that.
I've and 18ft yacht and a Heron dinghy.
The jury is out on the dinghy as I think the constant stoop to look under the boom and the shuffling about in a crouched position is not conducive to a pain-free existence.
The yacht is fine. I can sit or stand, moving forwards can be a little tricky, and working on the foredeck I sometimes find I get "locked up" but I use the forestay to hoist myself up.
Tricky manouveres are, boarding from the tender, pulling up or tilting the outboard, and if I'm feeling a bit tender (and I sail single handed a lot) the constant strain of holding the genoa sheet. I tend to take 2 turns on the winch and cleat off on the windward side of the cockpit.

Avoid at all costs; trying to stop the boat by hauling on a warp, or a pick-up buoy, if you've not slowed down enough, abort and go round.

Other than that, forget about the problem. It's excercise, and that works well for most back conditions.
 
Second that about the hamstrings. Keep them supple and stretched daily otherwise they start to tighten like piano wire and cause my back all sorts of problems.

Just got to adjust and constantly use legs to lift/pull things rather than the ol' back.
 
Re: I like my old boat .... but !!

Only very slightly biased then Mark /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Whilst I have neither, I've sailed on both and agree that the ride on a multi is completely different. Would appeal to non-sailors and those with medical reasons for avoiding all the heel alike.

. . Greg
 
I don't see how your question can be usefully answered without more specific information on why your back is "dodgy". There are numerous causes for back problems and without knowing what yours are, I can't see how specific advice can be given. However, you have to know your own limitations and the physical activity boundaries your back imposes. If you can stay within those boundaries while sailing, like I do, then you can sail but you have to chose your scope of sailing to suite your specific problem.
 
Re: I like my old boat .... but !!

[ QUOTE ]
I admit to recommending a cat sometimes on these forums

[/ QUOTE ]

Somehow, I think you have an odd definition of the word 'sometimes'


Talbot's Concise Portsmouth English Dictionary

some·times
adv.

1. Every piggin time someone asks openly what sort of boat should they buy.
2. See Constantly



/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Have you had your back x-rayed ? If not, get it done just to make sure nothing serious it troubling you. Here is how I cured my back pain I got from a horse "incident" while playing cowboy in my early years in Australia. I suffered for some 13 years quite badly. Chiro's just took my money and did nothing for my back. I came across hanging up-side down and lifting something heavy, and that improved my pain by 50% or so, which I lived with for a futher 17 years, when I designed and made a" traction table" and after 10 weeks of treatment, my pain is all gone. Only if I do something stupid do I get a bit of pain, but it goes away quickly.
Maybe that could work for you.
 
I have to agree with my honourable friend Talbot on this one!

I have a condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis which is about as bad as you can get on your back, neck, legs etc.

I refuse to let it stop me sailing. Though I think I could cope on a half boat (mono hull) I think I would have much less enjoyment and relaxation due to the heeling and rolling. The other problem being that on half boats it is usual to climb in and out of the saloon, whereas on a catamaran, the saloon and Navigation area are generally the same level as the cockpit.

Another thing that sways toward catamarans, is the size of the rig compared to a half boat they are generally much smaller, smaller means lighter and easier to work.

Tall masts mean big sails, big sails means heavy sails, heavy sails are generally a lot more difficult to pull up and down.

Just some thoughts.....
 
Hi,
Thanks for all the fantastic replies!
As for my particular back problem, I don't have a specific diagnosis, apart from the fact that it has been on and off for nearly 10 years. I have been to docs etc and have now been made an appointment with an NHS Rhumatologist to check for AS etc as I never seem to have a reason for the flare ups (apart from being hunched over a pc all day - which I have always put it down to!)

The real point is that I have never let it get in the way of anything I do, and just wanted to check that Sailing is not going to change that!

It's good to know that the dream 40 footer is still on course!

Simon
 
Just a few comments on sailing with problems. A fractional rig boat with small jib large main will be a lot easier to manage. I agree abhout cats but a mono would be fine if you are diciplined enough to reduce sail before you get too much overpowering. Make sure you have a well balanced rudder as holding a tiller with weather helm for long periods can get at your back. Or get a autohelm. Mostly beware, ordinary sailing when everything goes fine will not be a problem, but when things go pear shaped we all tend to think a little extra effort will solve the problem and that is when you could hurt yourself. so take along young stronjg fearless helpers. olewill
 
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