Concept2 Forum

I rowed a 20 minute engine test today (choked half way through, it was bad) and then after taking a 5 minute break got back on and started pulling a 12k piece.

About 5 minutes in my hand locked up around the oar and I couldnt' straighten it. I had to take my hand into a fist and slowly work my range of motion from there.

I tried taping, but my ring finter (the one that was locked around the handle the worst) tried to pull back down around the handle. I locked up 6 or 7 more times and I only got half way through my piece.

When the hand was wrapped around the handle, any shift to the left or the right would cause significant pain in my hand.


Anyone have any idea if this is tendonitis or something else that's just funky?

stargazertechie wrote:I rowed a 20 minute engine test today (choked half way through, it was bad) and then after taking a 5 minute break got back on and started pulling a 12k piece.

About 5 minutes in my hand locked up around the oar and I couldnt' straighten it. I had to take my hand into a fist and slowly work my range of motion from there.

I tried taping, but my ring finter (the one that was locked around the handle the worst) tried to pull back down around the handle. I locked up 6 or 7 more times and I only got half way through my piece.

When the hand was wrapped around the handle, any shift to the left or the right would cause significant pain in my hand.

Anyone have any idea if this is tendonitis or something else that's just funky?

I'm not sure what that was. Muscle spasm? Torn tendon? Avulsed muscle?
I personally would not have continued the workout after such an incident. Give it a rest and let someone in sportsmedicine look at it.

I just kind of looked at it as the price you have to pay to row in college... half my team was like "Take it easy, just quit" and the other half was all like "C'mon, PULL THROUGH IT!"

So I compromised... I pulled half of my 2nd workout with my fingers taped.

Everyone I know who has competed seriously has had to deal w/ injuries. They are a fact of life for athletes, but you need to be thoughful in how you proceed once injured.

First, have the injury examined by someone competent, meaning a doctor or trainer. Entrusting the disagnosis to teammates ior people posting on the internet s unwise.

Second, determine whether continuing will merely hurt or will it will cause harm. There's a big difference between the two.

If something is only painful, you may choose to continue as long as you can. If the injury could become worse if you go on, then it's time to stop and get the appropriate treatment, including rest.

So I went back and pulled a slower pyramid piece, no problems.


Yeah, I'm confused now, but that's ok, I usually am.

stargazertechie wrote:So I went back and pulled a slower pyramid piece, no problems.


Yeah, I'm confused now, but that's ok, I usually am.

I'm glad to hear that you had a recovery from the apparent injury.
The no pain/no gain mentality is nothing new. We all have to push the envelope in order to excel, but if something happens that is out of the ordinary, it is a good idea to backoff, reevaluate, and be very cautious before decindind to keep going ahead.
Missing one workout is nothing compared to missing several weeks or months from an overuse injury that could develop if you push yourself too much beyond the pain.

to respond to your question. i am a first season varsity rower. I got tendonitis in my elbow about two weeks into our season. An elbow brace and a trip to the doctor works amazingly, you can buy braces for about $15. Try one and see how it works, the only downside is, when i am erging, the brace slows my time and makes work a little bit harder and more uncomfortable