Rowing and "golfers elbow"

[Bamber]

Does anybody have a "golfers elbow" and have experienced if the rowing makes it worse (or better)?

[max_ratcliffe]

Does anybody have a "golfers elbow" and have experienced if the rowing makes it worse (or better)?

Not me, but I have had tennis elbow (as well as an achilles injury), and rowing didn't hurt it at all. This is perhaps not surprising given that its on the other side (lateral vs medial epicondylitis), and tennis elbow typically is a wrist extensor problem.

I posted some athlean x links the other day here: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=187960

I had lots of PT treatment on the elbow and on the achilles before they both eventually resolved (including dry-needling - yuck). For the achilles injury (caused by too much running about like a 20yo at my son's end-of-season soccer parents vs kids game), part of the treatment was some controlled and judicious strengthening work, although it was very much as prescribed by my PT and not self-treatment.

[Slothful1]

I can't remember if it was golfer's or tennis elbow, but I did strain the outside of my elbow a few years back when moving house. I think it was from carrying heavy boxes over a few weeks. It took a while to heal, but I rowed off and on during that time. I seem to remember it feeling better after a rowing session, and certainly didn't stop me at the time.

Dave

[Gammmmo]

Yes, and this was what I mentioned in my "ergo joint injuries" thread. I think the ergo makes it worse but mine was started by doing skull crushes and chinups really stress my creaky old elbows (shame as it was building my biceps). I have done 60K/week habitually on the ergo (not now tho) but when I went much beyond that it did start hurting my elbow(s). It's an overuse injury really....you can ice it and get smart by thinking carefully about what it is you're doing that's stressing it and vary things.

[Ombrax]

A few years ago I started to have some elbow pain, most likely due to the erg, since I wasn't doing anything else at the time that would induce that sort of problem. I posted a question here about it, and someone suggested changing my grip. I had been putting my thumbs under the bar, so I switched to putting them over. The pain soon went away and I haven't had any issues since.

Good luck.

[Bamber]

Thanks guys,

It´s hard to say if/how the rowing affects my elbow because I do other stuff like lifting weights as well. I´ll try and change the grip.

[Harro3090]

"Golfers Elbow"
I have developed a workaround for "Golfers Elbow" I presently have it and i'm not sure how it occured, its either bike riding, weight training or the rower. But certainly the rower makes it flare up.. I stopped rowing and the RH elbow improved, the LH almost improved and I decided to start back rowing after nearly six months off. Through desperation, I decided to alter the pressure on my elbows in the catch phrase. I have used a rubber excercise band around my back and about 3-4 turns around the handle on each side. when extending your arms its a bit like a press and when you pull there is a simmilar amount of reverse help from the strap.. The end result is not as much transition pressure and some early help in the pull. The elbow is a little sore but its doable and I can row again. It's still a great workout and without this workaround I don't believe I could row without significant pain and continued injury.. I aslo use a forearm strap to dissable the tendon/muscles that attach to the elbow

Ian

[fink]

I had something very similar once. I was doing a lot of weights at the time and ERGing. After noticing that sometimes it would be not as bad for a few days, I thought more about other things I was doing. Turned out it was all to do with watching TV/playing games on my phone too much! I stopped all that and the pain went away and I was able to ERG and lift with no issue.

[ampire]

I start to get the golfer's elbow if I don't do a few sets of light hammer curl each week. I do 25lb dumbbells for 20-25 reps, 3 or 4 sets. That gets rid of it for me.

I tried the Theraband Flexbar "reverse tyler twist" https://www.theraband.com/theraband-fle ... e-bar.html but it actually made it worse for me, others seem to like it though.

[Harro3090]

Hi,

I posted "Golfers Elbow" a workaround on the 7th of Feb. Describing a rubber excercise strap that went around my back and wound a few turns around the Erg handle to offset some of the inertia in the pull. I neglected to add that I also ICE after each row and also use a topical anti-imflamatory along with the forearm "Tennis/Golfers Elbow strap" to isolate the tendons that attach to the elbow. I wear the Tennis/Golfers Elbow strap all day not just rowing or riding.

Using the excercise strap and wearing the "Tennis/Golfers Elbow" strap is the only way I can row without the elbow flaring up.

Old age Tendons !!!!?

Ian

[Ecbreezy]

I've been dealing with golfers elbow on my left for the better part of 6 months. Took 2 months off and it came right back, which makes me think it's not related to erging. Just got a model D since boathouse is closed, and I'm in pain every day. Just ice, heat, compression, KT tape to try and get through it. I tried PT in the two months I had off, but didn't help much.

Interesting about it being computer and phone use related. Could be something there for sure. 37 with a job in tech. Sounds about right.

Interesting idea with the band. What weight is the band?

[KenS]

I had tendinitis pain in both elbows for almost two years, and on both the lateral and medial sides of my left elbow. I dropped the drag factor on my C2, took time off, alternated the hand I used my computer mouse with, did wrist curls and hammer curls, stretched, and took copious amounts of naproxen sodium. Nothing Worked.

Finally, in desperation, I bought one of those silly grip strength thingys at my local Target store. It’s a little fancier than some grip strength thingys, as you’ll see if I can load the photo.

It took maybe 3 weeks of using the thing 3 or 4 days a week after easyish rowing sessions and the pain had subsided dramatically, and maybe 2 months before the pain was gone completely. I’m now doing 70-100km/week with zero discomfort. Might be worth a try.

[Sanjay]

I developed a golfers elbow earlier this year as well - suspect it was due to rowing. I was off all rowing / strength training for 3 months waiting for it to heal.

I suspect that it is related to the grip - and in particular the suggested grip (fingers hooking over the handle, no palm contact) may put more pressure on the tendon. Part of the reason is that my grip was "incorrect", and I had changed it a couple of months before the pain started. But, I cant find anything online that may help with confirming it.

Just starting again (with old grip technique, and slower), and wanted to see how others dealt with it.

Sanjay Jain

55 HWT, Recent PB: 2K 7:34

[Dangerscouse]

I developed a golfers elbow earlier this year as well - suspect it was due to rowing. I was off all rowing / strength training for 3 months waiting for it to heal.

I suspect that it is related to the grip - and in particular the suggested grip (fingers hooking over the handle, no palm contact) may put more pressure on the tendon. Part of the reason is that my grip was "incorrect", and I had changed it a couple of months before the pain started. But, I cant find anything online that may help with confirming it.

Just starting again (with old grip technique, and slower), and wanted to see how others dealt with it.

Sanjay Jain

55 HWT, Recent PB: 2K 7:34

I've never had an issue with it, and I use the 'hook grip', and regularly do a lot of distance work.

What it might be is how you finish the stroke: do you flick your wrists and/or finish it higher up your chest? I have heard of people getting carpal tunnel syndrome from that. It might also be a coincidence, muscular imbalances, weak forearms or something similar.

[Tsnor]

Hook grip here also.

Tight Shoulders are bad for rowing

Tight Grip forces tight shoulders and myriad other problems. I'd guess elbow problems too.

When you find yourself gripping the handle try pretend PLAYING PIANO with your fingers on the handle during the recovery every minute or so. This forces your grip to loosen up and your shoulder to relax.

ALSO check that your arms are RELAXED during the drive ("hanging from the handle, not doing a pullup") until the very end of the stroke. If you start your arms pulling too soon (1) they do no good - your legs are too strong and (2) arm muscles and joints take a pounding.