Day 1:

 I just got my shoulder braces from EVS sports,   Model SB:03  kidney belt from Model: BB1 ,and Option Elbow Pads!              

 I’m here at the office, and just opened the box (so no paddling report yet), I put it on in the cube, but I cannot believe how good it feels on my shoulder, it has adjustments to limit movement. Movement can limited with 3 different straps that came in package. I limited mine to where I would not over extend. I know this just a test with something out of the box but, but once I installed the brace, I moved my arm around, and my shoulder popped into place. I didn’t even know it was out, just hurting as usual, now I feel like a million bucks. The shoulder feels years younger. The brace is high quality and made out of neoprene, perfect for the water. The back brace gives me more support than a brace say from Home Depot or Wally-World. It doesn’t feel like a grurdle, It actually makes the L series in my back feel stronger. The plastic EVS logo on the belt, is nice on kayak backband, it gives it more “bite”.

            

    Boofing on the Big One ...Cheoha River North Carolina Photo by Anita Pinner

Day 2:

 I took the shoulder brace to my Physical Therapist, to see it if it would work to her standards, and to see if it would hurt my impingement. After a number of tests; it passed with flying colors. Her concern was that I only wear it kayaking. If I wore the brace too much, my muscles that I have torn would weaken, the same ones ; that we are trying to strengthen them with P.T. to avoid getting cut and the muscles stitched up.

 Also we marked the brace/straps with a Sharpie magic marker, after placing the straps to limit my motion, I want the index/marks so I can put the brace on in a hurry at the put-in, and the magic marker tabs should take care of this. We also tried some exercises wearing it. Wearing the brace you couldn’t even tell I had damage. So far ……so good

 Day 3:

I put the brace on before loading the car, man what a difference, I didn’t dance with the boat, I just loaded it and that was that. I will wear it every chance I can it when it comes to loading the shuttle vehicle (money pit) over my head.

   Lining Up for the Bottom .."Big One"  Cheoha River   Photo by Anita Pinner

Day 4:

I put the shoulder brace and back brace on, and headed down the ramp at the Ocoee. I put it on as soon as the water was released, and man …it was worth getting up early for. The entire run I would have a solo trip on the Ocoee…….

 So more about the brace.

 I could notice a difference just taking the boat off my shoulder at the ramp; I didn’t have to baby my arm at all. I sat the boat down “normal”  Putting the skirt on was a little bit of a chore, I couldn’t completely reach around to tuck the skirt in on the rim. I had the shoulder brace set to limit my range of motion. So after a couple of hit and misses I got it on. The back brace/kidney belt feels good, and it helps me use proper posture.

 As soon as I hit the put-in rapid, my shoulder felt tight, tight enough, to were I stopped and caught an eddy on the right, and went for the boof over white-face rock. The shoulder didn’t feel loose. I could think of the line and not “what if”.

The shoulder felt good, and the back didn’t hurt when I landed so far so good, the kidney belt works as promised and it feels good to be on the water.

 At the staging eddy I tried a roll, thinking the brace would limit me and I might swim, and this would be the place to do it. Well no problems, in fact when I came up I didn’t have a “pop” in the shoulder when I finish up. The limit straps also seemed to help me lock into position quicker to help in my set up.

 

  Composite Photo by Tony Diliberto

On down the river I felt I could get more aggressive, even when at Table Saw I felt more confident. The bigger water rapids always made a little nervous, due to the “pulling “on my shoulder. No problems here, as a matter catching the Eddys became fun again, and I was wondering about my shoulder in the back of my mind..

 So when finally hitting the flat water, which is the time I usually really notice the shoulder hurting , back feeling tight etc……nothing … zip…...nada….. When back at the car I loaded the boat with no problems, I lifted the boat and that was that. I took the braces off expecting to see some type of rub burns but nothing. I did have a Capline top on for a base. I don’t think it would have matter with the neoprene shoulder brace though.

 I thoroughly recommend the braces, the shoulder brace, works so good that if I ever forget it, I think I will run shuttle. It will be just as important as a PFD or helmet when it comes to paddling. The shoulder I think is stronger from wearing it. My thinking is; the shoulder didn’t float around in the socket. It stayed put and in turn the muscles got to do what they are suppose to do, and not play catch-up or try to keep things from going hay-wire.

 The Kidney Belt, which helped my lower back, has the grippy plastic on the belt; the plastic helped the back band transfer power to the boat when paddling. The lumber support was an even better bonus. None of my “L” series felt inflamed.

 

        Shot of the EVS Elbow Pads..at O' Henry's put in "ramp" at the Cheoha

The elbow pads, let me put it this way I feel naked without paddling with them, they are VERY comfortable , they don't rub me raw if I paddle without my drytop...I have tried different pads to the point I thought they were suppose to be uncomfortable, these are great...and provide plenty of forearm protection without a compromise of fit and comfort.

So the bottom line?

 Both of the products helped my paddling and more importantly helped me enjoy paddling. Usually at the takeout I’m hating life, this time? I felt like a pup, and was ready for another run……I would even go so far to say if you are having problems , and have seen a doc, and you can avoid being cut on. Give the shoulder brace and belt a try. They worked for me……

Mark Cumnock...Amateur EVS Sponsorship...thank you EVS!

A special thanks to Pyranha Kayaks and Werner Paddles!