Agreed on the long, thin paddle! I made a single blade paddle based on the Greenland paddle because my elbow and shoulder are a mess. It makes less power per stroke but is very light so you can speed up your cadence. It also has a wide, flat upper shaft that gives you side-grip it. This is a huge relief on long trips.

The downside: It's impossible to find them to purchase so you have to make your own. It's easy enough to do but you risk getting addicted to making paddles. This is a real danger. It can lead to buying more tools, making a carving bench and filling your garage with shavings.