Hand Tendonitis - Glove Recommendation

[[old] alanmsegal]

I've been using a Model C at the gym for about 10 months and I'm hooked. Lately I've gravitated to longer rows. My goal is to do about 3-4 hour long sessions a week. <br /><br />In the past couple of weeks, I've been getting some serious pain in my right hand palm below the ring finger. I didn't erg for about a week and the pain went completely away. As soon as I started back, it came back as well and it lingers all day long. <br /><br />I've tried adjusting my grip and it hasn't really helped too much. For much of the time, I've been using the thumb under approach. It feels more natural, but I imagine that it is the root of my problem. For the past couple of sessions, I've gone to a thumb up mode and it just feels odd. <br /><br />So here is my question: Has anyone used these gloves - <a href="http://www.newgrip.com/rowing.html" target="_blank">http://www.newgrip.com/rowing.html</a><br /><br />They look like they might do the trick so that I can have some decent padding on the palm without too much heat buildup.<br /><br />Thoughts, opinions, personal experience and other alternatives would all be appreciated. I really don't want to give up rowing. I feel like I've finally found the right activity for me. <br /><br />Thanks much!<br />

[[old] michaelb]

I had more hand issues when I used the model C handle (the straight wood one with the foam) so I used gloves regularly back then. With the D handle (the curved plastic one) I row without gloves most of the time, but now have gotten back to occasionally wearing them again. I bought my gloves for paddling (canoeing mainly), but ended up using them for rowing. I won't say they are perfect, since I don't love the velcro wrap around strap on the wrist, but they are thin, light, and provide leather basic protection, and have held up to endless hours of use (and 2 rowing marathons). They definitely reduce blisters. I don't notice my hands being hotter wearing gloves or not; usually I am so drenched in sweat that it really doesn't matter. I also wear a wrist band to wipe my face. Some people here will say it is not manly to row with gloves, but that is not really a big concern of mine.<br /><br /><a href="http://nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=2430&deptid=944" target="_blank">http://nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid ... 944</a><br /><br />Chota also makes paddling gloves, and they look nicer in many ways. Looking at the ones you linked, they provide actual padding, which might be nice, but my concern is how they would make the handle even thicker. On the C handle, I would change my hand positions regularly, up and down the handle, and keeping my fingers relaxed. Not sure that is good technique actually. You might want to try old biking gloves if you have those first, before ordering these.<br /><br />My other comment about hand pain when rowing (actually about other kinds of rowing pain too) is that if this is your right hand only, I would suspect mouse use, or some other repetitive kind of injury. Your hands really don't move at all when rowing, but a mouse can be really, really bad. I find rowing exposes pains caused by other things. So I would consider if something else is "causing" the pain, and you are just experiencing it under the stress of rowing.

[[old] John Rupp]

There is a strong vibration felt through the handle on my model C, and this is stronger on the right side of the handle than the left.

[[old] Warduke]

I use NewGrips and I love them.

[[old] alanmsegal]

<!--quoteo(post=56320:date=Feb 18 2006, 11:13 PM:name=Warduke)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Warduke @ Feb 18 2006, 11:13 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><i>I use NewGrips and I love them.</i><br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />How long have you been using them?<br /><br />How has the whole wrist part worked for you? I'm wondering if I just need the pads as shown here: <a href="http://www.newgrip.com/powerpads.html" target="_blank">http://www.newgrip.com/powerpads.html</a><br /><br />I'm not a huge fan of wrist things. I don't even wear a watch. <br /><br />Again, thanks.<br />

[[old] Alissa]

