Introduce yourself

[Ripples]

Welcome, Cynthia.

Wow, that had to have been an awful experience, fracturing both wrists. I admire your fortitude in continuing to row in spite of your back problems. If you do a search, you'll find lots of posts on that topic.

I personally think even short sessions are helpful. Certainly better than doing nothing.

Best wishes.

[birchpt]

I recently retired and rewarded myself with a Concept2. I feel stronger every day and have become totally passionate about this machine. I don't understand why rowing isn't encouraged more for an aging population; it is such great exercise without the joint impact. I am so grateful for all of the valuable information in this forum!

[graycyn]

Welcome, Cynthia.

Wow, that had to have been an awful experience, fracturing both wrists. I admire your fortitude in continuing to row in spite of your back problems. If you do a search, you'll find lots of posts on that topic.

I personally think even short sessions are helpful. Certainly better than doing nothing.

Best wishes.

It wasn't fun having both wrists broken, but the worst was really the bad thumb sprains. It certainly engendered new appreciation for how much we use our thumbs!

I'm back to short sessions for the moment. Tried just a bit longer for the C2 Valentine's Challenge and my back didn't like it. Maybe I can work up to longer, maybe short is it, hard to say. Back in weight loss mode, hoping if I can lose a little more weight it will help the nerve inflammation a tad.

[graycyn]

I recently retired and rewarded myself with a Concept2. I feel stronger every day and have become totally passionate about this machine. I don't understand why rowing isn't encouraged more for an aging population; it is such great exercise without the joint impact. I am so grateful for all of the valuable information in this forum!

A great reward! I love mine and only wish I could do more. But I may get there yet.

I don't understand why more doctors/therapists don't encourage it either! Maybe they feel that if people row with poor form, it will backfire. But there's great resources out there for learning form, so it shouldn't be THAT big a barrier! Although I admit, most of the folks who use the C2 at the gym clearly haven't done ANY homework on form....

[skkipper]

Hello everyone! I am 27 years old and living in San Diego, CA. Used to be an athlete and now I just love carbs - gotta lose a lot of weight. I got my Model D in April last year after falling in love with HIIT intervals on the rower at my small gym which closed down. I have injuries from years of tennis and weak ligaments and tendons but the rower seemed unique in that it was not hurting my knees (my sister got her first knee replacement at 35 yo, my goal is to make it longer than that ). I downloaded a program last April from the Interactive Programme and was actually loving it (recently saw that that is no longer available, that is too bad )

But then I got the flu in June which turned into pneumonia and broken ribs from coughing too hard (are they sure Covid-19 wasn't around in June '19???) and my lungs were not really in shape to exercise until early this year. Finally back on the rower now that we are in quarantine and restarted the program from last year. I finally feel like I have time to exercise. Battling those early blisters, but it's going well (3 weeks, every other day).

Is anyone else around here rowing during quarantine? The women's forum does not seem terribly active.

[jackarabit]

Skkipper writes:

. I downloaded a program last April from the Interactive Programme and was actually loving it (recently saw that that is no longer available, that is too bad )

If you didn’t make a hard copy of the particular IP you used, this can help

http://www.redking.me.uk/sport/rowing/ ... ing_v2.pdf

[Cyclist2]

Welcome! I can't comment medically on any of your questions, but from a rowing standpoint I have a few thoughts.

1. Mid-back. No where else in my back, just the mid-back thoracic area. It is a dull ache that sets in after 10 minutes or so of rowing, the kind of ache where the only thing that alleviates it is laying flat on the floor. It only occurs while I'm rowing. Could it be because I'm trying to sit up too straight? I have really good posture already, and it's very easy for me to sit up very straight, so I'm wondering if it's because I should actually allow a slight curve in my back while I row. Or it could be from my scoliosis. I have a slight scoliosis (the degree is classified at the upper end of "mild"), and I remember many years ago one chiropractor told me (upon me telling him I used to be on the crew team) that rowing would, in my case, be bad for my back because I am already at risk for thoracic compression of my discs. I'm really hoping he was wrong about that, and that instead, my issue here is incorrect form. So, I'm thinking that either the pain is coming from overusing my mid-back muscles (incorrect form), or (worse) a disc problem (which means I shouldn't row). Definitely hoping for the former and not the latter...

