Rings And Blisters

[[old] RowedandRode]

Here's a mundane but not insignificant problem: My hands look like ground beef! <br /><br />The handle on my C2 gives me terrible blisters. I have to take off all my rings before rowing because they rip up the C2 handle so badly....and they make the blistering worse. Of course, when I take a break from rowing for a few weeks, my hands soften up and then getting back into it chews them up again (there's a source of motivation to maintain the intensity, right there!!). I know they will toughen into callouses with time. But does anyone out there do anything about it, beyond just rowing through it? <br /><br />

[[old] ancho]

Grip the handle gently.<br />Use hydrating (mosturizing?) hand cream frequently, anyone will work (I use Neutrogena, Nivea or Isdin)!<br />If the blisters open, trim them carefully with the manicure scisors.<br />If rings disturb you, take them off (I only wear one, and it doesn't disturb me).<br />And row through it! <br />Funny looking hands are a main rower's charachterisitic, and are something to be proud of! <br />And you always may tell that you are working on a building site! <br /><br />Take it easy and have fun!

[[old] Citroen]

<!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 19 2005, 02:19 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 19 2005, 02:19 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Here's a mundane but not insignificant problem: My hands look like ground beef! <br /><br />The handle on my C2 gives me terrible blisters. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Is this a model C handle or the model D?<br /><br />I've found that the model D handle does much more damage to my hands than the model C one. I'm doing lots of metres on the Ds since that's what I'll have to use at BIRC.

[[old] krytie3]

I wear padded, weight lifting gloves and that has completely eliminated all blistering and soreness. I second the advice that the handle should be gripped lightly, I think that helps to minimize problems with the hands, wrists and forearms. <br /><br />I know some folks on this forum state that blisters are just a natural part of rowing. I have to confess that I don't quite understand that and don't see why anyone should have to put up with it if a simple pair of padded, fingerless gloves(weight lifting or biking) can eliminate it. Does anyone have any bad experiences with the gloves? Please share with us. <br /><br />If you search under blisters I'm sure you will come up with many past responses on this forum.

[[old] FrankJ]

<!--QuoteBegin-krytie3+Oct 19 2005, 10:24 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(krytie3 @ Oct 19 2005, 10:24 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I wear padded, weight lifting gloves and that has completely eliminated all blistering and soreness. I second the advice that the handle should be gripped lightly, I think that helps to minimize problems with the hands, wrists and forearms. <br /><br />I know some folks on this forum state that blisters are just a natural part of rowing. I have to confess that I don't quite understand that and don't see why anyone should have to put up with it if a simple pair of padded, fingerless gloves(weight lifting or biking) can eliminate it. Does anyone have any bad experiences with the gloves? Please share with us. <br /><br />If you search under blisters I'm sure you will come up with many past responses on this forum. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I agree 100%. The simple answer is the if you have blister problems wear gloves. I have 2 pair of fingerless gloves that I alternate and they work great. It is also easier to get a secure grip. Much easier than with sweaty hands. <br /><br />Frank

[[old] RowedandRode]

<!--QuoteBegin-Citroen+Oct 19 2005, 02:45 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Citroen @ Oct 19 2005, 02:45 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />Is this a model C handle or the model D?<br /><br />I've found that the model D handle does much more damage to my hands than the model C one. I'm doing lots of metres on the Ds since that's what I'll have to use at BIRC. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Mine's a model D.<br /><br />

[[old] RowedandRode]

Thanks for the fingerless gloves idea; I might try that. I do have a pair of padded-palm biking gloves.<br /><br />I know there are folks who believe that you shouldn't wear gloves to row. When I was rowing on the water in university, there seemed to be an aversion to wearing gloves. But I found that rowing on the water with a crew was a much higher volume of rowing than what I'm doing now. So my hands became calloused from the wooden handle on the sweep oar very quickly. Meanwhile now I am an indoor rower and it isn't my principal sport, and not rowing every day means that it's hard to get the same degree of callous on my hands.<br /><br />Regarding weightlifting - I often lift weights immediately after rowing. It can be agony on those fresh blisters! Another reason to try the gloves idea.<br /><br />Thanks!

[[old] Alissa]

Hi RowedandRode,<br /><br />I was reading about your blister problem and thinking about my own hands. I haven't been rowing on an erg very long (I started at the end of June), but don't seem to have either blisters <b><i>or</i> </b> calluses now. The reason I'm writing is that I did have blisters & the beginnings of calluses when I first started, and thought you might find my thoughts on what changed helpful.<br /><br />I think of blisters & calluses as the result of friction (& movement) between the skin and some surface. I think I've stopped moving my hands on the handle. The back of my hand, my wrist and my forearms all stay flat and alligned throughout the stroke, so that I'm not moving my hand on the handle. The resistance from the flywheel will tend to hold the handle stable, so movement between skin and handle is reduced. My hands are in "hooks" so that the handle rests against the fingers, not the palm, on the drive and the thumbs are below, not holding or gripping at all--just resting there so that the handle won't fall out of my hands. On the return, my hands (fingers) are relaxed enough so that I can wiggle my fingers (as if playing the piano or typing).<br /><br />I don't know which of these elements (or if any or all of them) are responsible for the elimination of my blister problem. I, too, had thought about using my weightlifting gloves for a while, but am glad I didn't, since my hands certainly get sweatier inside those gloves...<br /><br />I don't know if this will help, but I hope it will.<br /><br />Kind regards,<br /><br />Alissa

[[old] jfisher]

Use tape. When I first started and got blisters I just used some of that white athletic tape on the couple of fingers that were bothering me. Worked like a charm. You can also use that softer flexible tape as well.<br /><br />I tried gloves, but it made holding the handle too hard. Little hands I guess. Also it made my hands hotter which made my whole body hotter in general. Your hands dissipate a lot of heat.<br /><br />Jeff

[[old] c2jonw]

Try some of this: <a href='http://www.serfas.com/grips_plus/BTY.html' target='_blank'>http://www.serfas.com/grips_plus/BTY.html</a><br /><br />I have one of the machines in our workout room set up with it. I removed the blue overmolded material and wrapped the gel tape on just like on my road bike. Works very well for me, though since it is an open cell foam on the surface it does get damp and it is difficult to clean. Guess the manufacturer hopes you'll replace it.......JonW<br />

[[old] bgood]

<!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Try some of this: <a href='http://www.serfas.com/grips_plus/BTY.html' target='_blank'>http://www.serfas.com/grips_plus/BTY.html</a> </td></tr></table><br /><br />That looks like F4 tape. (which came first the Jet or the tape) Sorry, off topic.

[[old] gibbo1969]

if I could be so bold............. just ignore the pain and after a few months your hands will be like leather and you will be fine.<br />The model D is much worse though............ I used to be in agony when i first got mine.<br />You could try vaseline.