Beginner's getting paralyzed - Surfer's Myelopathy

[waikikikichan]

Please watch this video and read the post about Surfer's Myelopathy. Basically some first time learners, hyperextend their backs and pinch off the nerve/blood to their legs, then become paralyzed. I hear a lot of people say to Arch their backs when they paddle. When pushing thru waves, to just make their arms straight and arch their backs. Those action could be contributing to the impact/pinching of the back.

I have been surfing for 20 years and this is the first time i heard about it. Kind of like how people get a blood kink sitting in the airplane for 8 hours.

http://www.kitv.com/Clip/12317121/surfer-myelopathy

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5556152&page=1

[oldmansurfer]

Hmmm well I guess the good news is you are more likely to be eaten by a shark than get this so........? Deep vein thrombosis that people get from sitting too long and not moving but this is from stretching blood vessels by moving.

[oldgrom22]

Can't imagine how much of a bummer that would be to have that happen, pretty scary to think about. Seems to be pretty rare though and just affects beginners. But I wonder if there are any cases of it developing later, like in those who've been surfing for years or if there are other sports/activities that can cause this.

[oldmansurfer]

I knew some older surfers who had neck problems forcing them to retire or end up paralyzed. I just saw a news blurb about a young girl who was paralyzed from doing a back bend as in gymnastics.

[jaffa1949]

There has been a previous post about this some years back.
There are two areas where a new surfer is vulnerable, the low back as discussed and the neck.
The head up neck position and the arched low back position can in new surfers lead to compression of the vertebral arteries blood flow is restricted, and part of the spinal cord dies, ( Spinal cord stroke) the motor and sensory functions of that part of the cord are no longer available.

There are other forms of spinal cord and neck injury from surfing but usually have distinct trauma or are traceable to a particular sudden movement.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood kink ) is something different it occurs in the venous system of the leg because of long periods sitting or being immobile a clot forms in the slower moving areas where blood is pooling in the legs, a bit like a dam, subsequent movement causes the clot or parts of it to break away and if the clot lodges in the lungs or other vulnerable areas it is life threatening. At its least it causes deep tissue and vascular damage in the leg at its worst death!

On planes and in long sitting situations movement and compression stockings are helpful.
After surgery now one of the rehabilative protocols is to get the patient walking with aids ASAP.

[RinkyDink]

Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood kink ) is something different it occurs in the venous system of the leg because of long periods sitting or being immobile a clot forms in the slower moving areas where blood is pooling in the legs, a bit like a dam, subsequent movement causes the clot or parts of it to break away and if the clot lodges in the lungs or other vulnerable areas it is life threatening. At its least it causes deep tissue and vascular damage in the leg at its worst death!

On planes and in long sitting situations movement and compression stockings are helpful.
After surgery now one of the rehabilative protocols is to get the patient walking with aids ASAP.

I know that my previous sedentary lifestyle has really screwed with my health. I consciously get up and move now, even set a timer at my desk on occasion so I don't forget. Excessive sitting just messes with your body even if you work out consistently. I try to get up and walk around every hour when I'm doing something at my desk.

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/09/152336802 ... 20-minutes

[oldmansurfer]

So deep vein thrombosis is functional blockage of veins where the Surfer myelopathy appears to be arterial blockage.

[jaffa1949]

Yes, briefly. But the migration of the venous clot traveling to the lungs is a major issue.
Compromise of the arterial supply to the neural structures of the spinal cord is the paralysis creator.