<!--quoteo(post=56303:date=Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM:name=MyHandHurts)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(MyHandHurts @ Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I've tried adjusting my grip and it hasn't really helped too much. For much of the time, I've been using the thumb under approach. It feels more natural, but I imagine that it is the root of my problem. For the past couple of sessions, I've gone to a thumb up mode and it just feels odd. <br /><br />So here is my question: Has anyone used these gloves - <a href="http://www.newgrip.com/rowing.html" target="_blank">http://www.newgrip.com/rowing.html</a><br /><br />They look like they might do the trick <b><i>so that I can have some decent padding on the palm</i></b> without too much heat buildup.<br /><br />Thoughts, opinions, personal experience and other alternatives would all be appreciated. I really don't want to give up rowing. I feel like I've finally found the right activity for me. <br /><br />Thanks much!<br /> </td></tr></table>(emphasis added.)<br /><br />Hi. <br /><br />How tightly are you holding the handle? That you are looking for padding on the palm makes me wonder if you may be holding the handle too tightly and too far back in your hand (so that the handle ends up in the middle part of your hand). Consider making hooks of your hands, so that the handle isn't really touching your palm at all. <br /><br />I don't think you need to change your thumbs, but you may want to change the strength of your grasp with your thumb. Generally, your thumbs <b><i>should</i> </b> start underneath the handle (so that your wrist is flat and parallel--if you put your thumb on top, you're going to change the orientation of the bones in your wrist/forearm). You need not grip tightly--sometimes just having it under the handle, but just touching (or even not touching at all) is enough. <br /><br />Finally, just remember that you shouldn't be using a "death grip" on the handle--you should be able to wiggle your fingers on the recovery (as if typing or playing the piano).<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />Alissa<br /><br />

[[old] Warduke]

<!--quoteo(post=56369:date=Feb 19 2006, 05:54 PM:name=MyHandHurts)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(MyHandHurts @ Feb 19 2006, 05:54 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><br />How long have you been using them?<br /><br />How has the whole wrist part worked for you? I'm wondering if I just need the pads as shown here: <a href="http://www.newgrip.com/powerpads.html" target="_blank">http://www.newgrip.com/powerpads.html</a><br /><br />I'm not a huge fan of wrist things. I don't even wear a watch. <br /><br />Again, thanks. </td></tr></table><br /><br />I've been using them since April last year. I forgot to mention the ones I use are the powerpads. Haven't used the ones with the wrist straps. The ones with the straps are made with 1/4 inch neoprene, but the powerpads are 3/16. Although I don't think it makes any difference at all. They could be half as thick and I'm sure they would still be very comfortable.<br />

[[old] alanmsegal]

<i>I've been using them since April last year. I forgot to mention the ones I use are the powerpads. Haven't used the ones with the wrist straps. The ones with the straps are made with 1/4 inch neoprene, but the powerpads are 3/16. Although I don't think it makes any difference at all. They could be half as thick and I'm sure they would still be very comfortable.</i><br /><br /><br />Exactly what I needed to know. Thanks.

[[old] alanmsegal]

<!--quoteo(post=56373:date=Feb 19 2006, 05:34 PM:name=Alissa)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Alissa @ Feb 19 2006, 05:34 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=56303:date=Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM:name=MyHandHurts)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(MyHandHurts @ Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><b><i>so that I can have some decent padding on the palm</i></b><br /> </td></tr></table>(emphasis added.)<br /><br />Hi. <br /><br />How tightly are you holding the handle? That you are looking for padding on the palm makes me wonder if you may be holding the handle too tightly and too far back in your hand (so that the handle ends up in the middle part of your hand). Consider making hooks of your hands, so that the handle isn't really touching your palm at all. <br /><br />I don't think you need to change your thumbs, but you may want to change the strength of your grasp with your thumb. Generally, your thumbs <b><i>should</i> </b> start underneath the handle (so that your wrist is flat and parallel--if you put your thumb on top, you're going to change the orientation of the bones in your wrist/forearm). You need not grip tightly--sometimes just having it under the handle, but just touching (or even not touching at all) is enough. <br /><br />Finally, just remember that you shouldn't be using a "death grip" on the handle--you should be able to wiggle your fingers on the recovery (as if typing or playing the piano).<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />Alissa<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />My most comfortable position is with the thumbs down. I have to make a real effort to not curl my thumb around so that it touches just above the nail bed of my middle finger. I know that I was rowing like this for some time and it was causing blisters on the thumb pad and on my middle finger. I've pretty much broken myself of this habit and I now row mostly with the thumb in the under position, but loose. I think this has to do with how my hand is built. I have rather short fingers relative to my palms. My hands are all palm. Great for swimming. Not so great for wrapping around a handle. <br /><br />My grip only seems to be tight when I pull. It is fairly loose on the recovery and I'm often moving my hands around to find the least slick spot. <br /><br />My hope is that these pads will give my sore palm a bit of a break. I'm getting some serious irritation. Aleve seems to keep the inflamation in check, but I don't want to make this a chronic problem. If you look at this image, there is a spot directly above the letter B where it would hit the A line. <img src="http://www.cafeastrology.com/palmdemo.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /><br /><br />Perhaps if I go with my newer grip and some padded grips off and on, I'll get through this spot. <br /><br />Any other tips are much appreciated.<br /><br />-Alan

[[old] Karen]

I didn't know they had special rowing gloves. I recently bought a pair of leather batting gloves for $13 that work great.

