Kayaking in North Florida

By

Kayaking is a great way not only to spend your day on the water, but it is also a great cardio workout. It is also a great way to strengthen your lower back muscles and your abdominal muscles due to paddle strokes’ rotational aspect. It also utilizes your abdominals for stabilization and balance. Kayaking is also a great workout for your arms and does tone muscles if done regularly. Another great benefit of kayaking is helping with weight loss. Due to the number of muscle groups used and the cardio workout, an hour of kayaking can burn up to 400 calories. Soak up some rays and get in your workout.

Kayaking is a fun family activitySome benefits of kayaking include:

• Great cardio workout
• Improve endurance
• Strengthen core muscles
• Increase upper body strength
• Enjoy nature

While gliding across the water in a kayak may look easy and pleasant, kayaking can be difficult due to the tides, water conditions, and lack of physical ability. These three combined can also lead to injuries and other incidents, including brushes up with nature/animals and other kayakers in a group setting. Rowing against strong winds and tides can cause pain in joints and muscles and lead to more serious injuries such as tendonitis and sprains in the upper body.  

Kayaking is a great family activity. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Florida. Get outside and get your vitamin D. Kayaking can lower stress and improve your mental health.

Common Kayaking Injuries

More serious injuries that occur from kayaking are dislocations, fractures, contusions, and abrasions. These happen more when other kayakers and animals are involved or venturing down paths that include perilous waters and landscapes. Those new to kayaking are at a higher risk of injuries compared to those that are seasoned. However, those that do long-distance kayaking are more prone to injuries than those that make short trips, mostly due to muscle fatigue. These injuries can be prevented by preparing properly for your kayaking journey.  

If you are new to kayaking, make sure you are taking the proper weather and tide precautions. The best way to do this when starting is to go on a tour with an experienced group. It is also best to make sure that you are in good physical health to avoid an increased chance of muscle pain. While some muscle soreness after kayaking is expected, too much too quickly can lead to straining injuries to the upper body and neck.  

Kayaking allows you to take in the beautiful scenery in NE Florida

Where Can You Kayak in Northeast Florida?

There are a great number of spots to go kayaking in north Florida, with beautiful scenery and wildlife to discover. For those just starting, companies such as Amelia Island Adventures and Kayak Amelia offer guided tours with competent guides that make sure tides and weather conditions are right for your kayaking journey. They provide all the kayaks and safety equipment needed to ensure a safe and fun trip on the water. They even offer self-guided tours through an app for the more experienced kayaker. If you are more experienced and would like to make your own journey, there are many waterways with launch docks on the rivers and the inter-coastal.  

By: Amelia Son

New to JOI, you can now schedule follow up visits for your physician and cancel and reschedule appointments at the JOI Portal.

If you experience an injury from kayaking, feel free to reach out to your closest JOI Rehab location for a speedy recovery to get you back on the water! Call 904-858-7045, schedule online at JOI.net, or click below.