Rower's elbow

[quickstepper]

Have had it and it's always just there in the background. This year not so much. I don't know if this helped, but I have my last two fingers hanging over the end of the handle now and I think it rotates my shoulders externally to put things more in line - but that's all speculation and coming from someone that barely understands the lingo. I do think that having some exeternal rotation with the shoulders might be worth a try though. I also think that the timing of the leg drive and back swing may take some of the quick load off of the elbow coming out of the catch position.

Hi Glenn,
I tried the two finger row and it worked really well. Now I just hope I don't need to read the info on the sore hands forum . The grip felt wide and very different but I didn't seem to give up any length in my stroke. Seems to have eased up on the pressure on the arms too.

Quick question... Do you have the thumbs over or under when you hold the bar with only 2 fingers?

So far so good. Thanks for the tips.
Marco

[jackarabit]

I place both thumbs stretched along the handle at about 1-2 o'clock viewed from the left hand side. Takes some getting used to. The one thing Andy Benco and I have in common. I use a df between 109 and 116.

[lindsayh]

With this insight I've been focusing on keeping my shoulders back and I don't reach as far forward as I used to - right to the cage - (so I'm missing out on an extra 2-3(?) seconds / 500m Along those same lines, I'll try your suggestion of reducing the shoulder rotation by hanging two fingers off the edge of the handle. I don't use those fingers much anyway. Plus it might widen my grip and I won't get chafing on the inside of my elbows against the outside/tops of my knees. Marco

From what I understand there is little to be gained from getting close to the cage and that once you have reached the catch it is better to begin moving back anyway. It is unlikely to be costing you 2+secs/500m and may in fact be slowing you down. I like the outside fingers off the end as well.

[G-dub]

Like Lindsay says, not over extending from the shoulder and keeping them somewhat packed in helps to make you hinge from hips into catch instead of reaching from upper torso with a crooked back. I'm like Jack too - I don't wrap my thumbs around handle - just let them lay there. I think with packed shoulders, slightly externally rotated shoulders and light grip you take the emphasis off arms pulling out of catch and they sort of come along for the ride until the stroke is ready for them.

[Francesco65-italy]

I had the benefits of magnesium for pain in the elbows:
Magnesium chloride and magnesium oil
To try for believing....

[Gammmmo]

I am an advocate of magnesium oil - it works. I'll try it on my right elbow. I have an ongoing weakness in it from erging. It doesn't interfere with things as long as I don't erg long/hard on consecutive days. What's really annoying right now is it stops me doing bicep curls as that exposes the injury immediately. Last month or so I've worked up to just over 150 pushups every other day. Suspect also this isn't helping it heal but similarly (to the erg) while doing them the elbow doesn't hurt. Oh for a body as strong as my mind!!!

[joe80]

I've erged around 64 million metres during the past 11 years. About six months in, rower's (golfer's?) elbow made life very painful. The advice on the C2 UK forum was to row with thumbs on top of the handle. This felt awkward at first but became second nature within a few weeks. The problem cleared up very quickly and has not reared its ugly head since.

As with all remedies, it's impossible to say whether a simple change in hand position was fully responsible for the improvement. You can understand why I've not experimented with the former grip in the years since then.

Regards,

Joe

[Steve W]

Quickstepper, strongly suggest trying a Theraband Flex-bar. Tried it because of the strong reviews, significant difference for myself after only 2 uses. Had the same painful problem you describe for years. Was VERY skeptical going in thinking something that simple and easy can't / won't work. It was a very effective (and pretty inexpensive) intervention. Suggest the green / medium one...Good luck!

[G-dub]

Steve - I am with you on the flexbar exercises. It does work to lengthen things. I need to use it more often. I tend to only use it when the pain starts!

[jackarabit]

I've tried the wrist and thumb backbend exercises and dabbled with pressure points. Nothing but rest and lowering df has worked for me. I notice that not everyone swears by the Tyler twist exercise with the torsion bar. Is it realiy effective? Immediate symptomatic relief (pain) mostly? I've got too many 20$ pieces of miracle kit already. I'm clear of the fixed contracture in left elbow at present and hope to avoid it in future. I'm dropping all challenge and season volume goals this season.

[GJS]

I have an elbow issue which tends to shift around such that it now presents as tennis elbow, now as golfer's elbow. (This is a work not a rowing thing).

I've used the flex bar - the taylor twist and reverse twist - quite a bit over the last number of years and when the issue flares three or four days of those exercises seems to clear it. (Dimly, I don't do the exercises all the time. I should.)

I have the blue one which requires a little too much force to twist when the elbow is especially tender. As Steve says, a thinner one would be a better bet.

[G-dub]

Jack - it doesn't magically stop the inflammation like people that review it on web sites say. But it does work when it is used regularly in my experience. And now when I get a little flare it does reduce things after a session or two. I just stop using it when things start getting better which is dumb. I too have the blue one and it may be too heavy.

[jackarabit]

Thanx, guys. Sounds like green for me. Surprised they don't make it in pink like my kettlebell.

[Francesco65-italy]

I've erged around 64 million metres during the past 11 years...

Joe

All on concept2 ??

[G-dub]

As it happens, my elbow is brutal right now. I think learning to feather the oar OTW plus more weekly meters than normal has got it totally jacked up. I dread having to rest it. Tell me about magnesium oil!