Concept2 Forum

Over the last few months I have been rowing quite a bit in preparation for the upcoming indoor events. Recently the back of my knee has begun hurting (opposite the knee cap). The area feels like there is a knot and is hard to loosen up. Has anyone else had this condition? Any suggestions?

Andy

I have bad knees also from cross country, track, football, I am actually contemplating arthroscopy on my right.
All of which is one of the biggest reasons I took up rowing. Cycling and rowing are supposed to be good for your knees

Not many rowers seem to have knee problems. Some folks on the forum feel strongly that stretching isnt good for you, I tend to stretch a little, I dont know if it helps or hurts.
- Do you warm up easy-->medium for 8-10 minutes prior to working out? if not, you should.
- If you do stretch, do it after your warm up and before the work out.
- Be sure to cool down also with an 8-10 minute easy row.

Glucosamine Chondroitin (and calcium) has certainly extended the life of my knees. I would recommend giving that a try.

This sounds as if you are overextending your leg and causing excess stress on your knee. Note the point at which the seat has moved as far as it is going to during the drive, and that this can be accomplished with your knee not even being quite straight (well, it's straight, but not hyperextended at all), this is how far it should go while rowing. The tendency to "lock out" the knee is quite common in self-taught Ergers, and that leads to "bouncy knees" at the finish (mostly out of reflexive actions), which is not a good thing and reduces the effectiveness of the drive overall.

Drive the legs as straight as required, but no straighter.

atblsb wrote:Over the last few months I have been rowing quite a bit in preparation for the upcoming indoor events. Recently the back of my knee has begun hurting (opposite the knee cap). The area feels like there is a knot and is hard to loosen up. Has anyone else had this condition? Any suggestions?

Andy

Andy - I too developed pain in the back of both knees after a particularly strenuous regatta in which I raced seven times (1000M on the water) in four days. In the subsequent weeks, it became a big problem - one that I wanted to figure out during the off season so as to be ready to go again in the Spring - so I went to the doctor.

Long story short - after MRIs, both knees had torn cartilage - the medial meniscus. Arthroscopic surgery has cured the problem and I'm back at about 90% now after four weeks.

Rowing isn't supposed to be hard on the knees but there are potential issues, at least in the boat, for those of us with crooked legs.

Highly recommend you talk to your orthopod.

MM