I turned my foot four weeks ago and assumed it was a tendon sprain. I resumed rowing after a few days and continue to row daily ( 8-15k). I don't have any significant pain while rowing. However, I still have pain during any weight bearing activity. I went to the doc today and he diagnosed an avulsion fracture of the 5th metatasal. I'm now in a walking boot. My question--Can I continue to row (w/o the boot) or should I cease and desist for 4-6 weeks. I tried rowing with the boot but quickly discovered that it places my body totally out of whack and will surely lead to injury! The doc is leaving it up to me.
The thought of not rowing for 4-6 weeks is totally depressing as I can't run or even walk for exercise at this point.
Can I still row with an foot fracture?
Here is an excerpt from my web page Rowing at 60
"I was still in a cast after Achilles surgery which amounted to detaching my Achilles tendon shaving the bump off the back of my heel and reattaching my Achilles. I spent six weeks on crutches and six weeks in a boot. I discovered the rowing machine as a way to exercise with my two arms and one foot. As I slowly progressed to weight bearing and eventually walking without a boot I found that the rowing machine was giving me the best exercise I have ever had. I started feeling like I used to feel after running a 400 meter race when I was a kid. "
I must say that when I was doing this I was not going for speed and actually did not even worry about it. I tried to keep my arms and one leg as balanced as possible and was eventually able to transfer full weight onto the bad ankle.
"I was still in a cast after Achilles surgery which amounted to detaching my Achilles tendon shaving the bump off the back of my heel and reattaching my Achilles. I spent six weeks on crutches and six weeks in a boot. I discovered the rowing machine as a way to exercise with my two arms and one foot. As I slowly progressed to weight bearing and eventually walking without a boot I found that the rowing machine was giving me the best exercise I have ever had. I started feeling like I used to feel after running a 400 meter race when I was a kid. "
I must say that when I was doing this I was not going for speed and actually did not even worry about it. I tried to keep my arms and one leg as balanced as possible and was eventually able to transfer full weight onto the bad ankle.
Tim
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johnlvs2run
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Re: Can I still row with an foot fracture?
Hi Dinodi,
An attacking dog caused me to fall (1976) and have three fractured metatarsals in my foot. I crawled home on my back, soaked my foot in a bucket of cold water and ice cubes, continuing this several times a day and wrapping my foot with an elastic wrap each time afterward. The 2nd day I refused a cast at the hospital, limped out and continued what I had been doing.
A week later a running podiatrist affirmed my method, said the fractures were healing nicely, and that a cast would have been the worst thing for my foot. He gave me a wooden soled sandal to wear and said to keep doing the other things I was doing. My foot was healed enough in 4 1/2 weeks to start walking and jogging one lap of the track, my foot aching at night from the exercise. I continued soaking in the cold water and ice cubes several times a day, and at night.
My foot was healed enough for running at 6 weeks, and back to 100 miles a week in 10 weeks. If this was me I would have the cast taken off your foot and keep soaking it in ice water till healed. A cast is bad because it increases heat, increases inflammation, delays healing, keeps you from soaking your foot in ice water and exercising your foot. I would think rowing should be no problem at all, provided you are able to soak your foot before and after the rowing. All the best.
An attacking dog caused me to fall (1976) and have three fractured metatarsals in my foot. I crawled home on my back, soaked my foot in a bucket of cold water and ice cubes, continuing this several times a day and wrapping my foot with an elastic wrap each time afterward. The 2nd day I refused a cast at the hospital, limped out and continued what I had been doing.
A week later a running podiatrist affirmed my method, said the fractures were healing nicely, and that a cast would have been the worst thing for my foot. He gave me a wooden soled sandal to wear and said to keep doing the other things I was doing. My foot was healed enough in 4 1/2 weeks to start walking and jogging one lap of the track, my foot aching at night from the exercise. I continued soaking in the cold water and ice cubes several times a day, and at night.
My foot was healed enough for running at 6 weeks, and back to 100 miles a week in 10 weeks. If this was me I would have the cast taken off your foot and keep soaking it in ice water till healed. A cast is bad because it increases heat, increases inflammation, delays healing, keeps you from soaking your foot in ice water and exercising your foot. I would think rowing should be no problem at all, provided you are able to soak your foot before and after the rowing. All the best.
bikeerg 75 5'8" 155# - 18.5 - 51.9 - 568 - 1:52.7 - 8:03.8 - 20:13.1 - 14620 - 40:58.7 - 28855 - 1:23:48.0
rowerg 56-58 5'8.5" 143# - 1:39.6 - 3:35.6 - 7:24.0 - 18:57.4 - 22:49.9 - 7793 - 38:44.7 - 1:22:48.9 - 2:58:46.2
rowerg 56-58 5'8.5" 143# - 1:39.6 - 3:35.6 - 7:24.0 - 18:57.4 - 22:49.9 - 7793 - 38:44.7 - 1:22:48.9 - 2:58:46.2
Re: Can I still row with an foot fracture?
You had an xray of your foot?John Rupp wrote:Hi Dinodi,
An attacking dog caused me to fall (1976) and have three fractured metatarsals in my foot. I crawled home on my back, soaked my foot in a bucket of cold water and ice cubes, continuing this several times a day and wrapping my foot with an elastic wrap each time afterward. The 2nd day I refused a cast at the hospital, limped out and continued what I had been doing.
A week later a running podiatrist affirmed my method, said the fractures were healing nicely, and that a cast would have been the worst thing for my foot. He gave me a wooden soled sandal to wear and said to keep doing the other things I was doing. My foot was healed enough in 4 1/2 weeks to start walking and jogging one lap of the track, my foot aching at night from the exercise. I continued soaking in the cold water and ice cubes several times a day, and at night.
My foot was healed enough for running at 6 weeks, and back to 100 miles a week in 10 weeks. If this was me I would have the cast taken off your foot and keep soaking it in ice water till healed. A cast is bad because it increases heat, increases inflammation, delays healing, keeps you from soaking your foot in ice water and exercising your foot. I would think rowing should be no problem at all, provided you are able to soak your foot before and after the rowing. All the best.
52 M 6'2" 200 lbs 2k-7:03.9
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
1 Corinthians 15:3-8