[[old] Alissa]

<!--quoteo(post=56405:date=Feb 19 2006, 07:05 PM:name=MyHandHurts)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(MyHandHurts @ Feb 19 2006, 07:05 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=56373:date=Feb 19 2006, 05:34 PM:name=Alissa)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Alissa @ Feb 19 2006, 05:34 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=56303:date=Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM:name=MyHandHurts)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(MyHandHurts @ Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><b><i>so that I can have some decent padding on the palm</i></b><br /> </td></tr></table>(emphasis added.)<br /><br />Hi. <br /><br />How tightly are you holding the handle? That you are looking for padding on the palm makes me wonder if you may be holding the handle too tightly and too far back in your hand (so that the handle ends up in the middle part of your hand). Consider making hooks of your hands, so that the handle isn't really touching your palm at all. <br /><br />I don't think you need to change your thumbs, but you may want to change the strength of your grasp with your thumb. Generally, your thumbs <b><i>should</i> </b> start underneath the handle (so that your wrist is flat and parallel--if you put your thumb on top, you're going to change the orientation of the bones in your wrist/forearm). You need not grip tightly--sometimes just having it under the handle, but just touching (or even not touching at all) is enough. <br /><br />Finally, just remember that you shouldn't be using a "death grip" on the handle--you should be able to wiggle your fingers on the recovery (as if typing or playing the piano).<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />Alissa </td></tr></table><br />My most comfortable position is with the thumbs down. I have to make a real effort to not curl my thumb around so that it touches just above the nail bed of my middle finger. I know that I was rowing like this for some time and it was causing blisters on the thumb pad and on my middle finger. I've pretty much broken myself of this habit and I now row mostly with the thumb in the under position, but loose. I think this has to do with how my hand is built. I have rather short fingers relative to my palms. My hands are all palm. Great for swimming. Not so great for wrapping around a handle. <br /><br />My grip only seems to be tight when I pull. It is fairly loose on the recovery and I'm often moving my hands around to find the least slick spot. <br /><br />My hope is that these pads will give my sore palm a bit of a break. I'm getting some serious irritation. Aleve seems to keep the inflamation in check, but I don't want to make this a chronic problem. If you look at this image (http://www.cafeastrology.com/palmdemo.jpg), there is a spot directly above the letter B where it would hit the A line. <br /><br />Perhaps if I go with my newer grip and these grips off and on, I'll get through this spot. <br /><br />Any other tips are much appreciated.<br /><br />-Alan </td></tr></table><br />Hi Alan. <br /><br />Sounds like you're doing everything I can think of...however just to make sure we're not thinking different things, I'm posting a photo to make sure we mean the same thing by a "hooking" grip. <img src="http://www.pbase.com/image/56291502.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /><br />The one on the right shows a bend at the joint where the fingers join the palm. This is the one that will cause you trouble (and is not a "hooking" grip). <br /><br />The one on the left shows where the first bend should be as you look toward the end of your finger. Clearly the joint outlined in red will be opening up a little more than shown in this drawing (the only one I could find quickly...sorry) to hook around the handle. But the top of the hand from that jont all the way to your forearm should be flat. <br /><br />My guess is that that is the way you have it, but I thought it couldn't hurt to send this along, just in case...<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />Alissa

[[old] alanmsegal]

