Pain in Shoulders

[jamesg]

I usually get that, when swimming freestyle after a long period of rowing only. Seems there are some bits and pieces in there that never see the likes of work. Lasts 4-5 days, then I can swim a mile. Same with pain in the neck caused by cycling.

I noticed once, after a fastish erg 500 at 35, never done before, pains in the neck and shoulders. Hypothesis: weight of head and the associated inertial loads are not zero. They increase with the square of rating.

At a guess, any new effort will cause us some aches and pains. Important is that these should not be due to bad technique or posture, or lack of relaxation.
So as always, first step is relax, low drag and low intensity. Pull quick and light, recovery slow and relaxed. This gets us fit anyway if the HR goes up and sweat appears.

If you watch Watts, you see the intensity. If you relate Watts to ideal body mass, you have a Power/Weight ratio. You can then adjust these as to whatever results they bring.

[Romper]

Many thanks James.

As I am new to the language of rowing stars, what does a "fastish erg 500 at 35" mean?

Interested to learn more about adjusting the power to weigh ratio to gain whatever output I gain...

What are some examples of adjusting this ratio and how to ?


ROmper

[Citroen]

As I am new to the language of rowing stars, what does a "fastish erg 500 at 35" mean?

I don't think there's anyone apart from James who can parse that. I'd guess 35 is a stroke rate and 500 is a distance.

[hjs]

SO, I have just begun to use the C2E rower.

I have sore shoulders (front), not sure if this ailment is a result of using this rower or not??

The shoulders are not sore during the session, but ache when i am resting and feels strained whenever i reach for something or lift something...

Is this a common ailment among first time users of this machine until the body gets used to it?


Romper

Rowing uses the shoulders in pulling, so the front of the shoulders don,t do muvh work, the only thing they do is lifting the arms up during the recovery.
Are you not lifting your arms over your knees? In other words, after the drive first break you knees and than bring your arms back? This should be the other way around, first the hands back and only than you breek you knees. During no part of the stroke your arms should be high. Always keep them low, and after the stroke bring them forward via a downwards motion.
Often in gyms, people lift the hands over the knees. This almost always means the stroke is completely wrong and weak.
The legs and lower back should do the work. The arms do not. Only the hands work, they should hold the pull on the handle.

[Romper]

Thanks guys,

HJS, I will assess my technique tomorrow and report back on where the hands are..

If the hands are high, would this impact on the front of my shoulders?


ROmper

[Citroen]

Just be very brave.

Grab a camera, take a side on (full length of the ergo) video of you rowing (couple of minutes at most), post on YouTube, post the YouTube URL on here.

[Romper]

will do - thanks Citroen.

ROmper

[hjs]

Thanks guys,

HJS, I will assess my technique tomorrow and report back on where the hands are..

If the hands are high, would this impact on the front of my shoulders?


ROmper

Maybe, to be honoust I never heard this before. Like I said, the frontshoulders don,t do work on the erg.

[Romper]

Just be very brave.

Grab a camera, take a side on (full length of the ergo) video of you rowing (couple of minutes at most), post on YouTube, post the YouTube URL on here.

Hi Citroen.

I have now uploaded a video of me on this forum.




ROmper

[Citroen]

I think you may have the footplates one notch too low. You're leaning too far forward & overcompressing at the front. You need to stop your shins going past vertical.

BTW, I've deleted your new topic and managed to loose the first post on here, we'll stick with this topic.

[jamesg]

Recovery sequence; best get hands away and swing over before lifting knees. Relax, tense like that is really painful to watch. Have a look at the C2 technique videos.
http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/t ... que-videos

[Romper]

WOW - thanks for the feedback guys.

Lots to improve on...

How can i train my body not to go past vertical on the chins? I do try to maintain a vertical chin, but obviously not succeeding....

Should my back be straight at end of stroke (with vertical chins)?

I have watched that video a few times when i first bought the unit and tried to incorporate the technique, but obviously i need to revisit it again...

Given what you just seen on that video, could my poor technique cause shoulder pain (at the front)?


Romper

[hjs]

I see two things.

When you start pulling, you don,t pull the handle horizontal, but the first movement is aimed downwards. Try to have a strong position and pull in a straight horizontal line.
Second you pull in at your belly, aim higher, pull in at your sturnum. This helps with the first point and will give a bit extra room to pull.
Re overreaching, its not that much, try to lean forwards from the waist. Bring you chest to your legs. Don,t focus on overly reaching at the catch.

Also keep your head up, you body will follow your head. If you look closely, you see that in the last part of the recovery you dip you head. When you start the drive, you keep dipping and the legs start pushing, but the connection with the chain is not yet there. This make you push but at the same time bending over. This should not happen, as you start driving,myo head should be up and your shoulders should make the same movement as your hips.

[Romper]

THANSK HJS.

I tend to look down to assess my chin straightenss. Obviously not good.

How do you then make sure your chins are straight without looking down and checking?

Could this poor technique help cause shoulder pain?

Romper

[Bob S.]

As hjs pointed out, your shoulders are lagging behind your hips. This is called shooting the slide and is a strict no-no. It results in the initial leg drive being wasted and that is the key part of the drive.

Also, on the recovery, as jamesg implied, your knees are coming up too soon, i.e. before your hands have cleared them.

As far as vertical shins are concerned, a strip of scotch tape on the bar might help to find the right spot. Never tried it myself, but I have seen it suggested on the forum occasionally. You could also have a mirror slightly on the side so that you don't have to look down. After awhile the feel comes naturally.

Bob S.