Surfing Waves

Sorry there is no clear question to this topic, I seem to of answered it myself as I was writing it.

I keep getting this returning injury on my right side of my ribs. I believe it to be a muscle strain, as I have been to the doctors about it who checked to see if anything was broken, if it was coming from the lungs, but that was all safe. So basically, I keep pulling that muscle.

My warm up is normally about 2 minutes of random stretching then most the time I run down to the tide for that little bit extra. But this doesn't seem to be enough, or I need to figure out the right stretches.

It totally puts me out of action when it happens, and will hurt for a good four days. I won't be able to go back in until at least 2 weeks, which I know is pushing it but I get so fed up without surfing.

I've only been surfing for a year. I'm working on it hard and learning fast. I've done Snowboarding and Wakeboarding in the past but I can safley say, neither is as physically demanding as surfing when your fighting past that break on the good days or paddling hard to catch waves on those not so good days. I've got to the point where i'm trying to perfect or link that bottom turn on a shortboard, and i'm quite proud of my progress so far. However, this pain in my side is seriously holding me back. I don't know why i'm being bullied with this, I see so many people get out their cars, suit up and go straight in without so much as a single twist or flap of the arm. I guess those people are either cyborgs or they are not going past the broken waves.

During my downtime I thought of doing the cat stretch, as from my experience it must be the ultimate surfers warm-up exercise. It'll probably help even if I look silly. Or maybe i'm trying to get myself to do things which my body is not yet ready for?

I have a lot of respect for the sport, but having started it somewhat late (26) i'm trying hard to acheive in a year what it's taken some to learn in their lifetime. But now I see what happens when you try and do that.

Hi Tris,

You have kind of answered your own question in that a new activity will strain all sorts of muscles you have previously taken for granted, and you're really going for it....but this is a reoccuring specific problem, not just all round "phew that was hard work, cor my body aches now' type of stuff. I started surfing not much earlier than you, Im very unfit and generally neglect my health, I spent less time surfing in the last year than you probably have in the last month - I still wouldnt expect that acute kind of problem described if I had been surfing as much.

You probably need to see a specialist of some sort (chiropractor/oesteopath - I prefer the latter) who can get to the root cause of the problem and commence treatment. When they do, they will be able to help you out with exercises and address your posture issues. Posture is usually the cause of the issue, mine is terrible (she says slouching in the chair, cross legged (with a hip ache)) so perhaps try some yoga and pilates and concentrate on using your core for balance - not your back and side muscles.

Apologies if I havent really addressed your problem and just rambled, I do that a lot. Especially when Ive been to the pub after work, like tonight

Found a good free yoga class site - you do have to register to access but its free and I like it, so you may like to take a look:

http://www.doyogawithme.com
Good luck

Thanks for the reply above.

I think it needs to be addressed. I remember when it first happened, I was trying to surf in fierce conditions, constant barrage of waves coming in at two angles with the occasional triple barrled wave (I don't know what to call it, when you get two or three waves right up close together). After being in the water for over an hour I dried off a little, sat down in my car and then all a sudden there was this pain in my side. Since that day it's never felt right. Even when I take a break for four weeks and I think i'm ready to go back in, I still feel it slightly.

Like I said before, all I've had is a quick check up from the doctors, but this was after it had calmed down from rest. He just put it down to muscle strain, but i'll like to know what is wrong exactly.

You mention posture, well, I play a lot of computer games so could have something to do with it.

By the way it really hurts. It's been five days since I last went out and the injury came back. I can't even job a few steps because the pain is so sharp. It's a bad place to be hurting at for surfing because it effects breathing, lying on the board, getting up and paddling. Just no way I can do it.

oooh stay of the yoga for the time being then! Get yourself to the docs and dont leave until they refer you or come up with a proper diagnosis!

Seriously, warm up before you stretch.

Maybe try a chiropractor? I have heard of people that get a rib out of place that can cause bad pain. Just a guess. A good chiropractor may be able to help.
Worth a try.

Ged wrote:Seriously, warm up before you stretch.

yeah definately, stretching without a thorough warm up is the best way to cause muscle injury.

