Is Skierg hand grip less "stress" than rower?

[Markyboy944]

Guys

I'm 54, and for some months now have been averaging approx. 6km per day on my model D rower. I sometimes do 2 x sessions, so 12km on those days, not unknown.

I have developed "trigger finger" on left hand "ring" finger, and , from research, this seems absolutely to be down to activity on the rower.

I intend getting some help on technique etc, but , on the assumption that this issue might be a "permanent challenge" for me, I've started thinking about a SkiErg.

[I also have a regular cycling regime, so , cycling plus skierg might be a good balance, with skierg providing upper body and core, with cycling doing legs],

Question is : In "equivalent" use , on a ski-erg (so .. 30 mins exercise), would the grip of my hand be much less stressful on the skierg, than it would be on rower ?

Basically, putting it another way, could trigger finger be much less of an issue on skierg, than it appears to be on rower.

Kind Regards in anticipation - Mark

[btlnorway]

My hands have got some water blisters after SkiErging a hard workout for Tour de SkiErg (10k with 500m avg right under 2:00).
Didn't got any blisters when doing the 5k run.
I got them different places than I got the indoor rower blisters.
I can't remember quite well, but I don't think I got blisters on pinky or trigger.
Got blisters on the side of thumb and index and at the palm. Not so much to worry about.

I also found this picture at the facebook group skiErg. It's Krisitan Stenshams hands. He did 10k at about 35min at tour de SkiErg. Thats 1:45/500m avg.

[Markyboy944]

Thanks for that man.

My "issue" is really the amount of grip in the fingers itself.

IF you've used both SkiErg and Rower, do you think the rower places more stress on the actual fingers "gripping" , or the skierg. (I'm getting the thing called "Trigger finger" , which is a kind of repetitive stress injury to do with finger tendons

Apologies if this isn't that clear ! - cheers - Mark

[btlnorway]

Ohh.. I maybe misunderstood what a trigger finger is. It's like a finger that is hard to stretch out if I understands it correct.
You may hold the bar to hard?
Do you have any medical diagoses like arthritis?
Can it be some fluid accumulation in the joints?

I also suffer triggerfingers after rowing/(and really after chins!!!), but It's gone after a minute or so.
It's not a problem for me after skiErging, but thats me and not you.
when rowing the fingers is the weak link between your body and the handle bar. When SkiErging you don't have that stress in the fingertips.

If possible I think you should go to a gym and try out SkiErg BEFORE you buy one

[pkiszk]

My experience is that there is a bit more tension related to gripping on the SkiErg vs RowErg - for the new SkiErg with strapless handles. I developed similar blisters patters as posted above, also during fast work on a 10k. But they go away after a while. I have recently tried an old SkiErg, and since they have straps, I think there is not so much need to squeeze the handles - you can ski more in way of regular skiing, when you do not have to put so much pressure on the pole. But I have not done 10k on the old SkiErg yet.