Overuse Injuries

[hjs]

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.

Walk away after a hard 2K? It would not be the back that would prevent me from doing that, more the general fatique.

I am a long time back sufferer, can't run or anything but can reasenably row on the c2 static, I do use low drag though. It's a bit double, it does work the back, but it also strengthens the muscle.

[bepah]

Looks to me that roland has a financial interest in Rowperfect, based on the way he is pushing it.

[hjs]

Looks to me that roland has a financial interest in Rowperfect, based on the way he is pushing it.

We could think that yes

[Rockin Roland]

Looks to me that roland has a financial interest in Rowperfect, based on the way he is pushing it.

I wouldn't mind having a financial interest, just as a hobby interest though. However, they are only a small operation and consider themselves as a boutique erg manufacturer. No immediate threat to C2. As the ergs are made in Australia and the aussie dollar being so strong, it's difficult seeing them making a huge impact on the export market anytime soon.

It's a shame. I've never been happier since selling my C2 and upgrading to a Rowperfect. No I don't sell them or have any connection with Rowperfect. I'm just drawing from my experiences with both ergs and trying to educate people on this forum that the humble C2 erg is not the best erg out there anymore.

I think that people are becoming more aware of all the issues of training on a static erg and the advantages that the new generation of dynamic ergs have over it.

[Bob S.]

I'm just drawing from my experiences with both ergs and trying to educate people on this forum that the humble C2 erg is not the best erg out there anymore.

I think that people are becoming more aware of all the issues of training on a static erg and the advantages that the new generation of dynamic ergs have over it.

It is not like C2 is static only. After all, we have the option of using slides and C2 has been marketing the new dynamic erg for well over a year. I have never seen a Rowperfect and I haven't yet read any independent comparison of the Rowperfect and the C2 dynamic (and an Oartec as well), but I have a dynamic now and am pleased with it. I was also satisfied with the performance of my previous machine, a model D, on slides. I could have stayed with that, but preferred to go for the smaller footprint.

Bob S.

[Rockin Roland]

It is not like C2 is static only. After all, we have the option of using slides and C2 has been marketing the new dynamic erg for well over a year.
Bob S.

That's so true Bob. People now have three C2 options. Yet there are still far too many people out there thrashing around on those static ergs. The're the sort of people I'm trying to educate and convert from using the worst option to a more efficient, healthier and enjoyable option.

Bob, as you being one of the more senior rowers on this forum, have you found less wear and tear on your body since changing from static to dynamic? And which of the two options, Slides and Dynamic, have you found easier on the body(not technique wise but rather adverse strain on the body) ?

[Bob S.]

Bob, as you being one of the more senior rowers on this forum, have you found less wear and tear on your body since changing from static to dynamic? And which of the two options, Slides and Dynamic, have you found easier on the body(not technique wise but rather adverse strain on the body) ?

I definitely felt better when I started using the slides, although I took a month off from them for January of last year, because I had signed up for a competition and only the statics are used for those and I wanted to get used to it before the event. For the rest of the year I stayed with the slides. Now I have been on the Dynamic for a couple of months. I can't really tell to much difference on my body. The feel is certainly different, with only about 19 pounds of stretcher assembly, but I can't say that it has made any difference of strain on the body.

Bob S.

[STC]

Hi again, everybody:

It's me. Just wanted to give a status update. I'm finally getting better after two to three years of excruciating pain. I currently ride the stationary bike 10 - 20 mins every day, and sometimes do 10 mins for fun in the evening. If I don't feel up to it, I don't ride. This summer I'll get back to swimming, and this winter I did a little xc skiing. My doctor said it may take me as long to get out of this as it did to get in, but I'm well on my way. My mistake was pushing through the pain when things started to go bad. But that was from my life experience. Rowing in High School, College and after. And then my time in the USMC. It was always best to ignore pain and discomfort. But I paid a monumental price for not listening to my body later. The past four years of my life have been a nightmare, and it was primarily the erg that screwed me up. Some of you won't want to hear this, but some of you will, so please make use of my experience as you can. I can't tell you how happy I am in my life again, but I had to accept my limitations and the fact that I'm getting older. I thought I could blast away on the erg, with no downside, but now I know you must be careful with everything in life. And if you don't want to hear this, I really don't care, because I'm finally on the road to recovery. But don't mean to offend anyone. Sorry, if I have. And my life is worth living again. Good luck!!!

