How To Improve Your Paddling With Thoracic Mobility Exercises For Surfers

Image via Wikipedia

I recently realized my fitness wasn't what it used to be! Due to a skateboarding accident I had to take an extended forced exit from the water. I only recently headed back in and found I am hideously out of shape. So I looked for a decent surf centric workout routine to whip myself back into the shape I was in before I broke my wrist. I found Clayton Beatty routine tips This works great and I thought I would pass it onto you guys if you like me have spent little too much time in front of the Computer for work 

If you want to paddle on your surfboard more efficiently and take the pressure off your lower back, then you need to have good thoracic spine mobility.

The position of your body when you are paddling on your surfboard means your back is in an extended position putting pressure on your lower back. But you can minimize this pressure by extending more from your thoracic spine to take the pressure off your lumbar spine.

If your upper back can arch a bit better, you can paddle more efficiently and it can also help prevent your neck from having to extend so much as well.

Thoracic Spine Mobility Exercises For Surfers

Thoracic Extension on Foam Roller

• Lie on your back with a foam roller placed under your upper back.
• Holding your hands on the back of your head, arch back slowly and gently over the roller.
• Lean forwards again and move the roller up your back just a little then repeat the process.
• Keep moving the roller up your spine little by little until you have done your whole thoracic spine (don’t go up to your neck, or down to your lower back).

.Kneeling Thoracic Spine Extension-Rotation

• Start on all fours with one hand behind your head and your core braced to prevent movement through your lower back.
• Reach your elbow down towards your opposite knee and then extend back up and try and point your elbow towards the ceiling.
• Repeat this for 8-10 repetitions then repeat on the other side.

.

Hopefully you can see how improving your thoracic spine mobility with exercises for surfers can improve your paddling and help prevent lower back fatigue (not to mention improve your posture).

If you want to start improving in this area, make sure you have a go at incorporating these exercises for surfers into your next workout.

If you like these exercises for surfers and want a complete functional training plan to help prevent injury and enhance your surfing performance,

Related articles

• Simple Thoracic Spine Mobility Exercises Everyone Can Perform (mikereinold.com)
• Surfer tackles massive wave with jet-propelled WaveJet surfboard (digitaltrends.com)
• Why Stand Up Paddle Boarding is Such Great Exercise (theworldaccording2nick.wordpress.com)
• Good Posture Promotes Better Health (marcusknowsweightloss.com)
• Surfer rides 45-foot wave on jet-powered surfboard (news.cnet.com)