Does general back pain go away in time when erging more?

[Gammmmo]

Been erging again now for about 2-3 months and I've frequently gotten back ache (I'm not on about acute injury pain but a chronic dull ache) and stiffness from it. I am stretching and strengthening my back too which is helping, and the pace I can hold now without getting injured is increasing but I just wondered among you "seasoned ergers"....do the back aches ever completely go away i.e. does the body adapt?

[hjs]

Been erging again now for about 2-3 months and I've frequently gotten back ache (I'm not on about acute injury pain but a chronic dull ache) and stiffness from it. I am stretching and strengthening my back too which is helping, and the pace I can hold now without getting injured is increasing but I just wondered among you "seasoned ergers"....do the back aches ever completely go away i.e. does the body adapt?

More me, no. My back almost always has some pain. But it seldom is so bad I can,t do anything.

[ArmandoChavezUNC]

Not for me, it doesn't My back is always stiff and achy. It's a problem inherent with using a static erg - it's really not good for the back.

Much better to row on a boat on the water or to use a dynamic erg.

[sekitori]

I have a chronically sore right hip flexor. While it isn't that painful, it is annoying. The cause is rowing an hour a day, six days a week, over a period of seventeen years--a typical overuse injury. I'm sure that if I rowed for shorter periods of time and took a couple more days a week off, it would feel at least somewhat better. However, since my present routine has been so beneficial to my health and because the soreness hasn't become worse during the past few years, I see no reason to make any changes.

[Anth_F]

Interesting!! I have rowed every day since i got my rower (just over 4 weeks ago) I enjoy rowing every day right now, and i am always excited about getting on the rower each day for a workout. Before i started rowing, i used to suffer with an ache in my back most days and i also walk many miles per day. Before i started rowing, my back would be really aching after walking just over 1 mile or so. Now, about after the first week of working out on my rower i noticed i no longer suffer any aches at all in my back, and feel strong and good posture when walking and can walk 6-7 miles without any suffering of aches in my back at all, and more importantly, i still feel full of energy and great after the long walks.

But maybe i should take at least one day off a week from rowing maybe? Just to wind down, and recharge?

I don't feel like i need to at the moment, but could it all catch up with me later if i don't ? so maybe i should.

[left coaster]

Interesting, I don't experience any back or neck pain from the erg either. If anything, I'm with Anth_F in that I no longer get a stiff lower back on walks and my posture feels better and more stable. I have 'tweaked' my back a couple times doing very hard, max intensity LP and 100m trials but adjusted my technique a bit and haven't had problems since.

Considering I live with a small amount of scoliosis and that I recovered from a protruded disc in my neck about 5 years ago, I've been quite surprised by how well I've managed on the erg. I do sometimes get muscle soreness -- but that type of soreness feels good and ultimately tells me I'm growing. Inflammation pain in my lower back and spine has never been an issue on the erg

[InlineJinn]

I often have a stiff or sore back after rowing, particularly the next morning, and I'm well into my second year of rowing. Two things that always help: stretching (legs as well as back), and heat. I now start most morning with my back against a heating pad while I'm having my tea, followed by some light stretching. Cross-training also helps by maintaining my fitness but using other sets of muscles (I like inline skating).

John B.

[mdpfirrman]

I used to get a really sore lower back. Now, granted, I don't so the meters that some on here do (or the powerful meters that some do - like Armando). I'm doing like 50K meters a week - that's it.

Two things that have helped me - one stretching immediately after the row. Many times I use the rower while I'm on it to get a better stretch. I take one leg over the other (like you sit on a couch with one ankle resting on your knee) and then pull myself forward to really get into the glutes. I also use the rail to turn around each way and stretch my spine. I also do a nice hamstring stretch just by moving the seat back and putting my face into my knees.

The other thing that has helped is working on form rowing unstrapped. The other day, I did the Ed McNeeley power work (20 reps of 10 seconds on and then 1 minute off). The first time I tried that around 6 months ago, I killed my lower back. This time I was fine. I've only started doing unstrapped work in the last 3 months. I think all that unstrapped work better helped me to work the correct way and with the correct form.

[Parky]

I've been a back-pain sufferer for over 50 years and the only advice I would offer is to strengthen your core muscles. Ab crunches are a pain, but my back's a lot less painfull when my abs and obliques are in good fettle. I haven't got a six pack, more of a jelly belly, but the strength is in the abs, it's just that they're well disguised.

At least 100 ab crunches and a lot of sideways bending with weights.

[Carl Watts]

Rolled a car when I was 20 something and back pain was a problem for years. Still see a Chiropractor but its like every 6 months and most of the visits these days are for a "Tune" to keep it in good shape rather than trying to fix a problem so yes rowing has helped my back pain. i would say it depends on the injury and where it is in your back. If you get acute pain while rowing your body is telling you to quit what your doing, find a different sport. the rowing has developed my core which I believe has helped support my lower back problem so these days despite the increasing age, the back is better than ever.

Of course you need to learn about drag factor and not just whacking the damper up to "10" as thats a sure way to get back problems.

[Parky]

Trust me to open my bleedin' mouth!!!!
I went to the gym just one day after my last post, walked into the changing room, turned to put my bag on the seat and wham!!!!
My back clicked and I've been in agony for the last 3 days, taking painkillers and anti-inflamatories and can't even straighten up.

Hells bloody bells! That'll teach me.

[chrisl]

I've got this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trigger-Point- ... 1572243759 and one of these http://www.theracane.com and I noticed one hanging up in the background on the latest Dark Horse vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImX1ipZk7uU

ObForumDisclaimer: this is general feedback on something I use, not specific advice. If you're concerned about your back you should get along to a qualified healthcare professional for a medical assessment.

Chris

[Gammmmo]

Now I've been erging since April I do feel as though general back pain has reduced. I do find though that core work is imperative as is stretching especially after getting off the erg. I am now introducing longer sessions of an hour and did my first HM at the weekend. This did create some acute aches and pains in new areas of the back mainly in the thoracic or mid part of the back oddly enough as up until now it's mainly been lower down. I think the longer sessions mean the erger is more likely to slip into bad form (I know I do).

[jamesg]

My doc showed me a wallchart that said there are 800 causes of back pain. Rowing was not one of them, tho' good posture is best, given the fairly high forces involved. Lifting the boat out of the water is risky, if not done with some care.

My guess is that most skeletal problems derive from weakness and loss of stability due to cars, desks and sofas. The erg cured all my aches and pains as from day one. Kayak too was a good help, probably due to the rotation as well as the exercise in itself.

[Nick]

I've got a touch of osteo-arthritis (age related) in my lower back that usually gives me problems when I wake in the morning. Since I get my erg time in at zero dark thirty I've developed a routine that really works nicely for me. I use an electric heating pad set on medium to medium high. I wear a t-shirt between the heating pad and my skin to keep from getting burned. Basically, I use the heating pad for the 15 or 20 minutes it takes me to have a large mug of tea. That seems to loosen the back muscles up very nicely. Also, when I row, I consciously strive to keep my back straight through the strokes. Seems to help. I'm about to crack 4 million meters. Good luck and have fun!