Erg Mods

[[old] John Rupp]

Try rowing using just one leg at a time, at least to warm up and warm down.<br /><br />This way you will get used to applying the force with each one of them.

[[old] Alissa]

<!--QuoteBegin-schweinlew+Feb 1 2006, 07:47 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(schweinlew @ Feb 1 2006, 07:47 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->It would be great to be able to practice maintaining equal leg-pressure in the off-season. I've had some Rube Goldberg ideas running around in my head, e.g. electronic pressure sensors under my feet, but that seems to be a bit much.<br /><br />Any thoughts?[right] </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hi Will.<br /><br />A couple of ideas:<br /><br />1. Do you have slides? If so, I'd suggest the one-legged rowing exercises Xeno uses with us at the Iron Oarsman. <br /><br />You plant one foot on the ground, keep your knee over your ankle & bent at a 90 degree angle (which keeps your body stationary with respect to the ground) keep your pelvis stable and balanced (left/right) toward the front of the erg and then row normally with the other leg. You can clearly see how the legs measure up with respect to each other, using pace & the other measures from your monitor. I believe that these exercises are on one (or possibly more) of Xeno's DVD's--but I don't know which ones. Anyone?<br /><br />I have also heard of people putting the stationary leg on a skateboard if they don't have slides, but I suspect that the height of the skateboard could make maintaining the normal pelvic allignment more difficult--however I haven't tried it. <br /><br /><br />2. If you are really into Rube Goldberg-esqe ideas, let me add another to your list of possibilities. It occurs to me that by replacing the footboard with something like the proprioception T-Bar Balanced Body sells for its clinical reformer:<br /><img src='http://www.pilates.com/gfx/store/equipm ... ontbar.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /><br />you would have the sort of feedback I'm imagining you get from your single. This gadget swivels on both horizontal and vertical axes, but can be stabilized on either. With that sort of "footboard", if you aren't using equal pressure, you'll lose the connection all together and the stroke will fail. Note that this seems as if it would be a little dangerous...you could easily end up on the floor (as I'm imagining it).<br /><br />I'd be interested to hear what you decide to do.<br /><br />Best wishes.<br /><br />Alissa

[[old] schweinlew]

Thank you, Alisa and John. I'll let you and the Board know what I work out. I like the pivoting footboard idea.<br /><br />Also, I have slides and Xeno's video. I'll work on the one-legged rowing until/unless a better, more Luddite solution comes to me.<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />Will