Overuse Injuries

[slwiser]

I agree that over use can happen and I think it happened to me last year. What I learn, I think anyway, is that rowing uses a pulling motion in the arms and back and there is no counter that will balance that resistance. I have added some bands that I use to push against to balance my arms and back muscles. This seems to keep the nerves from being pinched so much when only a single set of muscles are being worked. The same goes for the legs and gluts, we need some work to balance what we work when rowing. I think over use can still happen but keeping the muscles more balanced will keep it under more control. I don't think it takes that much to help balance or relieve the pinching but some needs to be done.

[Mike_AU]

Another update in early October - I think I'm finally on the road to recovery, and the stationary bike is getting me there. My doctor said my overuse injury was from repetitive stress on the rowing machine, putting strain on unequally developed muscles from my old ski accident.

What are you doing to prevent yourself repeating the overuse behaviour from the erg to the stationary bike?

Let's be clear. The problem is not the erg, its your overuse. Unless you do something about it, you will likely repeat the overuse error on any exercise you choose.

[STC]

Right now, I ride 20 minutes a day on the stationary bike at a very moderate pace and do 3x8 pull ups three days a week. And so far I feel great. Everyday I feel more healthy and whole than the day before. So I'm pretty sure what was causing all the pain and tendonitis in my body was, indeed, the ergometer. Maybe running added to the pain, but it was definitely the erg that did me in. I don't know why, and I truly had damaged myself previously, but my doctor says that my body's new muscular makeup just couldn't handle the excessive muscular stresses I was putting on it. I do know that ever since I've stopped using the erg I continue to get better. I can't explain it, and I'm careful on the stationary bike to not ever over do things, but so far so good. I know many of you don't want to hear this, but my troubles came from the ergometer. I thought back to the later 1980's and remembered other times when I had back and arms problems I now think were similar. So please use the Concept 2 ergometer carefully. It is truly a great exercise machine. But thinking that no harm can come from it is a very dangerous fallacy which may lead to serious consequences. Life is good now for me and getting better every day. I hope my experiences with the erg can help illuminate other the experiences of other rowers. Good luck and Semper Fi!

[STC]

I only write this for those who can use the information. In my experiences the pain was feeling in my body was due to my use of the Concept 2 ergometer. I had developed chronic and acute tendonitis in my lower back, lower right leg, and upper arms. I experienced this condition for over three years. At least two doctors and four physical therapists told me it may be from the use of my rowing machine. I ignored them and my condition grew steadily worse. When the pain became unbearable I thought I should listen to what my doctors and therapists were saying. So I stopped using my machine on Aug 10, 2010. I've been getting better ever since. They tell me it may take as long to get out of this as it took me to get into it. But I absolutely am getting better, and it is because I'm no longer using my ergometer. These are just my experiences. For another person things might be totally different. But please don't ask me to back off conclusions I've come to after spending the last four years in constant pain. And again, this is only for me. And I'm only writing these things for those who can use them. Good luck and Semper Fi!

[Mike_AU]

STC, you are an individual, with your own set of physical attributes. No one would have problems accepting that the C2 Erg is not for you, and your overuse of it caused you tendinitis and overuse injuries. No problems with that at all, but that's YOU. Your doctors confirmed that you used the erg to the point that you developed overuse injuries on top of injury caused by your previous ski accident. That's not the erg's fault. Think about it.

You cannot make a generalisation that because of your body and how you used the erg caused you problems that therefore the erg will cause everyone who uses it problems. Everyone else has a different body to yours and will use the erg to their own ends. If they use it to the point of overuse, they may well land up with similar problems to yours, but that's not how most of us use it.

There are thousands of people in the community and probably many more outside it that have not suffered the problems you have. If people are sensible about their exercise then these sorts of issues are highly unlikely.

If runners get overuse injury running around the block, whose fault is it, the runner or the block?

Just sayin'

Michael

[STC]

All well said, Michael. And all true. I just send my messages out to others who may have a similar mindset as me and who might take things way too far. I really feel rather stupid for subjecting my body to the damage I have. But as I've said before, I love the Concept 2 ergometer and truly wish I could still be using it. Alas, that is not to be. Not fun getting older, but better than the alternative. Thanks, Mike!

PS - Still a slight chance this is all related to Gulf War disease. I certainly hope not! Semper Fi!!!

[STC]

Further update - getting much better. And learning more about my injury all the time. I had a Repetitive Use Injury from my overuse of the erg. Wondering if anybody else has experienced this? Thank you.

[STC]

I should have said a Repetitive Stress Injury.

[slackercruster]

OP...you can destroy yourself with most things if you do it in an abusive manner, We are all have different capabilities and have to learn to live within our comfortable means that nature has allowed up to avoid injury.

Yes, we can stretch things. But when we get stretched too far...things can break! Usually this stretching is done under supervision of professional trainers and medical staff. That way we can get feedback so we don't continue on the wrong path year in year out as you have done.

I like to mix things up to avoid injury. When I'm inside, I do circuit training on a rebounder or treadmill, C2, UBC, stationary bike, Nordic Track, Skiers Edge, kettle bells, pogo sticks, jump rope, and Treadwall. I may pick 3 - 5 of these activities and go at it for 8 - 10 minutes each for 30 - 40 minutes of aerobics. After that I may cool down on a slackrack slackline.

If I'm outside I may do some mountain biking, trail running, skating or jogging at a local college track.

Besides these things I do yoga and weight training.

...and don't forget proper nutrition and sleep!

