Report finds Erg use is a risk factor for lower back injury

[Rockin Roland]

"Rowing Australia" has recently released two papers for elite coaches showing its concern for the high rate of lower back injury attributed to training on rowing ergometers.

In particular it cautions rowers against doing low rate work on the ergometer which is producing an alarmingly high number of lower back injuries. Some rowers have been noted as rating as low as 12 in training.

The report also refers to Valery Kreshnev's comparison of power development on an ergometer; legs 37%, trunk 41%, arms 22% and a boat; legs 45%, trunk 37%, arms 18%. Longer distance work on the erg fatigued trunk spine muscles which was identified as a cause of lumber spine injury.

During a 60 minute piece on the erg there were significant changes in the way athletes moved. Ratio of drive to recovery time increased as well as lumbar spine range of motion.

The report states "athletes with current back pain regularly report that ergometer rowing aggravates their pain more than on water rowing. When this feedback occurs over a significant number of athletes over a number of years it is difficult to dismiss".

The report recommendation is to keep the maximum length of a piece on an ergometer to less than 30 minutes, good supervision of technique and a caution against low rating work.

Details of this report in summary can be found in the Nov/Dec 2006 edition of Australian & International Rowing Magozine or the Rowing Australia website.

I have no idea if C2 are aware of the above but they still tend to promote long distance challenges on the erg and have yet to place stickers on their ergs warning of lower back injuries.

[PaulS]

Always good to see more repetition of what has been discussed and denigrated over the last 20+ years. I wonder when it will actually become "common knowlege". Hopes are not too high at this point, having observed a certain institutional stubborness, that somehow remains vigorous. (It's tough to fix stupid.)

Of course this particular practice comes as close as possible to "making stupidity painful", which could lead one to believe there is a chance. I'll remain optimistic.

[editedby]

http://www.rowingact.org.au/Resources/e ... ussion.pdf

http://www.rowingact.org.au/Resources/f ... _ergos.pdf

The above are opinions which cite scientific work, not research in and of them-selves. The first is from June of this year the second from September.

[TomR]

I first injured my back playing tennis 25 years ago. It now tightens up when I do physical labor, like shoveling or using a chain saw for extended periods, but rarely when using the erg. If I try an all-out 500 meter piece, pulling hard at high 30-low 40 spm, I feel it in my back afterwards. I've never had problems result from long (60 min), low-rate (18-22 spm) sessions. That's why I like the erg. Of course, I don't pull w/ the kind of power that an elite athlete does, so perhaps having a punyh drive is my savior. Recently I have been doing some 30 minute workouts at 20 spm, pulling w/ high relative power. So far no back woes.

A sample of one doesn't tell you much. I would say, though, that erging is one of the few rigorous workouts that I can do without queering my back.

Tom

[todd]

This is great information. I didn't have any idea about these risks. I have few questions though.

1) There is a lot of comparison between the erg and otw rowing and the increasing number of injuries. What I don't know is, how prevalent is it? For instance do 1 in 10 people who work out on the erg have injuries or is there any data along those lines?

2) Back injuries is a pretty vague term (at least to me). Are they talking like having back stiffness for a few days, or spinal cord trauma?

3) Do you think that non-athletes like myself have a greater or possibly lesser risk because I can't pull with nearly the force of a well-tuned athlete, or would my lesser developed torso muscles be at greater risk?

4) Do you think rowing strapless might be helpful. I do this and have expended all my energy when I reach full extension of my legs.

I've been erging since March and I love it. I'd hate to have to reduce my training, but I don't want to have back pain the rest of my life.

Thanks,

Todd
2k -> ridiculously slow
10k -> even more ridiculously slow
hm -> ditto
fm -> yeah right

[flan48]

I am in the same camp as TomR. I have been erging for a few years now, although "only" 2 months with the C2. I historically have had lower back pain, probably due to the typical arthritis one is apt to get as he or she ages (mine is in the L4/L5 vertebre - very "usual").

