arms-only rowing?

[Laura Ann]

Turns out that niggling pain on the top of my foot is a metatarsal stress fracture. I cannot row conventionally until this is healed.

Any suggestions on how to go about rowing arms-only? Should I jury-rig the seat so that it doesn't slide (and how)?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give. I can still do upper-body weight work, but I can't imagine how I am going to make it for the next month or two without some aerobic stress release.

- Laura

[c2jonw]

You can row arms only by simply not bending your knees- it's a common training tool. Additionally, I've seen people with all sorts of leg injuries row single leg only, with the injured foot/leg out of the foot stretcher and either sliding on the floor or attached to a skateboard. I believe the inactive leg will still get some amount of training benefit through the activity of the well leg. Good luck with the recovery. C2JonW

[Bob S.]

Turns out that niggling pain on the top of my foot is a metatarsal stress fracture. I cannot row conventionally until this is healed.

Any suggestions on how to go about rowing arms-only? Should I jury-rig the seat so that it doesn't slide (and how)?

Thank you so much for any advice you can give. I can still do upper-body weight work, but I can't imagine how I am going to make it for the next month or two without some aerobic stress release.

- Laura

It is possible, using slides, to row with one foot on the floor.

Without the slides, it is possible to keep one foot on a skate or skateboard. A while back, an enthusiastic indoor rower in England posted a picture of herself on the UK forum. It showed her with her foot in a cast resting on a skate (or perhaps board, I don't remember which).

If you do manage to lock the seat down, it doesn't have to be arms only. There shouldn't be any problem with including some backswing.

Sorry, no suggestions on how to lock down the seat. Note that, even with the seat locked, it will be necessary to brace your body with the good leg. This is quite apparent when rowing in a fixed seat boat.

Bob S.

[Laura Ann]

Thanks very much for the tips, and the hope. I look forward to figuring something out this evening.