Mix it up and stay healthy..with exercise as well as diet!

Good luck!

[STC]

Wow! You're speaking my language, Slackercruster. Thank you! I wish I had followed, or had even known, of your advice earlier. Then I might have avoided the madness of the last four years. All my best and Happy Holidays!!!
Sean Coughlin

[161km]

This is what makes things a bit confusing. But I really think my problems now are due to my overuse of the erg. I have a long history of pushing the envelope and have subjected my body to much trauma. In 1988, I was in a head-on collision with the straight four that would go on to win the silver medal in the Seoul Olympics at the straight four trails, and I was only saved from getting speared by the fact that the boat that hit me was an Empacher with the large and bulbous bow ball. But I was rowing a few days later at an Olympic selection camp. Then, in 1994, when skiing at Big Bear Mountain in CA, I crashed and gave myself a massive head injury that put me in a coma for five weeks. It took a long time, but I eventually recovered from that and would get back to rowing and triathlons. My pain now I think is from the running in triathlons and excessive erging. Just wondering if anybody else had suffered pinched nerves (which an MRI showed is what I have), and/or tendonitis in different areas of the body like the bicep, the back, the calf and the ankle. Thank you!

Hey-
I developed an overuse injury from my rower. I think that it was from the foot straps and piriformis syndrome. I too race triathlon and I have never had overuse injuries from any of those three sports (sans plantar fascitis in 01-02').

Anyway, did you learn anything new about your condition? Did you resume your normal activity level?

[Rockin Roland]

You can go into self denial as much as you like but for most people overuse of the stationary C2 erg will cause health issues. I certainly experienced this when I was training hard on the erg when I represented Australia at the Crash Bs. Well structered warm up and cool down plans together with a good diet aided by legal sports supplements can help.

However the problem is that a stationary erg only allows a single action movement. This single action/static erg movement places unecessary strain on many parts of the body. It's very hard on the body. I challenge anyone that believes that a static C2 will not cause any health issues or injury risk.

Some of the best rowers in the world, Drew Ginn and Mahe Drysdale, who have had cronic back problems aggrevated by static C2 erg use have stopped using it. They now only use slides or a dynamic erg to avoid back problems occuring again. Surely that's not a good advertisement for static C2 erg use.

If you have any doubt try the following: Do an all out hard piece of 2000m or more on a static C2 erg, then get up immediately after it and try and walk with a straight back. I bet you can't. Then the next day or when you have fully recovered do the same on a Rowperfect erg. Notice the difference. After a hard workout on a Rowperfect you'll be absolutely amazed at how much more forgiving the erg is on your body and still offer the same fitness and strength benefits. You'll be able to walk away immediately with a straight back. I know that because I do that every time.

Don't kid yourself into believing that a static C2 erg won't have any adverse affects on your body.

[NavigationHazard]

Some of the best rowers in the world, Drew Ginn and Mahe Drysdale, who have had cronic back problems aggrevated by static C2 erg use have stopped using it. They now only use slides or a dynamic erg to avoid back problems occuring again. Surely that's not a good advertisement for static C2 erg use.

Not according to Drew he hasn't. On January 12 this year he reported doing a 60' personal test on a static C2 -17931m (1:40.3 average pace). Two back surgeries don't seem to have deterred him. In fact, he seems to have been doing seriously hard erging on a static machine at maximum damper setting so as to strengthen/test his back since his last surgery. For what Ginn himself says he's been doing to try to avoid injuries, as opposed to what Roland claims he's been doing, see http://drewginn.blogspot.com/2012/01/ge ... -from.html

[Rockin Roland]

Not according to Drew he hasn't. On January 12 this year he reported doing a 60' personal test on a static C2 -17931m (1:40.3 average pace). Two back surgeries don't seem to have deterred him. In fact, he seems to have been doing seriously hard erging on a static machine at maximum damper setting so as to strengthen/test his back since his last surgery. For what Ginn himself says he's been doing to try to avoid injuries, as opposed to what Roland claims he's been doing, see http://drewginn.blogspot.com/2012/01/ge ... -from.html

Once again Nav your trying to muddy the waters by not telling the full story. Drew Ginn doesn't use the static erg for his base training. In fact he tries to minimize his time on the erg by incorporating a lot of cross training instead. He even openly states in his blog that the static erg is well known to be bad for your back. That's why he only uses it to test the strength of his back to give him more confidence. Drew considers use of the static erg at max drag as the ultimate punishment or test for his back. If his back can survive a static erg test at max drag then he figures it can survive an Olympic final in a boat. What he is doing is not recommended for plebs like us.

Hence Drew's blog supports my argument that with static erg use comes a very high risk of injury, the lower back in particular. And don't forget, I live in the same city as Drew and therefore often see him train.

[NavigationHazard]

What part of

Some of the best rowers in the world, Drew Ginn and Mahe Drysdale, who have had cronic back problems aggrevated by static C2 erg use have stopped using it. They now only use slides or a dynamic erg to avoid back problems occuring again. Surely that's not a good advertisement for static C2 erg use.

and "no, as of two weeks ago Drew Ginn hadn't actually "stopped using it...to avoid back problems ocurring [sic] again"" do you find so difficult? His blog reports of rowing on a static erg to test his back contradict your sweeping assertion.

Do you have a shred of evidence that C2 static ergs -- as opposed to people misusing C2 static ergs or overtraining in ways that involve but are not necessarily limited to C2 static ergs -- actually cause large numbers of lower back injuries? Didn't think so; the plural of "fairy tale" is not "data."