Inflatable Kayak Blog

Before any athletic endeavor, including paddling, it’s a good idea to do some stretches to prepare the muscles for use. Since many of the paddling motions are not used in daily activities, stretching will help prevent injuries like muscle soreness, tendonitis, strains, and dislocations. However, in the off season, stretching can be one way to keep your muscles loose and limber even though you’re not braving the rapids or sightseeing on a calm lake or stream in your inflatable or folding kayak.

Stretching is advisable beyond any fitness regimen. It’s something that’s easy to do. (Extend your arms directly over your head … “ta da” … you’ve just done a stretch … wasn’t that easy?). Stretching is also recommended to retain flexibility as we get older, and we’re all doing that.

There are many, many different stretches you can do that are related to paddling. If you don’t know of any, they’re easy to find via searches on the web. If you have stretches that you do before paddling, use those and even though you won’t be hitting the water afterwards, you’ll be keeping your muscles ready for your next trip when the warmer weather returns.