What Muscle Groups Are Targeted in Kayaking? Which Body Parts Benefit the Most?

Kayaking for fitness and strength building

What muscles are we exercising during kayaking?

Depending on the sport you do, certain areas of the body will be worked harder than others, but what about when you kayak? Will you tone and refine your figure by kayaking? Below is a list of the muscles and muscle groups strengthened and sculpted by kayaking!

Upper limbs (shoulders, arms and forearms)

• Shoulder muscles: These are the muscles that link the arm to the rest of the body. They include the muscles of the rotator cuff (subscapularis, infraspinatus, lesser ring, supraspinatus) and the trapezius, deltoid, grand dentle andangular muscles. These muscles provide mobility for the arms and shoulders (rotation, elevation).
• The biceps: These muscles are located on the front of the arm and are surrounded by two joints (scapulohumeral, elbow). The biceps comprise two muscles(long biceps and short biceps) which help flex and rotate the arms.
• The triceps: Located on the inside of the arm, they comprise three muscles (the vastus lateralis, the vastus medialis and the long head of the triceps) which complement the flexor role of the biceps brachii. The triceps allow the forearm to be extended.

Trunk and pelvis (Chest, stomach and back)

• The pectorals : The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor are located in the thorax region and ensure the mobility of the arms and the stability of the shoulder region.
• The abdominal muscles: These are made up of several layers of muscle (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, transverse), whose function is to flex and rotate the trunk.
• The muscles of the back: The back groups together more muscles such as the trapezius, the dorsalis major, the rhomboids, the infraspinatus and the round muscle. These muscles play a variety of roles. From the dorsal to the lumbar muscles, they ensure the mobility of the arms and shoulder, maintain posture and protect the spine.

Lower limbs (buttocks, thighs and calves)

Kayaking does very little work on the lower limbs.

Kayaking essentially works the upper body. The use of the paddles, accentuated by the resistance of the water, strengthens the arms, shoulders and back. Alternating paddling movements rotate the trunk, strengthening the abs and obliques.