I'm looking to buy a rower but dont know if it will cause my existing lower back pain to get worse or help eveliate it.
Any one have first hand knowledge?
should I buy if I have lower back pain
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Buckiller
Hard to say exactly from my experiance... I think most of my back pain has originated from OTW rowing (improperly for a while) or from working (bending over a lot)
I think the indoor rower isn't bad on your back at all as long as the damper is low and you have good form and dont overwork... in my experiance it eases the stiffness from earlier workouts.
But since this might be a serious issue (you buying it or not) I would wait for someone with more knowledge join the discussion... I would suggest trying out an erg if you can for a week and see how it goes (YMCAs, gyms, etc.)
I think the indoor rower isn't bad on your back at all as long as the damper is low and you have good form and dont overwork... in my experiance it eases the stiffness from earlier workouts.
But since this might be a serious issue (you buying it or not) I would wait for someone with more knowledge join the discussion... I would suggest trying out an erg if you can for a week and see how it goes (YMCAs, gyms, etc.)
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Sean Seamus
- 1k Poster
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- Joined: May 4th, 2006, 2:59 pm
- Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
back pain can be due to many things - for anyone to predict, without competent medical knowledge and examination, whether erging would help or harm is . . . silly
assuming your medical people do not laugh out loud at the idea (of you erging), start light, and work technique until you feel rather like a clock-work puppet: push, tilt, pull - arms away, tilt, slide slowly - push . . .
the lower back is used as a platform, from which the movement of legs and arms are generated - keep the lumbar vertabrae neutral or slightly arched, bend at the hip, not the waist
start light, and short (5 - 10 minute) sessions, and have someone competent teach you how to stretch the lower back after the work
gently, slowly, lightly
assuming your medical people do not laugh out loud at the idea (of you erging), start light, and work technique until you feel rather like a clock-work puppet: push, tilt, pull - arms away, tilt, slide slowly - push . . .
the lower back is used as a platform, from which the movement of legs and arms are generated - keep the lumbar vertabrae neutral or slightly arched, bend at the hip, not the waist
start light, and short (5 - 10 minute) sessions, and have someone competent teach you how to stretch the lower back after the work
gently, slowly, lightly
Train Don't Strain ~ Think or Sink
I'm a lower back sufferer as well, and I believe it helps me to strengthen my lower back muscles and improve my posture in general. I've misused / abused my lower back muscles for decades due to scoliosis and a compensating posture. I have not had any major back problems since I started rowing.
The only lower back 'problems' I experience now are due to normal recovery after workouts. I can clearly distinguish this pain from the lower back pains I used to have on and off.
Your problem may be completely different than mine, and I do not have a medical background so i'd advice you to try for yoursef and/or consult a specialist. But for me it works out fine.
The only lower back 'problems' I experience now are due to normal recovery after workouts. I can clearly distinguish this pain from the lower back pains I used to have on and off.
Your problem may be completely different than mine, and I do not have a medical background so i'd advice you to try for yoursef and/or consult a specialist. But for me it works out fine.
1969; 183cm; 90kg; Rowing PB’s 2008; 500-1:32 1000-3:19 2000-7:14 5000-19:23 10000-40:29 HM-1:28:46. Recent SB’s not worth mentioning yet :-)
Re: should I buy if I have lower back pain
Check out this link: http://www.concept2.com/us/support/find/rowerfinder.aspbeaver wrote:I'm looking to buy a rower but dont know if it will cause my existing lower back pain to get worse or help eveliate it.
Any one have first hand knowledge?
It will help you find places that have rowers in your area and you might have a chance to try one out and see for yourself.
Bob
I have had a lot of lower back pain over the years, but again, it's really impossible to say if your experience is going to be similar to mine. In fact, it could be very dangerous for you to expect the same, but with that caveat in place:
- rowing has been great for my back, it feels better than it ever has.. note I also do sit up's which also helps..
- as I got a little better at rowing (and I do mean little), I was tempted to do some weightlifting to augment rowing, and.. I hurt my back doing dead lifts. Dont make the mistake I made there...
- I have heard from many folks that slides really reduce the stress on the lower back, you should check that out..
http://www.concept2.com/us/products/acc ... asp?bhcp=1
cheers
- rowing has been great for my back, it feels better than it ever has.. note I also do sit up's which also helps..
- as I got a little better at rowing (and I do mean little), I was tempted to do some weightlifting to augment rowing, and.. I hurt my back doing dead lifts. Dont make the mistake I made there...
- I have heard from many folks that slides really reduce the stress on the lower back, you should check that out..
http://www.concept2.com/us/products/acc ... asp?bhcp=1
cheers
52 M 6'2" 200 lbs 2k-7:03.9
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Another non-professional opinion - my lower back pain was eliminated by the exercises recommended by a physical therapist. Mostly the exercises were designed to strengthen the core muscles. This was about 6 months before we received our erg, and as long as I concentrate on supporting my back with my abs, I've had no trouble on the erg.
Schenley
Wife of Jeff
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/momofjbn/dudes_small.jpg[/img] Mom of Jonathan (12), Benjamin (10), and Nicholas (8)
Wife of Jeff
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/momofjbn/dudes_small.jpg[/img] Mom of Jonathan (12), Benjamin (10), and Nicholas (8)
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Snail Space
- 2k Poster
- Posts: 258
- Joined: September 10th, 2006, 12:13 pm
- Location: Durham, UK
I'm another in the list of back sufferers who have been helped by exercising on the ergo. My back has not been as strong and as trouble-free as it has been over the last 8 months (when I bought my ergo), for about 20 years.
The recurrent themes that come from all the contributors to this thread are the importance of:
* good technique (preferably learned from an experienced OTW rower)
* start gently and build up training volume slowly
* consider slides
The slides are definitely easier on the back. I bought a pair with my ergo, precisely because I was concerned about aggravating a bad back. They take a few sessions to get used to them, and they oblige you to use a good, rhythmical technique (otherwise you bounce about like a pin-ball from frontstops to backstops). I'm now rowing on a grounded ergo until November so that I can prepare for the British IRC, but I have found that the slides have given me a very smooth technique that is still comfortable for my back.
I hope hope we have helped you make a choice that suits you.
Good luck.
Dave
The recurrent themes that come from all the contributors to this thread are the importance of:
* good technique (preferably learned from an experienced OTW rower)
* start gently and build up training volume slowly
* consider slides
The slides are definitely easier on the back. I bought a pair with my ergo, precisely because I was concerned about aggravating a bad back. They take a few sessions to get used to them, and they oblige you to use a good, rhythmical technique (otherwise you bounce about like a pin-ball from frontstops to backstops). I'm now rowing on a grounded ergo until November so that I can prepare for the British IRC, but I have found that the slides have given me a very smooth technique that is still comfortable for my back.
I hope hope we have helped you make a choice that suits you.
Good luck.
Dave