Big feet, foot stretcher, and knee pain

[fredfelt]

Recently I've been experiencing knee pain which is always worsened by rowing.

I think I my be hyper extending my knee joint because of the position of my shoes. I have to place my shoes high in the boat as otherwise the heels touch the hull of the boat. So rather than my legs being slightly bent they are almost straight.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same problem - and if it has caused knee pain?

I'm thinking the only solution is to use one or two seat pads to raise my position - is there any other solution, perhaps adjust the angle of the stretcher? Or perhaps is there anywhere to buy size 14 rowing shoes - with the holes for the mounts are located closer to heel?

Thanks

[Byron Drachman]

That is about my shoe size. It is very out of fashion to use clogs instead of shoes, but I think going to shoes from clogs was a step backwards. With clogs you have a better connection to the boat, they are more sanitary, and they are safer because there is no depending on a shoelace or piece of string to allow you to yank your foot out. They are cooler in hot weather and in cold weather you can easily wear covers over socks to keep your feet warm. I made my own from scraps of plywood and a jigsaw. Alden sells them if you don't like DIY projects. I attached the heel cups just about as low as I could go. I also prefer 39 degrees instead of the usual 40-42 degrees from horizontal for the footboard but of course that is just a personal preference. I hope you can solve the knee pain problem.

clogs_for_Hudson_c_r.jpg (78.48 KiB) Viewed 6572 times

[Rvanvoris]

I have big feet and consistly lived with knee pain in fact I am 2 years on from double knee replacement.
Yes you can add a seat pad or I actully built some shims and installed them under the seat track to raise my butt.
I reacently found that when I increased my angle of my foot strechers I had no more pain. My strechers are now set at 44 degrees which make them more comfortable.
I used the new Nielsen Kellerman digital pitch meter which makes measuring these things quite easy and accurate.