Technique review

[Vcweiss346]

Sitting with a back injury. Still having leg neuropathy, weakness, foot numbness. No idea if poor rowing technique contributed. Gonna lay low and get healthy (very hard to do). In the meantime, posting a video I took just shortly after may injury. Looking for some feedback. Hoping to get back to rowing and when I do correct anything that may have contributed to the injury. My guess is that my weight lifting caused it but I know I also have poor posture that contributes.

Thoughts on details I can focus on when I return? Any help would be appreciated.

https://youtu.be/zfoMq3yCyIk

[Ombrax]

Looks to me like you're leaning a bit too far back. The "ideal" range is 11 to 1 on the clock, but some folks do differ.

[Vcweiss346]

Thanks for the input. Any idea if layback stresses the back or is it merely inefficient?

[Me, Myself and I]

My take is on the recovery you're bending your knees too early. There's some upward movement of the handle so as to get over them. In doing this motion you are not keeping your wrists straight. Wait until your hands are past your knees before bending them.

[Kerry1960]

I'm by no means an expert but your technique looks good to me. Sure the layback is more than some but not overly excessive. I don't think your technique has caused your back issues.

Get better soon.

[Sakly]

Hey Vic,
Some thoughts from my side, also a relatively newbee.

You are sitting a bit hunched and not tall/straight up. This is making the hip hinge more difficult, but you get it done well. Nevertheless, this can put a strain on your lower back, sensitive people could suffer from it.
Layback is probably more than what is most efficient, but it's ok, as long as your abdominals can support it well. Otherwise this could also lead to a strain on your lower back, as it creates pressure on your spine.

Your early bend in the legs on recovery is a small issue. You don't need to lift the handle, so it's more of a slight technical issue what would decrease your performance OTW, but not on the erg. It can probably prevent a good catch position as some are not rocking forward sufficiently doing it this way, but that's not what I can see here.
Also shoulders could be more stable in the drive. You have a good reach, but at the end of the drive it looks like your shoulders are rolling back and get into an elevated position. You should probably try to stay solid and depressed with your shoulders. Perhaps this is only looking like this in the video, don't know.

[Dangerscouse]

I'm not great at technique review, but I agree with Sascha.

Ime, back pain happens if you're pulling and not pushing enough and possibly excessive over reach. I'd imagine your core is very strong with your background, so I'm assuming that weightlifting was the issue.

[nick rockliff]

Personally, I wouldn't change anything. At the age of 54 the slightly rounded back is probably natural now. There is nothing wrong with the lean back.

On the erg, it's all about what works for you.

[Joebasscat]

Agree with others, it looks relatively fine. Curious as to what drag factor you were or have been using in the past? Too high maybe? Probably best to get it low as you come back in time. Good luck healing.

[Vcweiss346]

My take is on the recovery you're bending your knees too early. There's some upward movement of the handle so as to get over them. In doing this motion you are not keeping your wrists straight. Wait until your hands are past your knees before bending them.

Thanks for the feedback. It’s actually something I started Thinking about on the last three strokes of the video. Might see a small difference in the last three strokes. I probably need to feel like I am way over exaggerating the feeling to actually make it happen correctly.

[Vcweiss346]

I'm by no means an expert but your technique looks good to me. Sure the layback is more than some but not overly excessive. I don't think your technique has caused your back issues.

Get better soon.

Thank you. Hoping PT will start working.

[Vcweiss346]

Hey Vic,
Some thoughts from my side, also a relatively newbee.

You are sitting a bit hunched and not tall/straight up. This is making the hip hinge more difficult, but you get it done well. Nevertheless, this can put a strain on your lower back, sensitive people could suffer from it.
Layback is probably more than what is most efficient, but it's ok, as long as your abdominals can support it well. Otherwise this could also lead to a strain on your lower back, as it creates pressure on your spine.

Your early bend in the legs on recovery is a small issue. You don't need to lift the handle, so it's more of a slight technical issue what would decrease your performance OTW, but not on the erg. It can probably prevent a good catch position as some are not rocking forward sufficiently doing it this way, but that's not what I can see here.
Also shoulders could be more stable in the drive. You have a good reach, but at the end of the drive it looks like your shoulders are rolling back and get into an elevated position. You should probably try to stay solid and depressed with your shoulders. Perhaps this is only looking like this in the video, don't know.

Thanks Sascha. My natural posture is hunched. Particularly in the upper back. I cannot lay flat on my back with my head on the floor without being completely uncomfortable and unnatural. Propping a pillow under my head is a must. Working with PT to make changes there.

I’ll look at the video to focus on shoulders. I was curious if I was opening up the upper body too fast? Is that what you mean with the shoulders? I don’t know if my lack of hamstring mobility contributes to that? Maybe. Much like the issue above I can’t sit on a floor with legs extended sitting in a 90 degree position. I will work on that with PT when healthy. They don’t want me stretching hamstrings until nerve pain subsides. They think it’s aggravating the nerve.

[Vcweiss346]

I'm not great at technique review, but I agree with Sascha.

Ime, back pain happens if you're pulling and not pushing enough and possibly excessive over reach. I'd imagine your core is very strong with your background, so I'm assuming that weightlifting was the issue.

Thank you for The input. I kinda feel like I’ve traced it back to deadlifts using dumbbells because all of the bars were being used. Form got sloppy because I was using different tools.

[Vcweiss346]

Personally, I wouldn't change anything. At the age of 54 the slightly rounded back is probably natural now. There is nothing wrong with the lean back.

On the erg, it's all about what works for you.

It is totally natural. To do anything different is HARD. But if it contributes to injury I am willing to try to make changes to stay on course.

[Vcweiss346]

Agree with others, it looks relatively fine. Curious as to what drag factor you were or have been using in the past? Too high maybe? Probably best to get it low as you come back in time. Good luck healing.

I have settled very consistently on 125 for DF. Never over 130. Sound advice and thank you!