Blisters, abbrasions, and other losses of skin

Scout · Post by **Scout** » August 2nd, 2006, 12:16 pm

This is a dual questions from someone who knows just enough to be dangerous (primarily to myself).

I don't mind the blisters on my hands too much (I mainly get them on the water anyways), but I get this weird friction on the model C seat that leaves a very raw spot right next to my tailbone (doesn't happen on the water). Does this happen to anyone else? Any ideas on how to prevent it, or if that isn't possible, how to deal with it?

Also- what do y'all do for the blisters on your hands? I've got pretty good callouses going now, but occasionally when I spend a little time sweep rowing again I get a new set of blisters. I've heard that super glue, tape, and tea bags are all good, but not sure about how to go about applying these various rememdies.

Thanks for your suggestions!

KateB

TabbRows · Post by **TabbRows** » August 2nd, 2006, 2:59 pm

I think blisters and callusess are just part of the sport. And I don't get blisters sweeps rowing anymore, or with ergs but some sculling oars gribs will leave me with blisters. In a single, that's my signal that its time to head in. In a quad, I just try to get the better gripped oars or work through it. I've read somewhere that if you take off the grips and replace them with the grip tape used for aluminum baseball/softball bats, you'll reduce the likelihood of getting blisters when sculling.

LJWagner · Post by **LJWagner** » August 6th, 2006, 1:45 pm

Adjust your grip, man. Too much time on the water, and a grip that has you pulling with your wrists not quite straight.

Check for a rough spot on your oar where your hand rests, and sand it down some.

I lucked into a sweep oar years ago that another guy had dragged a toothed file across the area where the fingers contact the oar, and sanded a bit. I developed callouses that fit to the smooth grooves. I used that oar almost exclusively for two years. I only got the occassional blister on the side of my thumb, but never the other four fingers or palm.

Carl Henrik · Post by **Carl Henrik** » August 7th, 2006, 4:18 am

Am I understanding this correctly: You were advised to put super glue on the handle, and then grip firmly for up to an hour when rowing?

Sounds to me like someone is pulling a harsh joke on you?

I think you should stick to the tape

Andy Nield · Post by **Andy Nield** » August 7th, 2006, 7:21 am

Do you wear cycling shorts for rowing?
or possibly shorts with a large seam running down the middle of the back?

Either of those could explain the raw spot near the tailbone...

Yankeerunner · Post by **Yankeerunner** » August 7th, 2006, 8:03 am

Scout wrote: Also- what do y'all do for the blisters on your hands? I've got pretty good callouses going now, but occasionally when I spend a little time sweep rowing again I get a new set of blisters. I've heard that super glue, tape, and tea bags are all good, but not sure about how to go about applying these various rememdies.

Thanks for your suggestions!

KateB

I seem to remember Mary Perrot suggesting both the superglue and the teas bags. I believe that the tannic acid in the tea bags is supposed to heal the blister faster. The superglue might have been a solution for when the skin over the blister comes off and leaves the tender flesh underneath exposed. Applying a layer of superglue and letting it dry serves as protection from letting infection get at it. (If I'm remembering correctly).

Rick

Daegan · Post by **Daegan** » August 9th, 2006, 9:00 pm

Yikes! Not Super Glue....use SURGICAL glue. It will adhere to the wound and will slowly wear off as the skin underneath heals. You can find the glue in any pharmacy.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » August 9th, 2006, 9:50 pm

LJWagner wrote:Adjust your grip, man.

If your grip "leaves a very raw spot right next to my tailbone" I agree with Larry...you definitely should adjust it.

LJWagner · Post by **LJWagner** » August 10th, 2006, 4:56 pm

Sounds like you need a little more meat on your seat regarding the sore tailbone.

. Should give you a better profile, too.

Could get a couple of the stick-on seat pads, but split them in two, and remove a bit of the center. That would give you some elevation to prevent the friction.

Or squeeze the glutes tighter to lift yourself up a bit higher on the seat, and keep yor tailbone from dragging.

Or could dig out a channel in the center of the seat the amount necessary to keep the tailbone from contact.

The Vulcan · Post by **The Vulcan** » August 16th, 2006, 7:03 am

Not to get too personal, but what kind of bottoms are you wearing when you row? The first couple of times I was on the rower, I wore spandex pants and underwear, and a small wrinkle where the underwear bunched up and got sweaty was enough to cause two very painful blisters. Although my husband got quite a laugh from it (you have a blister WHERE?). I started rowing with the spandex pants only, and haven't had a problem since.

amyc · Post by **amyc** » August 18th, 2006, 6:16 pm

I got blisters near my tailbone and I have plenty of padding!! I discovered that soft cotton underwear did not chafe as much. Also I started putting a smear of vaseline before rowing right on the susceptible spot and the blister doesn't form.

Scout · Post by **Scout** » August 20th, 2006, 7:32 pm

Thanks for the good thoughts (and a few good laughs- I have PLENTY of padding myself, so that wasn't the issue

). The vaseline will probably do the trick. (Ooooo... that just sounds so wrong out of context...).

Thanks!

KateB

The Vulcan · Post by **The Vulcan** » August 21st, 2006, 7:32 am

An alternative to the vaseline would be a product called Body Glide, marketed to runners to prevent chafing. It comes in a stick like deodorant, and doesn't feel as icky as vaseline.

thomas144 · Post by **thomas144** » August 23rd, 2006, 12:03 pm

I am having a similar problem with a chafing sore on my butt (I found this site in hopes of getting some tips).

I row a 10K every morning - it's been bothering me lately but more so since I actually saw the large (about the size of a quarter) red spot on my butt (hard to describe where it is - hard for me to see in the mirror cause it's really where the moon don't shine).

My wife suggested I take a break from rowing for a few days. She means well.

So I guess vaseline of this runner's stick stuff is the way to go...

Alissa · Post by **Alissa** » August 23rd, 2006, 2:00 pm

If it's your clothes that are chafing, then by all means make a change or use bodyglide or vaseline, but if your tailbone is rubbing on the seat, consider that you may have a posture/technique issue to address.

If that's the case, try sitting very erectly on on the forward part of the seat on your "sitz" bones. Note that your tailbone is now not touching the seat. This posture should also help make sure that your pivot is from the hip (that is, where the thighbone meets the pelvis), instead of from the low back.

Good luck!

Alissa

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Blisters, abbrasions, and other losses of skin

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