You don't want a forced arched back, or a rounded back. You want a comfortable sitting back supported by a strong core. Since you are relatively new at this, it may just be conditioning and getting the technique figured out. Watch the C2 videos on technique and do lots of slower, mid-20s stroke rate work until it feels more natural.

2. Knees. But I know why: I have a constant struggle every time I row to stop myself from sliding too far forward at the catch, because I have long, thin, and FLEXIBLE legs, so my natural tendency is to slide past vertical in order to start a nice long stroke, which of course ALWAYS makes my knees hurt, even after just 5 minutes. I always have to focus on stopping myself at what seems "premature" at this vertical knee position.

Raise your Flexfeet up a hole or two until your shins are vertical at the catch and you are comfortably compressed, not forced. A mirror or a video of yourself will help with that. That may help your back, too.

3. On longer rows, my arms always get sore, specifically my biceps from the very last and final pull (going into the release). Either my form is incorrect, or I just have weak arms

This is likely just conditioning. The arms are the weakest part of the stroke and are used basically just to carry the momentum of the stroke to the finish. However, they do contribute, so some exercises to strengthen them are good. You can do these on the rower (arms only with high drag, for example) or with weights or TRX type system work.

There are tons of good threads throughout this forum, plus YouTube videos, etc. to help you get it figured out. Good luck, and have fun!

[skkipper]

Hi! I live in San Diego too!!! I literally just joined this forum right now. I purchased my own Concept2 rowing machine and just set it up yesterday. Like you, I am more motivated than ever to exercise in quarantine. I belong to the Y, which has been closed for almost a month now. So I'm getting used to working out in my apartment, and getting a rowing machine was vital. Many years ago I was on the crew team at GMU, so I am familiar with rowing already!!

Anyway, nice to meet you! What kind of workouts do you do on it so far? If you say you have blisters, I imagine you must be doing long rows!?!

Hello!! This is the program I am doing. Starting out slow and longer and working up to more intense. I might modify it for some longer rows in the maintenance but for now I am on round 3 of the intro. My hands used to be very calloused because of all the tennis but with very little exercise in the past couple years, they have gotten soft, so the 38 min and 45 min rows have definitely been tough on them. I am trying to consciously not grip hard, hoping that I just need to build up a few callouses and all will be well

[skkipper]

Wow, impressive! (Quick question: do you do 3 sessions per DAY??? or is that spread out over like, a week?)

No no, 3-4 sessions per week (every other day). I assume once quarantine ends (I realize that may take awhile) it will be more difficult and my goal will be 3 sessions per week. On the other days right now, I am biking on the wonderfully empty streets, or circuit training with weights and bands. Also working on mobility because my hips have always been very tight.

I remember when I rowed a lot though (30 minute pieces), I would hold the handle so that the first two bones of my finger tips just barely hooked over the bar. So, I was never gripping the bar. Therefore I never had issues with blisters, and never got callouses. How are you gripping the handle?

Yeah, I have been trying to do that, not really gripping just hooking my fingers over the bar. There still seems to be quite a bit of rubbing. I have always been quick to blister/callous on my hands, so I'm hoping I am not too far off in form, just need to get used this.

[Slothful1]

I remember when I rowed a lot though (30 minute pieces), I would hold the handle so that the first two bones of my finger tips just barely hooked over the bar. So, I was never gripping the bar. Therefore I never had issues with blisters, and never got callouses. How are you gripping the handle?

Yeah, I have been trying to do that, not really gripping just hooking my fingers over the bar. There still seems to be quite a bit of rubbing. I have always been quick to blister/callous on my hands, so I'm hoping I am not too far off in form, just need to get used this.

It probably varies by individual. I also do the hooking method, and don't grip too tightly, but have built up callouses over the years. If I've taken a bit of a break from rowing, I get some hotspots on the finger joints when I start up again, but it toughens up quickly enough, and I don't have issues thereafter. I use my callouses as an indicator of whether I'm training enough or not .

