Muscle strain and rowing

[BondHaimBond]

I developed what seems to be a muscle strain last week. Hurts when I extend or fold my arm or rotate it. I took a break from rowing for a few days, however, I can feel pounds are stocking up and miss the workout. Thinking of putting a compression sleeve and fight through it, thoughts?

[Dangerscouse]

Only you know how it feels, but it might be worth a try and see if it eases or gets worse, assuming that it's not actually painful

If it's a muscle strain you're probably best to rest it, but I have worked through some strains and it's been a good idea

[Dutch]

If its on the elbow area I had it about 2 yrs ago. I rowed with two compression bandages on, but only lightly I took the drag right down. Damper was at its lowest. My right arm, which was the one that was injured was really just supporting the handle. My left arm was doing all the work, but the pull was light as anything. It took about 5 weeks to heal.

[BondHaimBond]

Dutch hit it on the head, it is elbow area, right arm. I'll give it another day and do yardwork instead.

[Slidewinder]

The stock C2 handle is a bio-mechanical abomination, so injuries such as this are inevitable. A rowing ergometer handle is a human/machine interface. At any such interface the machine should adapt to the natural movement of the user, not the user to the machine, as is the case with the rigid, single-piece C2 handle. It is not about "technique". No amount of technique can overcome equipment design deficiencies.

[gvcormac]

The stock C2 handle is a bio-mechanical abomination, so injuries such as this are inevitable. A rowing ergometer handle is a human/machine interface. At any such interface the machine should adapt to the natural movement of the user, not the user to the machine, as is the case with the rigid, single-piece C2 handle. It is not about "technique". No amount of technique can overcome equipment design deficiencies.

I don't think the above hyperbole is the best marketing approach. Are your handles and/or rower available for purchase?

[gvcormac]

I developed what seems to be a muscle strain last week. Hurts when I extend or fold my arm or rotate it. I took a break from rowing for a few days, however, I can feel pounds are stocking up and miss the workout. Thinking of putting a compression sleeve and fight through it, thoughts?

I wonder if you have tennis elbow. I got that from lifting a mattress, and the fix was to wear a wrist brace for several weeks.

[Erik A]

I had a sore elbow from using a piece of gym equipment incorrectly (not the erg) after trying to work through the pain and it wasnt a lot just a continuous ache. I went to the Dr. After another period i had to go back. I was then referred to a specialist and they did scans. Tuurns out i had partially torn my bicep tendon. That was in 2018 and after a year off and gym restrictions due to covid i am working back to the erg. In fact i just bought one on the weekend so i dont have to use the ones at the gym.
Anyway. Seek medical advice as it may be worse or better than you think

[JaapvanE]

I had a sore elbow from using a piece of gym equipment incorrectly (not the erg) after trying to work through the pain and it wasnt a lot just a continuous ache. I went to the Dr. After another period i had to go back. I was then referred to a specialist and they did scans. Tuurns out i had partially torn my bicep tendon. That was in 2018 and after a year off and gym restrictions due to covid i am working back to the erg. In fact i just bought one on the weekend so i dont have to use the ones at the gym.
Anyway. Seek medical advice as it may be worse or better than you think

Here another recovering rower. Partial torn biceps tendon as well, which happened during Judo training last april. My physiotherapist suggested to start at low drag and low SPM (and slow pace) to slowly activate the muscle again. He did mention to watch out for the catch (powercurve can help you there), as a too explosive catch puts a lot of stain on the biceps, especially when you have the tendency to bend the arms too early.

[Slidewinder]

To gvcormac: It is not hyperbole if it is true, and it is true that the stock C2 handle is a bio-mechanical abomination. The many, many reports of wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries, here and elsewhere, is proof of that.

[gvcormac]

To gvcormac: It is not hyperbole if it is true, and it is true that the stock C2 handle is a bio-mechanical abomination. The many, many reports of wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries, here and elsewhere, is proof of that.

Are you offering something better? I will leave it to others to decide whether using the word "abomination" constitutes hyperbole.

[JaapvanE]

To gvcormac: It is not hyperbole if it is true, and it is true that the stock C2 handle is a bio-mechanical abomination. The many, many reports of wrist, elbow, and shoulder injuries, here and elsewhere, is proof of that.

Are there any better handles out there? Because in all honesty, I switched from NordicTrack (which has the same physical handle on their $1800 machine) because it was ergonomically crap and my writst were hurting. I looked at all machines in the European market in January, and most offer a straight stick and some a bit similar to the C2. So unless you can show somebody who really did a better job in designing an (aftermarket) handle, it is a lousy argument as you don't provide any solution...

[gvcormac]

Are you offering something better?

I have watched your videos and I think your handles are interesting. I wasn't able to figure out from your Web presence whether or not they are commercially available. One concern I have is their length: I wonder if when retrofitted to a C2 they would permit sufficient forward lean on the catch.

[Slidewinder]

Are you offering something better?

I have watched your videos and I think your handles are interesting. I wasn't able to figure out from your Web presence whether or not they are commercially available. One concern I have is their length: I wonder if when retrofitted to a C2 they would permit sufficient forward lean on the catch.

For those with a long reach at the catch it is necessary to remove the vertical struts holding the PM and relocate the PM to the C2 handle clip location. This opens a corridor down the left side of the flywheel housing to accommodate the nose of the handle.

[ampire]

I developed what seems to be a muscle strain last week. Hurts when I extend or fold my arm or rotate it. I took a break from rowing for a few days, however, I can feel pounds are stocking up and miss the workout. Thinking of putting a compression sleeve and fight through it, thoughts?

I had elbow pain, was ulnar nerve subluxation on the medial epicondyle causing cubital tunnel. Something to be aware of.