<!--quoteo(post=56426:date=Feb 20 2006, 12:50 AM:name=Alissa)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Alissa @ Feb 20 2006, 12:50 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=56405:date=Feb 19 2006, 07:05 PM:name=MyHandHurts)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(MyHandHurts @ Feb 19 2006, 07:05 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=56373:date=Feb 19 2006, 05:34 PM:name=Alissa)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Alissa @ Feb 19 2006, 05:34 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--quoteo(post=56303:date=Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM:name=MyHandHurts)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(MyHandHurts @ Feb 18 2006, 04:27 PM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><b><i>so that I can have some decent padding on the palm</i></b><br /> </td></tr></table>(emphasis added.)<br />Alissa </td></tr></table><br />-Alan </td></tr></table><br />Hi Alan. <br /><br />Sounds like you're doing everything I can think of...however just to make sure we're not thinking different things, I'm posting a photo to make sure we mean the same thing by a "hooking" grip. <img src="http://www.pbase.com/image/56291502.jpg" border="0" alt="IPB Image" /><br />The one on the right shows a bend at the joint where the fingers join the palm. This is the one that will cause you trouble (and is not a "hooking" grip). <br /><br />The one on the left shows where the first bend should be as you look toward the end of your finger. Clearly the joint outlined in red will be opening up a little more than shown in this drawing (the only one I could find quickly...sorry) to hook around the handle. But the top of the hand from that jont all the way to your forearm should be flat. <br /><br />My guess is that that is the way you have it, but I thought it couldn't hurt to send this along, just in case...<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />Alissa<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />This is a very helpful illustration.<br /><br />I was originally using the "not like this" form. The discomfort definitely guided me to the more proper grip, but I still struggle with it. Nothing like a little more practice.<br /><br />thanks<br />-Alan

[[old] ancho]

<!--quoteo(post=56310:date=Feb 19 2006, 02:04 AM:name=John Rupp)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Feb 19 2006, 02:04 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>There is a strong vibration felt through the handle on my model C, and this is stronger on the right side of the handle than the left.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />John:<br />I also had lots of vibrations, and have solved this matter by setting up my erg on a gym mat. Much better now, and also avoids "sliding around"!

[[old] ljwagner]

That graphic looks like the "good grip" still has a bit of wrist bend.<br /><br />A graphic with the handle in the fingers, and wrist perfectly straight would be better.<br /><br />Pulling the oar handle is like pulling a very fat string on an archery bow. My archery training says hook the fingers on the string, and then pull. The wrist is totally relaxed, never feels anything. A crooked wrist is not good.<br /><br />Hook the oar handle with a straight wrist. Hang on a pullup bar and look at your wrists, or have someone take a photo. You'll find it very uncomfortable to do pullups with your wrist bent, even a little.<br /><br />In 35 years rowing, I had tendonitis only once for about a week. It went away when I or someone else noticed my grip was off just a little, and I corrected it.<br /><br />A glove might help with vibration, but not tendonitis.

[[old] Alissa]

<!--quoteo(post=57089:date=Feb 25 2006, 07:56 AM:name=ljwagner)--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(ljwagner @ Feb 25 2006, 07:56 AM) </b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>That graphic looks like the "good grip" still has a bit of wrist bend.<br /><br />A graphic with the handle in the fingers, and wrist perfectly straight would be better.<br /><br />Pulling the oar handle is like pulling a very fat string on an archery bow. My archery training says hook the fingers on the string, and then pull. The wrist is totally relaxed, never feels anything. A crooked wrist is not good.<br /><br />Hook the oar handle with a straight wrist. Hang on a pullup bar and look at your wrists, or have someone take a photo. You'll find it very uncomfortable to do pullups with your wrist bent, even a little.<br /><br />In 35 years rowing, I had tendonitis only once for about a week. It went away when I or someone else noticed my grip was off just a little, and I corrected it.<br /><br />A glove might help with vibration, but not tendonitis.<br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />You're exactly right:<br /><br />1. That the bend up at the wrist would be a problem (I should have edited the drawing to delete the bend--do you think that would be useful at this point?). I had pulled some illustrations from a handy anatomy book (Thieme's <u>Atlas of Anatomy</u>--which is new, and has wonderful illustrations of all sorts--if you're interested in that sort of thing you might want to take a look. I found it at my local B&N). In posting the illustration, I was trying to IDing the joint involved when hooking (since the discussion suggested that the handle was being held in the palm). <br /><br />2. and that an illustration showing the hand actually holding the handle would have been better...I just didn't happen to have one. I love your suggestion about hanging from a pull-up bar. That should do it precisely! Great idea.<br /><br />Alissa