how much stress do skiergs put on your knees?

[dannyb321]

hi!

I was a very keen tower but due to a damaged knee I needed to give it up. I now cycle but miss the rowing and was looking at the skierg as a replacement workout tool.

my question to all you experienced ergers is how much stress does this type of exercise put your knees under?

having looked at a few videos on you tube it doesn't look like the squatting stage of the exercise is that extreme but not having tried one out it us difficult to make a decision based on watching a video.

I can squat but not to 90%, maybe 45% at best.

thanks in advance

Danny

[hjs]

If you can stand in your feet and bend your knees a bit you are fine. The stress is bodyweight without extra. The main movement is a standing crunch/goodmorning. Most stress is on the shoulders.

[dannyb321]

that sounds positive!

thanks for the prompt reply

Danny

[hjs]

that sounds positive!

thanks for the prompt reply

Danny

Cheers, if possible give one a try, but like I said, if you can stand and walk (not run) your knees will be fine.

[dannyb321]

I think I will try and track down somewhere in Leicester that uses them so I can try one out

thanks again

Danny

[Citroen]

There's a bunch of folk in Nottingham who may be able to help at http://concept2.co.uk

[Steve W]

I think I will try and track down somewhere in Leicester that uses them so I can try one out

thanks again

Danny

The skierg is my go-to workout when there is knee or back pain. Have seen workouts done in wheelchairs, have done one workout in a regular chair but usually use it standing. The extent of squat performed during a workout is up to you. Have over a million meters this season with many half marathons and one full. Love my rower but love my skierg just as much and is less painful on my back and knees. Great workout!

One other food for thought...paddle adapter. Rarely hear much about it but it is smooth and works. Is retro-fitted on a c2 rower and have probably done equal number of workouts standing and sitting. No full marathons yet, leave that for the river, but have done halfs.

Good luck on your quest for health!

[lindsayh]

my question to all you experienced ergers is how much stress does this type of exercise put your knees under?

My knees are very dodgy and been a problem for some years - I limp a lot, can't run and discomfort all the time (but bearable), replacement in is my future. Even very serious erg is possible and doesn't cause grief - I do 40-60k a week. I can still go forward to shins vertical at the catch. All the professional advice is that it is ok to go hard - it won't hurt anything and will delay need for surgery. There was a paper published this week that showed that exercise is at least as effective as medication in delaying the need for joint replacement surgery in people ready for the procedure.

[hand]

my question to all you experienced ergers is how much stress does this type of exercise put your knees under?

My knees are very dodgy and been a problem for some years - I limp a lot, can't run and discomfort all the time (but bearable), replacement in is my future. Even very serious erg is possible and doesn't cause grief - I do 40-60k a week. I can still go forward to shins vertical at the catch. All the professional advice is that it is ok to go hard - it won't hurt anything and will delay need for surgery. There was a paper published this week that showed that exercise is at least as effective as medication in delaying the need for joint replacement surgery in people ready for the procedure.

My experience has been similar. Arthritic hip limiting (eliminating) ability to run / downhill ski etc. along with some related knee pain. Hip replacement is in my future, and was in fact recommended more than 5 years ago. Being young for such surgery, I put off meeting with a surgeon and explored exercise options.

SkiErg has not caused additional pain in either hip or knee. Better yet, the movement & exercise significantly reduced ongoing pain. Despite joint limitations, and extreme sensitivity to impact through the legs, I am able to use full range of motion when SkiErging. I personally credit my SkiErg with delaying surgery by years and improving my daily quality of life.

As said by others, the squatting component of the exercise is essentially optional based on your comfort level. Best performance / times, obviously involves your legs, but full cardio workout possible without bending. Definitely a unique exercise, but if you come from a rowing / biking background, I'd think high likelihood of being pleased with the potential for (good) pain and reality of focusing on little other than the exercise itself while working out.

Worth trying out in person before you buy if possible (check the erg finder to see if there's one near you(, but resale on C2 machines is high, so likely worth the small net investment to try in your home.

[meintjiesj]

I had knee arthroscopy surgery 10 days ago on right knee and was doing 3x7 min easy SkiErg from day 4. I didn't add the heel lift until day 8 but once I did I didn't have any more discomfort than the normal swelling. Did 10x30sec HIT session today after a warmup and was keeping it below 2min per 500m each one.
So I would say it is probably safer on knees than laying in bed....

[Dreadnought]

having looked at a few videos on you tube it doesn't look like the squatting stage of the exercise is that extreme

I agree. It’s totally unlike a real squat since the effort occurs while pulling down, so your are using the hip flexors and the hamstrings.
You don’t really put much exertion in your quads and glutes since you rise up in recovery.

[Mechanical]

I'm an avid cyclist and wanted to use the SkiErg for crosstraining.

It does put pressure on knee. If you are not careful you can acquire chondromalacia. It also puts stress on your MCL and your patellar tendon.

I would not recommend this for anyone with back problems. Anyone who does crunches knows while your abdominals are crunching, your erector spinae are extending. Partial crunches are recommended for those with lower back issues where the feet, tailbone, and lower back should remain in contact with the mat at all times. The SkiErg is not a partial crunch.

[kini62]

I'm an avid cyclist and wanted to use the SkiErg for crosstraining.

It does put pressure on knee. If you are not careful you can acquire chondromalacia. It also puts stress on your MCL and your patellar tendon.

I would not recommend this for anyone with back problems. Anyone who does crunches knows while your abdominals are crunching, your erector spinae are extending. Partial crunches are recommended for those with lower back issues where the feet, tailbone, and lower back should remain in contact with the mat at all times. The SkiErg is not a partial crunch.

As for the stress on the knees, unless you're form is really bad, it's pretty much non-existent. I have a bad knee, I've had "runner's knee" and there is no way using the skierg that will induce it, unless you're form is really bad.

As for the back issue, sure if you have a severe pre-existing back injury the skierg in not really for you. For moderate back issues, form is crucial. Use good form and even those with moderate back issues can use the skierg without exacerbating or inducing a back injury.

[shu246]

You can do deep knee bends on it if you want to, as well as deep waist bends. There is a remarkable number of arm pulls, body lunges, and general dance around moves. None of these is efficient use of energy for racking up meters. The classic, efficient, approved form is a gravity drop of the upper body, flowing into stomach crunch, slight bend of knees, finish with arm stroke. My shoulders get sore; knees fine.

[flatbread]

should not be much compression on the patella at all -- if there is, you are not hinging your hips backward as you engage your abs/core and drive the arms down.

disclaimer -- I don't yet own a ski erg, but I have been practicing the movement with resistance bands while on the wait list.

Henry refers to the recovery as a "good morning," and that's not quite right -- it's a bit more like the top 25% of a dead lift (except the arms are not hanging down holding the weight). It's a hip hinge, and the glutes should be doing more than the quads both on the drop and the rise.

doing some single-leg dead lifts and romanian dead lifts with dumbells and a light/moderate weight would be a good way to practice the hip hinge. your knee should not come forward much at all -- hinge the hips and drop your butt back.