Rowing while injured (one legged rowing)

Ninjaitus · Post by **Ninjaitus** » November 12th, 2008, 9:25 pm

Hello all, I broke my right leg quite badly a few weeks ago, compound tibial fracture. Had surgery and internal hardware was used to stabilize the fracture. I also broke my fibula but it was left to heal on it's own.

My question is would it be foolish to row one legged? I'm going to be on crutches for 10-12 weeks. I don't want to develop another injury but I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help keep my fitness level up.

I get my staples out this friday and I'll ask my surgeon but I was curious if anyone had an opinion.

Cheers,

d.

Couch Potato · Post by **Couch Potato** » November 14th, 2008, 8:20 am

Check out Carole McNally on the UK site.

marvy1 · Post by **marvy1** » November 19th, 2008, 9:40 pm

Hello - I ruptured the left quadriceps tendon in my knee on Sept 12, 2008. I stayed away from rowing until yesterday, when I got my brace off! I got back on the rower yesterday, however, I don't have full 'range of motion' in my left knee yet. I do about 1/2 to 3/4 a stroke on the catch.

Also, I tried rowing with one leg and it seems OK!

So do what feels comfortable for you but don't over stress your good leg.

Take care and I wish you a speedy recovery!

Marvinh

Nosmo · Post by **Nosmo** » November 19th, 2008, 10:59 pm

I'd do arms and back only or do something that you can without legs.

keepitlow · Post by **keepitlow** » January 20th, 2009, 4:24 pm

Upper body bike.

http://www.biodex.com/rehab/cycles/cycles_130feat.htm

If you can row with one leg let us know how it goes.

I often suffer from knee or hip injuries and could make use of your idea.

doryman · Post by **doryman** » January 29th, 2009, 11:33 pm

I just broke my fibula (skiing) and I am in a walking cast for six weeks

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My doctor suggested the erg and I gave it a try today. I put both feet in their proper places in the foot stretcher but only strapped in the good leg. The walking cast has a rocker bottom so I can row using my good leg while the walking-cast leg appears to just go along for the ride. The bad leg is moving, but I'm not pushing off with it (I don't think I even could with this cast). I feel no pain in the bad leg, all the movement is coming from the knee, the ankle (the break is near the ankle) is immobilized.

grams · Post by **grams** » January 30th, 2009, 10:25 am

I borrowed some slides and used them while recovering from acl replacement surgery. One foot on the floor and one on the erg. With slides, the machine moves under you so for the non-rowing leg you don't bend your knee or move your leg. I also remember a lady who strapped a skateboard to her foot cast and rowed that way.

My main complication: having my good leg quad get twice as big as my other leg.

grams

Couch Potato · Post by **Couch Potato** » January 30th, 2009, 3:40 pm

grams wrote:......... I also remember a lady who strapped a skateboard to her foot cast and rowed that way.......

grams

Carole McNally?

grams · Post by **grams** » January 30th, 2009, 4:54 pm

Yes, CArole. I'll never forget her, although I never met her in person.

grams

tjf0 · Post by **tjf0** » January 30th, 2009, 9:29 pm

I actually got started using an erg last February after I had achilles surgery for haglund's deformity. I was on crutches for 6 weeks with no weight bearing and then in a boot for another six weeks. It drove me crazy since I was a jogger and racquetball player before surgery. I found that a rowing machine could give me a good workout just using my arms and one leg. I have continued to row since it is such a great workout and it has replaced my jogging. I am also back to full strength playing racquetball and cycling. I joined the 1 million meter club in November and have found the online comparisons a great motivator to keep challenging one self.

My initial goal was to break 20 for the 5k which took a few months once I got my other leg back but I now do as part of my standard workout (amazing how that works). I turned 60 in July and broke 7:20 for the 2k which is pretty tame compared to all the sub 7's I see online but they give me something to shoot for.....

doryman · Post by **doryman** » February 1st, 2009, 7:43 pm

Did you keep your bad leg off to the side, or did you keep it in the foot stretcher and just not push off with it?

tjf0 wrote:I actually got started using an erg last February after I had achilles surgery for haglund's deformity. I was on crutches for 6 weeks with no weight bearing and then in a boot for another six weeks. It drove me crazy since I was a jogger and racquetball player before surgery. I found that a rowing machine could give me a good workout just using my arms and one leg. I have continued to row since it is such a great workout and it has replaced my jogging. I am also back to full strength playing racquetball and cycling. I joined the 1 million meter club in November and have found the online comparisons a great motivator to keep challenging one self.

My initial goal was to break 20 for the 5k which took a few months once I got my other leg back but I now do as part of my standard workout (amazing how that works). I turned 60 in July and broke 7:20 for the 2k which is pretty tame compared to all the sub 7's I see online but they give me something to shoot for.....

tjf0 · Post by **tjf0** » February 2nd, 2009, 9:40 pm

When I was on crutches and no weight bearing I kept my casted foot off of the erg and was really careful to just use my arms and one good leg (this was for six weeks). When I got in a walking boot for another six weeks I experimented but eventually just placed the walking boot in the foot wells and pushed with just the good leg. The walking boot was on for another six weeks. Once I got rid of that and started PT I gradually worked on adding pressure with my bad foot. It actually took much longer than I would have imagined but an now pretty much fully recovered after about a year. I am also back to playing racquetball twice a week which is great.

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