Kiters elbow

lawnmower · Since 14 Dec 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Over did last Sunday. Any of you 50+ers have a remedy for kiters elbow. Not ready to trade up my T2s for less bar pressure.

Mark · Wed Jun 16, 10 8:46 am

Had that problem several years ago. Mine was from the way I was using my elbow while jumping. Doctor said I had Micro tears of the tendon. Wanted me to stay off water for 6 months..... ummm ok.

I moved on to my surfboard and rode with my other arm as much as possible. Got better and haven't had the problem since.

So advice is put as little pressure on it as possible. Less bar pressure will help. Work on riding toe side with one hand, ect. It needs time to heal.

forrest · Wed Jun 16, 10 8:47 am

I had this back in 2005 and changing kites helped alot. Also, just riding more powered so I didn't have to move the kite around as much helped.

Chooch · Wed Jun 16, 10 8:59 am

I know you really like the T2 but bar pressure is the largest contributor to your elbow pain. A lot of kites have adjustable bar pressure (you get more pressure when the front and back lines are closest), this way you can fly it with the heavy bar pressure when your elbow is feeling good and switch it up to light bar pressure when your elbow needs a break.

tonyb · Wed Jun 16, 10 9:12 am

I used to get pain in the elbows quite a bit my first two years of riding. But then it went away. Thought maybe I just built up muscles or something but thinking about it I did make a change of positioning my hands at the center of the bar rather than at the ends. Maybe that's the secret?

Tony

lawnmower · Since 14 Dec 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Toeside on a surfboard is the major culprit. Flying the kite with just the left arm and the thumb down (regular foot) puts a lot of stress on the forearm. Maybe I'll get stronger, or hit Chooch up for a Rabbit demo.

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jun 16, 10 9:45 am

I got that when riding my old crossbows allot. New kites, pain gone. T2's fly well but you can get the same performance with much less pressure

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

used to get this on my 19m fuel - go figure - haven't had it since - maybe work on tacks, jibes and just ride toe-side when going down the line (might be a cheaper solution)

stringer · Since 31 Jul 2007 694 Posts Chucktown Flying Tomato

I thought you already learned how to jibe old man!!

Nak · Wed Jun 16, 10 11:00 am

Try rigging a bar to use 1:1. You'll have to use a bigger bar for the same kite size, and set it up for longer de-power. A cult bar should work if you want to try it out before re-rigging. Even with a bigger bar it'll take more bar deflection to get the kite to turn. Will it be too slow? I don't know, haven't tried it. But it will have a lot less bar pressure! I've got a bar you can borrow if you want to try the setup. It's a 20 inch bar, I'd try it with a 9m or less.

This might be a good interim solution till you get new kites...

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

I had the same issue with TD2 and loved the kites. I used the stopper ball more and tried to grip palm up and switch to palm down asuch as possible. Like tennis elbow its a don't do it of it don't hurt.situation. I also started taken glicosamene and using my other hand as it felt like someone else was doing it. LOL

lawnmower · Since 14 Dec 2007 153 Posts Stoked

Thanks for the offer NAK. Don't know if I want to give up the depower for 1:1. Sounds like Advil and moderation are in order.

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

could u try wrapping it up before and after u ride?

Nak · Wed Jun 16, 10 7:44 pm

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

A 'tennis elbow' can last for many months to a year or more, and none of us want to give up the things that we do for fun...so we continue with our activities and suffer. Here is a link to a thread on KF, which presents an idea for a stopper ball invention, which would probably give relief to a lot of kiters, who either presently have a tennis elbow problem... or want to prevent a tennis elbow from occuring, due to an overuse syndrome brought on by kiting.

Basically, the stopper ball does not stay fixed in place, but travels 4 inches, when a force of 45 pounds is placed on it, and then, it automatically springs back into position, after the 'gust' ceases. The kiter can therefore, just lightly hold and guide the bar, without undue force being placed on his arms. In this thread, ideas are presented for both an above the bar and below the bar system to accomplish this type of shock absorption and recoil.

http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2374480&p=736653

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1780 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

looks like a finger popper to me

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Mark,

Good point...you would not want to use the stopper with your fingers split around the powerline... of course that would be the case with any stopper, right? Is there a stopper that does not pinch your fingers.

Probably a guy with a tennis elbow would be willing to make the adjustment, and use both hands on the bar.

Wait a minute! Wouldn't this type of stopper actually be less likely to trap the fingers, since the kiter would feel the stopper on his fingers, and still have some time to either pull back hard, or just slip the fingers out, since the lower ball half would still have to move 4 inches up, before trapping the hand, and this would give the kiter some time? The feedback from feeling the stopper would be gradual, as opposed to a traditional fixed stopper ball, which would trap the fingers, the instant that the kiter felt the ball...and got the message...which would be too late to slip out the fingers.