Studies into the impact of surfing on our bodies have shown that injuries to the lower back and neck account for the majority of medical mishaps through surfing.
When we paddle we arch our backs to lift our chest away from the deck of the board to facilitate efficient paddling. Weakness in our mid back extensor muscles can cause us to hyper extend our neck as we look to where we’re paddling to, and also into our lower back. This can lead to the vertebrae of the lower back bunching together, making it more suceptible to injury as we throw ourselves around in the surf! It also affects our posture and the orientation of our pelvis.
Strengthening all of the muscle groups in your core, countering the tight muscles in your lower back, stretching out the paddling muscles in your back, and giving your shoulder rotator cuff muscles some love, will help you to reduce your chances of injury. Less injuries equals more surfing!