Hey Tris,

I Have the exact same problem but on the left side. Did it on the 1st of sep in some shitty conditions (Gusting 50mph) Ha.

Still having the pain quite bad some times but just putting up with it and a good dose of pain killers before I get in. Saw a cyrorractor about it and she says I have done damage to my intercostal muscle. Google it and also google how to stregthen intercostal muscle. I also read some thing about massaging http://www.pponline.co.uk/forum/talk-in ... ostal-pain

Any way if you have since found out any more info post it up as I could do with some help as the stuff I have been trying is helping I guess but it just never quite goes away.

Jon

It's begginer aches, your body will adjust, just takes a while. I started surfing at 31, am now 44, I still ache a little once in a while, but as a begginer I remember being sore and hitting the advil more than I do now. For sure, even in summer, wear a wetsuit top, little extra cushion, makes a huge difference. Also, I seem to do better with a rashguard under the suit.

Hope that helps

Tris wrote:Thanks for the reply above.

I think it needs to be addressed. I remember when it first happened, I was trying to surf in fierce conditions, constant barrage of waves coming in at two angles with the occasional triple barrled wave (I don't know what to call it, when you get two or three waves right up close together). After being in the water for over an hour I dried off a little, sat down in my car and then all a sudden there was this pain in my side. Since that day it's never felt right. Even when I take a break for four weeks and I think i'm ready to go back in, I still feel it slightly.

Like I said before, all I've had is a quick check up from the doctors, but this was after it had calmed down from rest. He just put it down to muscle strain, but i'll like to know what is wrong exactly.

You mention posture, well, I play a lot of computer games so could have something to do with it.

By the way it really hurts. It's been five days since I last went out and the injury came back. I can't even job a few steps because the pain is so sharp. It's a bad place to be hurting at for surfing because it effects breathing, lying on the board, getting up and paddling. Just no way I can do it.

I'm not surprised either that those muscles and shoulders are the first for a lot of surfers. Those particular muscles around ribs are very sensitive and back muscles are often the weakest in our bodies. It is of utmost important that we do a warm up, an answer for the guys that jump out of their cars; don't have one. But one thing for sure all of us age so if you want to surf for a number of years, take care of yourself now. I would advise to rest, let the muscles have time to heal, take anti-inflammatory to speed up the process of becoming less inflamed and painful. I think the heal time for muscles is about 8 weeks, if you re injure you start from scratch if not worse. See your doctor!

Ok, I have a LOT of experience in pulled muscles over the years. (now 39). I start only surfing a year ago and have had quite a few pulled muscles in that time especially in the shoulder/back area.

First thing you should do is go find a sports physiotherapists not a doctor - these will know much better what your problem could be than a doctor. If they are not 100% sure you can get a RMI scan done and see (with your own eye's) exactly what the problem is (these scan do cost though). Basically a physio will have 2 approaches depending on their opinion. 1) rest until 95% ok, then build up the muscle doing specific exercises 2) continue exercising (ie surfing) at a GENTLE rate and do specific exercises to build up the muscle.

2) is a little more tricky as you can do too much and go back 10 steps, but is my preference as I can keep surfing (but must shorter sessions)

It sounds to be you are just over using it before it gets a chance to heal correctly, and you keep repeatedly pulling the (intercostal) muscle. Now there something you MUST be aware of is, when you pull a muscle and it repairs itself, there is ALWAYS a fair amount of scare tissue left in the muscle after its repaired. Now this scare tissue is a lot less stretchy/flexible than normal muscle tissue, which means is MUCH more easy to pull again. I think you have got in a viscous circle whereby you're getting more and more scare tissue, and pulling it more and more easy without building up the muscle strength. This is where a physio can really help you by:
- giving you excersies to perform to stretch and build the muscle.
- figure out the core issue (ie over usage, or posture, etc)
- use their skills and equipment like ultra sound to eliminate the scare tissue, and electrology for the pain (and scare).

I am in no way affiliated with physio's, I just had enough injuries in my time (from skateboarding days, to snowboard seasons, to motocross racing for 10 years, and now surfing) to know that if you can find a GOOD physio they are worth the money 110%.

Whatever you do - get it sorted otherwise it will haunt you for life.

thanks for that wjp, and welcome to the forum.