Yup. Another rib thread...

Justin Martin · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 331

Yup. Another rib thread...

Guys, I am not sure what's wrong with my setup. I have a properly fit seat and ribvest, yet I am still crackin ribs.

Would leaning back the seat help? What can I do to fix or help this situation?[/b]

Jeff Salak · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:01 pm Post subject:

What kind of seat are you using? Ribtech seats are the best for Rib free pain.

Some guys cant use Tillet style seats. They just hit the wrong spot and cause pain everytime you go out.
Plus the thing with a rib injury. It can take months to heal. Just when you think its better. Take another month off. Otherwise you will just keep re-injuring them.

Buy a very good Rib-Vest. A couple out there for $200 or more. The cheeper ones may work for some people. Other people you need to spend the cash for a good one if you want to keep on racing.

Andre Eriksen · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 7:33 pm Post subject:

Search for my thread about that topic.
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Justin Martin · Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Posts: 331

Thanks guys.

It is a roller style seat, and I am using a K1 carbon ribvest. Many told me that the vest works great. It is new so it isn't fully broken in yet.

Also we have one insanely bumpy carousel that got jacked up by allowing full size cars to do drifting competitions. Really pissed me off....

This particular injury is probably a result from the last injury. About a month ago I either dislocated, or bruised the same side really bad. I gave it 3 weeks, drove hard last weekend, then drove hard today and today the same side gave way.

Kerry Matthews · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 9:50 pm Post subject:

I started karting 6 years ago sprint racing. 2nd time out in it, I forgot the vest and separated a rib. (I use a Tillett seat with a Ribtect vest.) Took a month off. Came back, got hurt REAL good. (broken collarbone, 3 broken ribs, and a collapsed right lung.) Took a couple months off to heal, and have been in a kart seat at least once every 6 to 8 weeks since then, and my ribs have hurt constantly during that time. (Switched from sprint to road racing.) I recently took 3 months off to heal from a flip back in May, and for the first time in 5 years, my ribs don't hurt. Only way to make 'em feel better is stay out of the kart for a while...
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Peter Zambos · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 5:09 am Post subject:

TJ Koyen · Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Posts: 1452

I've hurt my ribs pretty bad this season with some really high grip races and some rough tracks and it did seriously take over a month for them to get better at times. I didn't think I was going to make it through the Pro Tour race at Phoenix. I was icing my ribs down between every season and could hardly breathe without wincing at the end of each day. I had a teammate who wrecked his ribs racing at the WKA race at South Bend and was in a lot of pain every time he went out for the rest of the season, forcing him to actually miss a weekend of racing. It actually happened to several guys I know this year. I believe Felkins was sidelined most of/all of the year because of rib injuries. All of this was just from driving too, not crashes or anything.

How's your fitness? If your seat is fitting right and you've got a proper rib protector, fitness might be the only thing I can think of that would have an effect on rib pain.

Core fitness is vital in karting. It helps you stay up in the right posture in the seat and reduces fatigue, and it definitely can help toughen up your mid-section against injuries like this.
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Chuck Newman · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject: I know everyone says this...

...but it's true.

Get rid of the K1 and buy a Ribtect 3 vest. Your problem will be solved.

Josh Buttafoco · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 8:09 pm Post subject:

The key is just finding the right seat for yourself.... just like others have said.

I have been through plenty of Tillets, Kalits, and Crg seats. My seat of choice is a OEM #2 italkart seat. Its not the best quality and needs to be replaced more often but it fits me perfectly with only a small amount of padding in the hips.

I never used a rib vest and after busing my ribs I went to a carbon Ribtech vest. Its worth the extra money over some of the cheaper vests.

Do it right the 1st time, or you ll wind up back where you started.

Jerry Brown · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:05 pm Post subject: ribs and such

I am far from an expert - but I will share this..... I finished my rookie year of karting at the Rotax nationals this year. I am 51 and I race in the Masters class. I worked through 4 rib injuries this year - three differant incidents with 2 or more craked ribs and the last with a clean break on A-6 right in the front about 3/4 inch from my sternum.

If it were not for Robby Mott and ribtect , I would not be racing. Robby took time to help me, got me into Rib Tect seats and the Ribtect III rib vest. I used an Armidillo and tried several seats before I found the Ribtect combo. I also use the new mounting kit he has for the seat - much younger drivers than me had majpr rib issues at nationals - I did not. I run pain free and without fear of another injury (unless I screw up). I practice 3-4 days a week and never miss an opportunity to race. I give ribtect my highest possible recommendation.

Jerry Brown
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Jerry Brown · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 5:08 pm Post subject: again

One other thing - it takes 6 weeks to heal a rib injury - keep driving in three wee intervals and you will be out an entire season. Get your physician involved. The owner of OGP required me to have Doctors clearance - which he verified (LOL I wouldn't have got my dermatologist buddy to sign off) to allow me to race. Rib injuries are serious business - Take care of yourself 1st.

Jerry

steve eppard · Joined: 15 May 2011 Posts: 14

FYI:
The manufacturer of the SFI 45.2 Seats and Headrest for Indy Car, NHRA, Nascar, etc. developed some safety items for karting last fall. They used the same SFI 45.2 material that is used in all other forms of racing to manufacture Rib Pads, Hip Pads, Spinal Pad and Steering Column Pad. This material absorbs the impact/shock of the road and accidents dramatically reducing the "G's" on the human body. To view the testing graphs on this material visit the websites below.

www.baldspotsports.com

www.kartingparts.biz

roberto perez · Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Posts: 189

Speaking from my own experience, this year I bruised my ribs, I missed a few races and about 2 months of getting in the kart, I bought a K1 Carbon Fiber Rib protector... and it has been great, I have no pain at all...

IMO, you needed more than 3 weeks.....
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Jeff Stamper · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 4:12 pm Post subject:

Its actually very simple, Buy a Ribtect Seat, Ribtect 3 vest and you will be fine. I was almost out of racing and they saved me ! Also, dont forget the new seat mounting bolt kit ! It really works well also. It saves your suit and your ribs !. I used it all season and not a mark on my new Alpine Stars suit ! Most cant say that after a year
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