STC 204# 6'2"
Unfortunatey, all done erging

[Atorrante]

I'm currently finishing the 10K MARCH MADNESS challenge with 3 more days to go and as this required overuse of the rower don't know if a pain in my left hand maybe overuse soreness. I don't want it to became an injury. Can it be related to the increase on the meters rowed?

[djh]

I'm currently finishing the 10K MARCH MADNESS challenge with 3 more days to go and as this required overuse of the rower don't know if a pain in my left hand maybe overuse soreness. I don't want it to became an injury. Can it be related to the increase on the meters rowed?

Quite possibly. This year, for the first time, I didn't participate in March Madness. One year it was too much for me and I got a sore shoulder. The following year, to avoid injury, I rowed rather slowly, which seemed a bit pointless.

How did this work out for you?

[Rockin Roland]

That's the problem when training on static ergs, one has to know when to back off in order to prevent an injury. Static ergs are so hard on your body; arms, legs, neck, shoulders and back. It's not until you change over to doing your erging on a dynamic erg that this comes to light.

When using a static erg you need to decide whether fewer,shorter but more intense workouts are more beneficial and kinder to the the body than frequent, long but less intense workouts. It requires listening to the body and juggling frequency, duration and intensity.

I'm just glad that I no longer have to deal with those kind of situations anymore. I've been injury free since eliminating static C2 ergs from my training routine.......and much less stressful(niggling injuries play with your mind). There's no way I'd want to go back to training on a static C2 erg.

[Atorrante]

I'm currently finishing the 10K MARCH MADNESS challenge with 3 more days to go and as this required overuse of the rower don't know if a pain in my left hand maybe overuse soreness. I don't want it to became an injury. Can it be related to the increase on the meters rowed?

Quite possibly. This year, for the first time, I didn't participate in March Madness. One year it was too much for me and I got a sore shoulder. The following year, to avoid injury, I rowed rather slowly, which seemed a bit pointless.

How did this work out for you?

Well, my left hand-wrist pain is much better after the challenge, but, as you mentioned, ended with a right sore shoulder. As i am more a cross trainer, will bike and run more in the coming days, and let my shoulder rest a bit, and i think that this was my first and last 10K march madness.

Thanks.

[STC]

WOW!!! Doing much better by just allowing myself to heal. Excessive use of the Concept 2 ergometer can definitely be hazardous to your health. My issues were overuse and tendonitis from too much running and too much rowing on my erg. I thought no harm could ever come from my erg, and so would push through the pain. As I look back I can see at various times in my life where this was also an issue. Too much rowing leading to intense lower back pain and terrible tendonitis at certain points throughout my body. I'm just shocked at how wrong I was about the erg never being able to harm you. But all's well that ends well, right? And I'm sure I'll still be mending for months and years to come. Regimen now - stationary bike, swimming, walking, xc skiing, some gentle downhill skiing.

Please learn from my mistakes. Use the erg carefully and not to excess. Bon chance!!!

Sean Coughlin
College and Elite Rower
6'1'' 202# Age-47

[STC]

I so wish I was aware of the things Rockin Roland was warning about with the static erg! Because I continue to get better every day, and I'm even looking forward to eventually getting back to running, swimming and biking, as well as both downhill and xc-skiing. I still can't believe the pain and agony I put myself through because of my excessive use of the static Concept 2 ergometer. It was two to three years in a five year period of excruciating tendonitis pain. And now I think this is the same awful back pain that plagued me in the past just after my unsuccessful Olympic foray. So please learn from my mistakes! Err on the side of caution, and go easy on the static erg!!!

[quickstepper]

I so wish I was aware of the things Rockin Roland was warning about with the static erg! Because I continue to get better every day, and I'm even looking forward to eventually getting back to running, swimming and biking, as well as both downhill and xc-skiing. I still can't believe the pain and agony I put myself through because of my excessive use of the static Concept 2 ergometer. It was two to three years in a five year period of excruciating tendonitis pain. And now I think this is the same awful back pain that plagued me in the past just after my unsuccessful Olympic foray. So please learn from my mistakes! Err on the side of caution, and go easy on the static erg!!!

STC... Since it's been 6 months since your last post, or anyone else post on this topic... I believe the word you're looking for instead of this big long paragraph is..... "bump". Glad you're enjoying your rower and that you're feeling better