Posture And Back Aches

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-pduck+Jan 10 2005, 09:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (pduck @ Jan 10 2005, 09:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Whenever I try to straighten my back, I find that my speed slows down. Is there something about having your back slightly rounded that adds power to your stroke? I remember watching the Olympics and watching the rowers, they were not all bolt upright! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> You may not be seeing exactly what you think you are.<br><br>The part of the back that is remaining pretty straight is the lowest 1/3rd of the spine, and it is remaining in line with the pelvis. If the pain being felt is between the two boney lumps on either side of the spine at the beltline, you are bending the part of the spine which you do not want to. We'd usually see this as "collapsing at the catch", it gets you almost no aditional reach, but limits the amount of force your body will allow you to exert on the handle to avoid injury.<br><br>The curve you see on rowers will appear exaggerated due to them having their shoulders low and relaxed to allow more forward extension, and this appearance has been described as a "whale boney shape" that leaves the abdomen a bit hollowed (for those that have not filled it in) at the finish. <br><br>The goal being to drive the handle forcefully on a horizontal plane and stay on your seat at the same time, and this is facilitated by keeping the head on a higher, but parallel horizontal plane through the entire stroke. That could not be accomplished if the back were held ram-rod straight. Remember that the handle is connected to your body through your shoulders, and the higher that your shoulders go during the drive the more difficult it will be to stay on your seat, which will force you you ease up or jump the slide. It's not just having strength to apply force, but also the ability. To generate forces in excess of ones body weight, and avoid injury, the various movements must be coordinated very precisely.<br><br>- Paul Smith

[[old] SimonB]

Hey Paul<br><br>That was a very informative post. My back used to hurt in the way described here, but now I have corrected my techniqueue, it's all better and does not hurt at all.<br><br>Good explanation. <br>Thanks<br>S.

[[old] pduck]

<!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Jan 14 2005, 08:46 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (PaulS @ Jan 14 2005, 08:46 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-pduck+Jan 10 2005, 09:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (pduck @ Jan 10 2005, 09:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Whenever I try to straighten my back, I find that my speed slows down. Is there something about having your back slightly rounded that adds power to your stroke? I remember watching the Olympics and watching the rowers, they were not all bolt upright! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br>You may not be seeing exactly what you think you are.<br><br>The part of the back that is remaining pretty straight is the lowest 1/3rd of the spine, and it is remaining in line with the pelvis. If the pain being felt is between the two boney lumps on either side of the spine at the beltline, you are bending the part of the spine which you do not want to. We'd usually see this as "collapsing at the catch", it gets you almost no aditional reach, but limits the amount of force your body will allow you to exert on the handle to avoid injury.<br><br>The curve you see on rowers will appear exaggerated due to them having their shoulders low and relaxed to allow more forward extension, and this appearance has been described as a "whale boney shape" that leaves the abdomen a bit hollowed (for those that have not filled it in) at the finish. <br><br>The goal being to drive the handle forcefully on a horizontal plane and stay on your seat at the same time, and this is facilitated by keeping the head on a higher, but parallel horizontal plane through the entire stroke. That could not be accomplished if the back were held ram-rod straight. Remember that the handle is connected to your body through your shoulders, and the higher that your shoulders go during the drive the more difficult it will be to stay on your seat, which will force you you ease up or jump the slide. It's not just having strength to apply force, but also the ability. To generate forces in excess of ones body weight, and avoid injury, the various movements must be coordinated very precisely.<br><br>- Paul Smith <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> Paul -<br><br>What do you mean by, "jump the slide?"<br><br>BTW, the pain that I have in my back is between the shoulder blades.

[[old] PaulS]

Jumping the slide is when you lift off the seat enough that the seat stops and you land on the railing when you come back down. A less severe version would be that you end up farther back on the seat when you come back down.<br><br>Pain between the shoulder blades can be anything from a muscle pull to a pinched nerve. Probably best to see a physiotherapist to narrow down the specific source of the pain, one that is familiar with rowing would be best.<br><br>If you tend to let the upper back take a lot of stress without preparing it for the load just prior to the catch there will be a very quick contraction of the muscles that would eventually cause some soreness, much like the soreness caused with intense weight training.