Dave

[mict450]

1. Mid-back. No where else in my back, just the mid-back thoracic area. It is a dull ache that sets in after 10 minutes or so of rowing, the kind of ache where the only thing that alleviates it is laying flat on the floor. It only occurs while I'm rowing. Could it be because I'm trying to sit up too straight? I have really good posture already, and it's very easy for me to sit up very straight, so I'm wondering if it's because I should actually allow a slight curve in my back while I row. Or it could be from my scoliosis. I have a slight scoliosis (the degree is classified at the upper end of "mild"), and I remember many years ago one chiropractor told me (upon me telling him I used to be on the crew team) that rowing would, in my case, be bad for my back because I am already at risk for thoracic compression of my discs. I'm really hoping he was wrong about that, and that instead, my issue here is incorrect form. So, I'm thinking that either the pain is coming from overusing my mid-back muscles (incorrect form), or (worse) a disc problem (which means I shouldn't row). Definitely hoping for the former and not the latter...

Would be wise to consult a medical provider who specializes in sports medicine & the spine. You already have a pre-existing condition in your spine. Whether yours will progressively worsen as you age and the effect that erging will have on you, I am not qualified to hazard a guess.

Whatever you decide to do, please stay healthy. This from someone who bears the scars from too much enthusiasm and too little common sense. Now in my mid 60's, the mantra I try hard to follow is, "If it hurts, I don't do it!" For too, too long, I tried to live by the Chesty Puller quote, "Pain is weakness leaving the body." Your older self will thank you.

Stay well & pain-free.

[RhiannonThomas]

Hello everyone! My name is Rhiannon and I'm writing to you from Maryland. I used to be in crew through high school and during part of my air force life, but got out of it for about 8 years now. I picked up a Concept 2 in 2014 and have been using it 2x a week since delivery. I really need to hit it harder. I have no excuses other than I just haven't pushed myself as hard as I should. I really do enjoy it and did a lot of research before buying it.

I was a pretty avid mountain biker too (rode with friends), but a major wreck leaving my distal radius (wrist) shattered seemed to break my spirit and freaked me out enough that I have never gotten back on that horse. So the Concept 2 is meant to replace my mt biking with hopes of getting on the water one day.

It is pretty awesome they have challenges on here and I do hope to partake in one or more. Seems like that is an amazing way to motivate people.

I look forward to reading through threads on here!

[Vic303]

Hi everyone, I'm Vicky. Just got my model D last night and DH and I both did our first rows. I'm about 5mo post-TKR. Weight training is progressing well, with deadlifts being full ROM and pain free. Squats otoh, are no longer below parallel, . On the c2, I notice the ROM is shorter than I'd like.

I must be doing something wrong with the rower because it's too easy. I watched some of the form videos, and am trying to copy that. I did 1500m all at once last night, after a 660m warm up. Spm was around 30, iirc, damper got bumper up to 6 after warm up because I kept overdriving with the legs. The only places I really felt any exertion was low abdomen, and low back from the lean-back in the stroke.

I guess when I get some more sessions under my belt, I could post some video for critique. Hopefully then y'all could tell me what I'm doing wrong.

[kgschneider]

I'm 63 years old, 4'11", ca. 107 lbs (again, after some post-holiday dieting ). After our local Y closed its facility last spring, I picked up running after a 30-year hiatus. It felt great, but I found I could not run more than four or five times a week or run past five miles without incurring physical issues. I got in some rowing at the Y's outdoor workout space and decided I liked it, plus a friend had used a rower for several months after breaking a toe while running and said it was a good alternative.

I am enjoying my Model D, which arrived in early December. My workouts began to feel like workouts after I began looking up free videos on YouTube such as Dark Horse and Tall Trainer. It's a good way to get in a workout during the work week on this short winter days (since I only run in daylight and rarely have more than 30 minutes off between endless Zoom meetings) and rowing also diversifies which muscles and joints are being used. I am learning that arms and shoulders have muscles!

I am going to get a bracket to hold my iPad as I'm peering down at it while I work out (either with entertainment or workout videos) and eventually I'll hurt myself doing that. I see there is a new product out at a reasonable price, https://www.rammount.com/part/RAM-HOL-TAB3U .

[Ripples]

Welcome, Vicky and kgschneider. Glad to have you on board.

Vicky, you're in amazing shape given your recent TKR! How many watts are you producing during your workouts? 30spm is a very fast stroke.

Last night I decided to video myself while using my model D. LOL, I thought I had good form but that video made me immediately decide to work on pick drills to clean up my act.