However, while I also am not an elite rower/erger, I am quite content to row 35-40 minutes at a 2:35 pace, I do concentrate on good technique. I can tell you that my back feels better, and stronger, than ever. For years I would awaken in the morning with somemmeasure of soreness/stiffness in my back - no more!

I wonder that for those ergers who sacrifice technique for speed, there is excessive use of back and arms that is wearing on the lower back -I am not being critical of anyone, just postulating.

To me it makes sense that rowing or erging can be good for the back if done properly, and like anything in life, not excessively.

Best regards

[Hapa]

Having started out as an Intercollegiate rower, and now just being an erger (is that a word?), I would agree with statements both from the study and from other comments posted here.

When rowing in college, most of us tended to view the erg as a painful necessity for additional training, and doing timed pieces for boat selection. While it was used somewhat to demonstrate technique (easier to do on the Model B than on the newer models), I don't recall that we focused on it while getting our workouts done. Add that to the tendency to not warmup or stretch properly, I can see how the erg could be viewed as having a higher risk factor. I even recall hearing that we shouldn't erg longer than 45 minutes because of this reason.

However, since switching to mostly erging, and no longer getting out on the water, I have been focusing more on proper technique, especially since I have pulled a lower back muscle in the past (not on the erg). I believe that most people on this forum do pay more attention to proper technique and use of appropriate drag/resistance settings, the erg is actually beneficial to strengthening the back area, especially when combined with warmup, cooldown and stretching.

As with any sport or physical activity, when done improperly, has a risk of injury. When done properly, the associated health benefits can be seen. The erg is no different.

Aiko

[jamesg]

I think I'll have to give up erging: as well as getting me rid of backpain, it's given me hard hands and the temptation and ability to walk or ride a bike uphill or chop firewood for an hour or more at a time, get off the sofa easily and even put my socks on without too much grunting. Oh for the easy life on the sofa; what would a little backpain be, to get back to such comfort?

[ancho]

I have quiete a few friends from ny "former otw-rowing life" who have or have had serious back problems, and they also were quite frequent amongst other elite rowers.
Erging as a workout was not an issue then.
I suppose it has to do with the rowing technique used in the 80's, and the way we used to do weights.

No real problems since I'm erging regularly (since early 2005)

I have more serious problems with my knees from running, and can see no warning stickers on my running shoes...

[LJWagner]

I think most back injuries rowing are from people trying to use too much back swing and too little legs, or too much back when tired, or undertrained.

Those ergers whose backs are ok, and use their back within intelligent limits are likely to continue to maintain a healthy back.

[grams]

I started erging to strengthen my back and it has. Remember however, as one of my ortho doctors said: "the body is a sausage".

Translation: in order to have stable back muscles one must have stable front (ab) muscles too. Otherwise the back muscles take too much strain. I concentrate as hard on using my 'front' muscles as my legs and shoulders. Oh yeah, and not slouching when I get tired.

Situps work to strengthen the back too. Not as much fun as erging though.

grams

[LJWagner]

Rowing strengthens my back, too. I still have great posture, and a flat belly.

But I can walk and run stairs better as a result of the leg strength, and draw a higher weight bow in archery with the upper back strength.

Rowing does not make we want to go out and do dead lifts or become a furniture mover.

[Ducatista]

I have no idea if C2 are aware of the above but they still tend to promote long distance challenges on the erg and have yet to place stickers on their ergs warning of lower back injuries.

I don't think warning stickers go far enough. I say we swaddle everyone in bubble wrap at birth.

[PaulS]

I have no idea if C2 are aware of the above but they still tend to promote long distance challenges on the erg and have yet to place stickers on their ergs warning of lower back injuries.

I don't think warning stickers go far enough. I say we swaddle everyone in bubble wrap at birth.

And Ban Motorcycles!

[Snail Space]

I had a vulnerable back for years; a result of the strange English sport, cricket, in which my forte was fast bowling.
Since I bought my C2 in October, 2006, my back has been stronger and straighter than for >20 years. My stomach is flatter too. My posture is much improved and I've had no back pain at all.
I attribute the improvements to sensible erging and concentrating on good technique rather than trying to break records.