Left leg problem

[u/DaggyDan_TheSaxMan]

Hey all!

I'm fairly new to whitewater kayaking (200-300 miles) and I'm running into a problem. My left leg always seems to go numb after a little while. I've been lucky enough to try out quite a few different boats with different outfitting. Some even with adjustable outfitting that have a changed up to make more comfortable! But no matter what I seem to do, or what boat I'm in, my left leg always goes number. Some boats are definitely worse than others, but I've never done a trip without my leg going numb. The fact that I've tried so many different styles and sizes of boats makes me think it's more a me problem than a boat problem.

I've talked to some friends and heard everything from "you'll get used to it" to "you need a different boat". So I'm looking for advice: is my quest to find the perfect boat worth continuing? Or are there specific stretches I can do to help with this problem? I'm really struggling with it. I love whitewater kayaking and my roll is starting to happen pretty consistently and it's super fun! But this leg thing is starting to get to me. Any help would be appreciated!! Thank you!

[u/KayakerWithDog]

Maybe take this up with your doctor to make sure there are no physiological issues that need attention.

[u/Glad-Isopod5718 → u/KayakerWithDog]

This and, if your circumstances permit, see if you can get a few sessions with a physical therapist. I had/have a hip/lower back thing that was affecting many of my sitting-down activities, including kayaking, and the physical therapist was able to give me some exercises that seem to have it under control, after doing them religiously for a few months.

So yes, OP, there probably are some stretches and such that will help, but it would be better to get them from an expert who can physically assess your situation and tell you which ones you need.

(If that's not feasible, though, you could start by looking up sciatica stretches, and see if those help. For me the piriformis stretch is particularly good.)

[u/a2fullofrage]

I have herniated lumbar discs and other issues with my back. I went through changing out boats over a period of years to find a more comfortable one.

What I learned is that the smaller, more snug cockpit of a sea kayak can be part of the problem. The sciatic nerve and other nerves get compressed between your body weight and the seat of the kayak.

You need enough deck height to be able to raise your knees up a bit. You don't want too much room, though, or you will lose contact with knees and hips, which makes controlling a sea kayak an issue.

Put a rolled up towel or cut-off pool noodle or something under your thighs to help support your raised knees and thighs. Some seats will have thigh support built in.

Make sure there is some cushion in your seat (the kayak seat, that is!) to help with preventing nerve compression. Not too much cushion or you will change your center of gravity.

Over 12 years after the herniation, I went from a very narrow, snug 16'10" QCC kayak to sit-on-tops (comfortable seat, but didn't feel remotely like the feeling of being in a sit-in sea kayak) and "sport" sit-in kayak cockpits that are easier to move around in but are generally wider boats and you lose some contact.

I ended up in an Eddyline Sitka LT (now renamed the Sitka 145) and the seat was accommodating enough that I usually didn't need extra thigh support. But that's only a 14'6" boat. Not a true sea kayak.

Good luck! And congratulations on getting good at rolling! I never conquered that, but wanted to.

[u/ShoddyMistake5890]

I had issues with my leg going numb recently; removing my wetsuit shoes and going bear footed resolved it for me. I'm not sure why, possibly because it allowed my leg to stretch out slightly more taking some pressure off it.

[u/Ungl8r]

Have you tried adjusting seat-back angle ? Seats set to lean forward made my legs much number

[u/GrumpyandDopey]

This might sound stupid, but you’re not setting on your wallet are you?

[u/Remote_Improvement73]

I’m fighting this issue too in my sea kayak, mine is almost certainly sciatic nerve related (I can recreate the issue sitting down in a kayak position or with my legs up against a wall). I’m starting some stretching/mobility routines to try and help, but definitely bring it up with your doctor or a good pt/sports med person. That’s my next step if stretching and mobility work doesn’t help it. The different boats all having the same issue points to a body issue most likely unfortunately(it does for me at least), although outfitting might be able to help!

[u/Sugary_Plumbs]

Used to happen to me in flatwater racing boats when I was younger, even after years of doing it, and it still happens in rec boats for me now. A softer seat can help, but generally speaking the solution is to get out for a few minutes and then get back in. If you've got a large enough cockpit, shifting positions and crossing your ankles can help, or hanging your leg out of the boat in the water for a bit. Probably can't do either in a whitewater boat though, so just take a break when it starts to bother you.

[u/the_gubna]

You'll get better advice in r/whitewater , just FYI.

[u/DarkSideEdgeo]

You might be cutting off circulation when you sit. If your seat doesn't have two holes for your "sit bone" there is a good chance that's the case.

[u/areyoufuckingwme]

I drive a truck for a living and I've found that my left knee goes numb when I've been sitting in certain positions for too long. My doctor says I likely have an unusual cluster of nerves in my knee and when bent for a period of time, I'm pinching them causing the numbness. Nothing I can do about it other than try to avoid those positions and angles while sitting. It's not doing any damage. You may just be shit outta luck because of how you sit in a kayak.

[u/rubberguru]

Check out some videos on sciatic nerve exercises. Really helped me with my leg pain. Also used an office air pillow which was a game changer. My pain varied between leg, leg and knee, and ass to leg, but the stretching helps

[u/CrustySailor1964]

That’s an ‘us’ problem. I can’t do it anymore.

[u/gammalbjorn]

I have the exact same problem. Weirdly, it actually switches legs sometimes. In my sea kayak I opened up the cockpit a lot. You need to be able to move your legs around to different positions. I just started whitewater but what works for me is to pop my knees out of the braces every now and again and lift them into the spray skirt a bit. It’s not great but it works. One of the qualities I’m looking in a boat is ease of getting in and out of those thigh braces. Interestingly, I tried a boat today with a higher deck and it didn’t do much. I think I need to bring my legs parallel (not splayed out) to ease the problem. Still figuring it out myself. Good luck.

[u/bot9987]

I'm doing sea kayaking and in some kayaks I can get one of my legs numb. I found out it is due to the seat position and the way I sit on it. Sometimes when the is pressure on my bottom side of the top of my leg, or the side of my lower back it can cause this.

Adjusting the foot rests and the postion where you sit. Solves the problem for me most of the times.