Numb hands

[JohnPetty]

I frequently get numbness in my right hand during and after rowing. Does anyone have any suggestions for preventing this?
Thanks

[michelle]

Relax! Stop the deathgrip and your forearms might have enough time to flush out a bit of lactic acid between strokes. Then your hand will be able to "breath" again. You might want to get a massage too. Sometimes if you are tight farther up (shoulder, neck, even back) it'll make it even worse.

[grams]

I was getting pain in my wrists, probably carpel tunnel, so I started turning the handle upside down and rowing underhanded for a 1000m or so every now and then. My times aren't quite as good that way. but the pain went away.

grams

[John Simpson]

I only started rowing (gigs) about a year ago but I've had this on and off for years. Usually v. bad at night. Certainly when I started rowing it was even worse and I could row for miles with no sensation in either hand depending on which side I was rowing on. Once I'd mastered the timing I moved on to feathering and since then it seems to have gone even at night. My left forearm still kills me if I row stroke, but no numbness. Of course it may be that I don't do the 'deathgrip' thing any more. This is a rowing machine forum so this advice is probably no use.

[ufcrewguy]

When you are going through the drive (pulling on the handle) put all the preassure on the tips of your fingers. When you are erging there is not reason for any part of you hand below the knuckle to be on the erg handle. Just let the fingers take all the preassure. Stop trying to strangle the handle.

[TabbRows]

And to add to ufcrewguy: On the return (recovery), relax the pressure and let the handle put the pressure on your fingertips as it pulls you back to the catch. You can even wiggle your fingers during the return and not drop the handle.

[WingedFoot]

Exactly. Keep your entire upper body relaxed...hands included. You sound like you may have a tense upper body if your hands are cramping up. There is nothing for you above the hips. The upper body movement is wasted energy. Think of cycling...you don't see their uppper bodies moving all out of control. No, they are relaxed, conserving their energy and using their legs. Rowing/erging is all legs mixed in with a little lean back at the end of the stroke. Keep your shoulders out of your ears during the recovery...keep your arms straight but tension free...relax those hands. Your hands will instinctually tighen its grip on the handle the moment you engage your legs at the catch.

[Byron Drachman]

John Simpson wrote:

Once I'd mastered the timing I moved on to feathering and since then it seems to have gone even at night. My left forearm still kills me if I row stroke, but no numbness. Of course it may be that I don't do the 'deathgrip' thing any more. This is a rowing machine forum so this advice is probably no use.

Hi John,
Actually, I think it is useful. I use a homemade handle that lets me feather when erging, and the feathering absolutely helps with the relaxation of the arms during the recovery on the C2. The feathering and squaring is done mostly with the fingers, and that helps keep the hands relaxed and the fingers curled but relaxed around the handles during the drive. It also helps to practice the gradual roll-up and keep that habit for on the water sculling.
Byron

[logdoc]

I do a fair amount of work with my hands restoring historic properties and rowing adds to their stress. Mornings were brutal and I took to sleeping with splint like braces on my hands. Took a little getting use to but the numbness is mostly gone.

[PJM]

I had this problem until I found the right pair of glove type products to row with.My hands and wrists are very small and take alot of stress with the handle bar even though I don't grip tight and use proper upper body form.I was told to try weight lifters straps to take the pressure off my hands and wrists.I found a padded hand grip that is attatched to wrist straps.Much like a weight lifter strap.Finding small ones for women was a challenge.I have no more carpal tunnel like symptoms and I row with a great deal of comfort now.I used to suffer with numbness and extreme hand and wrist discomfort.I tried everything..but with these padded hand grips and wrist straps my issues are totally gone.I am a happy rower now!!

PJM

[ivan]

I struggle with carpal tunnel too, but find I have no problems yet with a relaxed fingertip grip on a 5k piece.
I also do kettlebell swinging to help with grip strength.

Are there any good invasive self massage-like stretches for the forearms and wrists ?
Hip and calves I stretch with foam rollers, a rolling stick, or by sitting and squirming on a medicine ball.

I don't have any good techniques for forearm and wrist recovery though.

[Quatroux]

Are there any good invasive self massage-like stretches for the forearms and wrists ?

Stretching by Bob Anderson is a good book and it includes stretches for your hands and arms. You could very easily find the same stretches on the Internet, but the book is cheap and a great reference resource.
I have zero issues with my hands or arms. If I did, I'd first address consider changing my technique as noted in many comments above.