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The Trials and Tribulations of...
Numb-Bum
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Many paddlers are fortunate enough (through luck or appropriate padding) never to have to experience the agony of suffering from numb-bum. Yet, for every ten happy paddlers out there, there are usually one or two who have been cursed with a backside that inexplicably rebels against the thought of being placed within the confines of a canoe seat - these are the unlucky few to whom this article has been dedicated.
From the outset, let it be known that I too was among those who suffered from this vile affliction and yet.through pain-staking experimentation (brought on by desperation) have managed to develop a solution that now affords me the ability to develop my craft without the slightest hint of numb-bum.
However, before dispensing possible solutions to the problem it is critical to develop a clear(ish) understanding of ones ailment. For this I have used an extract found on the World of Endurance web site, written by Dave Mcleod:
http://worldofendurance.com/article.asp?a_id=38595
What's the best way to prevent numb-bum and leg cramps?
If you get out of your boat with "Dead Leg" and start a hard run immediately, it can do serious damage to your muscles, as they aren't responding properly to the darned signals from your brain to run hard. 
The pain is caused by pinching the blood
vessels that control the sciatic nerve, which runs down your back, splits down each buttock, and then down
each leg. The Numbness in the bum gradually moves into the hammies and then the "pins-and-needles" in the legs set in, together with a complete lack of feeling that makes steering interesting.
Its medically quite baffling, but it seems that the only way to deal with it, is to get more blood flowing to the nerves and the leg muscles. Some guys shift around a bit to ease the constriction, others lean forward (almost lie with their chests on the splashcover).
Indeed, there seems to be very little concrete information out there but virtually all of it points to removing pressure on the "critical" spot.
Popular solutions that I have come across range from constructing a rather uncomfortable looking foam "middel mannetjie" in order to raise the two butt cheeks higher off the seat. to cutting holes in the seat around the supposed nerve. to incredibly expensive seats that can be adjusted and pivoted on multiple axis points.
In my opinion (and it really is only my opinion) these solutions are overlooking the fundamental cause of the problem, namely that the typical river "bucket" seat slopes inwards too steeply, thereby constricting the nerve (or blood supply to the nerve).
In my case, the answer lay in steps:
- I used a relatively flat sprint seat
- I tilted the sprint seat forward (lifting the back of the seat and lowering the front)
- I adopted (the technically correct) action of moving my bum backwards and forwards on the seat created by the push and pull leg action.
Now, within these solutions were a couple of other problems that needed to be solved:
Given my lack of "natural padding" the relatively flat sprint seat soon bruised my bum forcing me to use a layer of foam to soften the seat.However, this foam prevented me from sliding on the seat so I had to cover it with a slippery material.the cheapest being a plastic shopping bag and the most expensive being Teflon but PVC also works.
Lastly, the principle behind using the sprint seat to cure numb-bum is that by alternatively pushing the upper part of one's backside against the
raised lip on the back of the seat, one momentarily but repeatedly alleviates any pressure on the nerve. Essentially one is trying to shift pressure from the bottom of the backside towards the upper part, closer in relation to the coccyx.
(A final tip is to try and thickly pad (two to three layers) the last 5-6cm of the seat [leaving a space in the middle for the coccyx] and thereby further reducing any pressure from the bottom of the bum)
I hope this helps but the key to solving the problem is understanding the problem and then experimenting to see what works for you individually.happy paddling
Marcus Melck
apmelck@telkomsa.net
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