kallend 2,148 #1 December 14, 2003 I'd really like to try a wingsuit. I've done lots of tracking dives, but I'm concerned about the stress on my shoulders in a wingsuit, since I have tendonitis in my right shoulder. It doesn't affect "normal" skydiving activities, but I wonder if there's much extra stress on the shoulders due to the forces on the wing?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #2 December 14, 2003 There is additional stress on the arms. After a hard day of pushing the limits, 5 flights is about all my arms can take. If I'm doing tandems I can usually only push myself to a certian point before my arms start to shake and all hope of a 2 minute flight is gone. At first the muscles didn't get strained that much since I was'nt in the optimal position, but once I got it its constant strain for the length of the flight. But honestly, the forces are'nt too much more then holding myself HD on my arms, its just that the length of the flight makes it really start to strain on the bottom end. Multiple flights in the same day just makes it worse, read some stories of some experienced people and they all talk about almost being too weak to pull. Thats stressing the muscels to the limits... John, if you were able to recieve PM's I was going to tell you I've got a spare Classic2 that fit DiverDriver and would probally fit you too if you want to fly in the spring after I get my BM-I rating, let me know. SDC is only a few hours from here and I'd love to introduce the power of wingsuits to everyone up there at SDC. Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #3 December 14, 2003 QuoteI wonder if there's much extra stress on the shoulders due to the forces on the wing? Not knowing the extent of your injury or your range of motion I can only give you a generalization of what you might experience. If you have no problem holding your arm out to your side at a right angle for 2+ mins then you shouldn't have a problem. The forces exerted on your arms can load quickly if you dive and then dearch hard to get lift. Other than that I'd say that if you can hold your rear risers you shouldn't have any issues. You can try holding your arm out to your side with a dictionary on the back of your hand to get a rough idea of what it feels like. Most people have arm trouble due to muscle fatigue in the suit until they get used to it and the muscles in the shoulders adapt."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TALONSKY 0 #4 December 14, 2003 OK, I agree if you do not push is the stress is not huge but it is there. However, I workout every week I can dumbell press the 85 lbs dumbells and shoulder shrug 240 and I definitly can fell it when I am pushing over 2 minutes of freefall and can say there would be very few that would not. I is more like doing a push up with your arms fulliy extended into an almos ironcross possition(that is if you are in a S3 and pushing it). I did not feel near as much stress on my arm in my GTI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crawford 0 #5 December 14, 2003 I, too, have some shouilder problems, but I have started working at the gym just on my shoulders and chest, (*follow the excersise program on www.flybirdman.com, and it will help considerably) and it has really made a difference. like someone has said earlier in the post, that 5 is about the limit for me in a day. When I get under canopy, I am breathing heavy but it is all worth it. Flock long, my brother! "Sure, those Golf Carts may look all warm and fuzzy, but they WILL take a chunk out of your ass!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #6 December 14, 2003 You can relax your arm posture a bit from max, this will relieve a great deal of the strain. The numbers won't be that great but you will still experience true flight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #7 December 14, 2003 QuoteYou can relax your arm posture a bit from max, Very true and a good point. Besides I don't know of too many dives where one is maxed out the entire flight except solos and you're pushing it. At WFFC I was averaging 10-12 flights a day for the duration of the boogie, most were FFCs. At the end of the day I was a little tired but not so bad that I couldn't fly . I have taken people up with shoulder injuries before and none have said they couldn't do it again. In fact, most thought it was less pressure on the arms than FFing(HD),specifically the shoulder area. As much as lifting weights and doing resistance exercises helps build the muscles involved the best thing is actually doing the specific activity, in this case flying. Again, I don't think Kallend will have any issues with a suit since he is already skydiving without shoulder problems,specifically tracking dives and the suit he will more than likely use will be a Classic or GTI. Kallend you know best where in your range of motion your shoulder gives you problems. I would suggest you bring the subject up with your BMI and make a personal assessment on the ground with the suit on and your arms in normal flight position as to weather or not your shoulder can take it."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,148 #8 December 14, 2003 Thanks for the replies guys. It's not so much that I have reduced strength or range of motion, as that it hurts when I do chin ups or push ups! As for the suit that fits Diverdriver, it would fit me too, since we are about the same build. I'd like to give it a try in the spring.Perhaps the winter break will give my shoulder a chance to heal some.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
