Glute Pain

[drfrank@eichornconsulting]

Although I have been rowing for 15 years with no problems, during the last year or so, I have been reduced to no more than 5 to 10 minutes without localized pain in my glutes. It is a very small area - basically where make contact with the seat, but it feels like muscle or tendon deep inside. I have had the seat cushion for years, so that is not a solution.

Anyone else experienced this?

[Tyn]

Although I have been rowing for 15 years with no problems, during the last year or so, I have been reduced to no more than 5 to 10 minutes without localized pain in my glutes. It is a very small area - basically where make contact with the seat, but it feels like muscle or tendon deep inside. I have had the seat cushion for years, so that is not a solution.

Anyone else experienced this?

No!

But did you change something?
Footplate, drag, technique, shoes
or did you lose weight?

[drfrank@eichornconsulting]

Nothing has changed - training rotuine, weight and erg configuration are all unchanged.

[putridp]

I get the same pain in particular boats and on the erg if I forget to do a particular gluteal stretch first. I would link to a picture of the stretch, but new users can't post urls
So I guess make sure you're doing all your gluteal stretches properly before you start. If you're already doing all that then I can't help, sorry!

[robhen]

I echo the above - do some glute stretches. Else, get your glutes checked out by a physiotherapist, they will work on your pain and/or do some stretches then send you away with some exercises.

[jaybirdjtski]

Do you also run? You may have piraformis syndrome. My spelling on that might be off. You should see an MD in physical medicine. He can diagnose this. It would be treated with visits to a PT and home stretching and maybe shots of lidocaine followed by extremely deep massage. The initial deep massages can be incredibly painful. Perhaps you need orthotics. Google the condition that I mentioned and you'll find alot of info. This can be difficult to permanently correct unless you are diligent about your home stretching. Running seems to exacerbate the condition. That is why I got into fitness paddling and racing(outriggers and surfskis) and ditched running.
Most doctors and chiropractors are clueless about piramormis syndrome and that is why you need to see a specialist in physical medicine or perhaps sports medicine. My first series of treatments eliminated the problem but it returned because of my negligence in stretching. This syndrome is more common than you might think. Your insurance should cover it. Mine did...Blue Cross. Good luck!

[Scooter74]

I can't recommend seeing a specialist more. I had 17 years of pain every time I sat down for more than 10 minutes. Years of painful physio sessions didn't help it. I went to a sports surgeon who diagnosed a damaged sacro-tuberous ligament within 2 minutes. I had prolotherapy (injected an agravating substance into the ligament) and within 2 months the pain had gone. I still get pain whilst rowing but at least not whilst sitting. (I'm a pilot so it was a massive relief)

[johnlvs2run]

The glut pain is mostly caused by tight shorts, that bind up in the sitting position and especially at the catch.

There is nothing that more padding does to help that condition, except to give you a softer surface, however that causes build up of heat and more pain.

What is needed are shorts that are roomy in the butt, either cycling shorts with no padding, or loose fitting women's shorts, or both. The material should be a flexible stretch fabric, that doesn't retain moisture or heat. Nylon lycra is good, cotton is the worst. The only issue with cycling shorts is expense. There's a guy who buys them in abundant quantities for $2.50 each, then selss them for $60 a pair on Ebay. For me, that's way out of a reasonable range of expense. It helps to shop around to find good shorts, and remember the best shorts for rowing are those that give you plenty of room in the butt.

The other issue is to never ever stretch an injury! An injured area is already suffering pain and inflamed. Why would you subject it to more stress? And I disagree that doctors don't know these things. They know exactly what will keep you injured so you'll keep going back to them.

A good exercise for the gluts, besides running up hills, is to sit often and as long as possible in a squatting position.

[korkiley]

I have been rowing off and on for 5 years or more and I've owned a C2 since 11/08 and I've always experienced the gluteal pain. If I haven't rowed for a while, the pain begins after a few minutes and I've had all I could take in way less than 10 minutes. As I rowed regularly, I was able to go for longer periods but could never get past 20 minutes without major discomfort.

Then I bought a C2 pad and it helped. I used one pad for quite a while and it was better but still not great. I finally added another and it was better. Finally a month or two ago, I added a third and it is better still.

The piraformis syndrome sounds interesting, perhaps I should get checked out.

Not only do I get a pain in the Glut but I bruised my coxcyx when I decided to try rowing without the pad again. I stopped rowing for about 6 months but it never got completely better. I find that with 2 or 3 pads there is no chance for the coxcyx to hit bottom and it hasn't gotten any worse even though I'm training for a marathon and I'm now up to 60K/week.

Kor

[korkiley]

I have been rowing off and on for 5 years or more and I've owned a C2 since 11/08 and I've always experienced the gluteal pain.
Kor

Sorry. I meant 11/06 not 11/08.

Kor