I have scrolled through previous posts on this topic. As a result, I've been (I believe) very careful about lightly gripping the bar. Perhaps when I start rowing with more intensity I grip harder? I have also attempted to not bend my elbows too early and have been trying to work ony form. Even so, I have persistent discomfort in my right (only my right) forearm. Mainly just bow the elbow. So far, I have just been pushing through it. It bothers me more in between workouts than during workouts. So, it has not stopped me from rowing. Perhaps it will subside over time. It's odd because it only started being an issue 6 or 7 months after beginning the sport. So this has been a problem for about a month or so.
It's been a while since I recorded a video of a session. Perhaps that would be a good first step. Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Forearm Pain
Re: Forearm Pain
Could be a result of too much training. What happends when you take two days of the rower (vacations are coming up)?
What is your dragfactor? It might be a bit too high.
What is your dragfactor? It might be a bit too high.
Package maintainer of OpenRowingMonitor, the open source Rowing Monitor
Re: Forearm Pain
I don't believe so...I average 5 rows per week and average about 7K per workout. As fate would have it, I am taking a 4 day break next week. We'll see if that helps. My drag is 116, so I don't think that's an issue. Thanks.
Re: Forearm Pain
If you have an overuse injury, it could take considerably longer than a few days to heal.
I suggest you lower your drag factor, and row only every other day. Reduce the overall volume until the pain subsides.
On your off days, you might consider doing Farmer's walk exercises. But only when and if they cause no pain. Pick up two equal weights with your arms straight, and walk around. The weights can be dumbells, toolboxes, gym bags -- anyting with a top handle will do.
I suggest you lower your drag factor, and row only every other day. Reduce the overall volume until the pain subsides.
On your off days, you might consider doing Farmer's walk exercises. But only when and if they cause no pain. Pick up two equal weights with your arms straight, and walk around. The weights can be dumbells, toolboxes, gym bags -- anyting with a top handle will do.
Re: Forearm Pain
Hmmm. I was skeptical, but I spent a few minutes walking around with 40lb dumbells at my side. (I'm guessing just standing still would work as well.) At least temporarily, it feels a bit better. I may do that quite a few times through the day. Thanks for the suggestion. But, farmers walk? Is this something farmers do? Eh...no matter. It seems to help.
Re: Forearm Pain
I think the jostling from walking helps. I think the name comes from farmers carrying toolboxes.
Re: Forearm Pain
I spent some time researching and found the answer. The farmers this was named after were actually dairy farmers from the Netherlands. For whatever reason, after WW2, a lot of a Dutch dairy farmers took up rowing as a form of exercise after each season. The combination of rowing and the constant strain of milking cows strained their forearms. Well, for most of them. All those who made cheese ( the large wheels of gouda) had no problem. It was determined that by carrying the cheese wheels back and forth from their wagon offset the forearm pain many of them experienced. The cheese wheels were quite heavy, the diameter reaching from their palm to their armpit on each side. Hence... the term "farmer's walk" was coined. I have no idea how to say it in Dutch, but I guess the term stuck.