Rowing after hip replacement, RP3

[LarryRow]

I had a hip replacement in July of 2022. I have struggled with pain even a year after the operation. They did an MRI and took X-rays not long ago and said the hip was fine.

Since they’re not going to do exploratory surgery, I just have to hope I can heal my way past this pain.

My activity level has dropped dramatically and I have put on weight. I had a 5:57 mile at 45 years of age and now I can’t run, and pretty much can’t do anything to raise my heart rate. I won’t chance it on a bicycle as a crash could disable me more than I am already disabled.

I own an RP3 rowing machine but I haven’t used it in over a year. I’m thinking about trying to ease back into rowing on it. My surgery told me that I could row before surgery and that I shouldn’t row after surgery, so, go figure.

If I don’t exercise, I’ll probably die of cardiac problems. If I do exercise, say row, I could dislocate my hip.

Any thoughts?

Arms only and shallow strokes on the RP3?

[jamesg]

Get on it as soon as you can, erging is perhaps the safest way of exercising, especially if we already have the knowhow.

[JaapvanE]

My surgery told me that I could row before surgery and that I shouldn’t row after surgery, so, go figure.

If I don’t exercise, I’ll probably die of cardiac problems. If I do exercise, say row, I could dislocate my hip.

Any thoughts?

As I have no personal experience nor a medical background, I don't feel confident to offer you any advice. I feel sorry for you, and I do hope you can find some way back to excercise, as you are clearly not the person to sit still.

As I understood it, the RP3 is a bit softer on the back and hips compared to the C2.

Perhaps a second medical opinion?

[MPx]

I don't know anything about the RP3 rower. However - for the C2, I do know that one of my training partners and one of my team mates have both had THRs and rowing on the C2 was very much part of both their prep and rehabilitation from the op - albeit that they were long term C2 users anyway. So clearly it can be done, and I can tell you that it has helped them both back to fitness and also that both have recovered right up to being competitive nationally in their respective age/sex/weight group. If TPK drops by and reads this, I'm sure she'll chime in with how its worked for her.

Also, despite obviously being an entirely different joint, LindsayH has had both knees done in the last year or so and I'm delighted to see that he is coming back strongly now, very much using the C2 Erg as the centre piece of his pre-op prep and post op recovery. He too may well have some encouragement for you.

[LarryRow]

Thanks for all of the replies.

Yes, I think it can be done. I worry about the angle of the hip at the catch. Perhaps I should row with half slide for a while.

There is risk in everything, including in a sedentary life.

I do think the RP3 is an easier load than the C2 because one is not pulling against a fixed head.

I have rowed on both the C2 and the RP3 and I did some rowing on the water but I don’t think I’d try to go back to the water.

[Ron Ginsberg]

I'm 74 and I had a complete hip replacement over a decade ago. In the early 90's I had back surgery,on the lower spine. I started rowing in the mid 80's and purchased a concept 2 a few years before my back issues. The C2 had nothing to do with my back injury. After my back surgery I was able to begin rowing rather quickly. After my hip surgery I needed to limit the motion of the hip so as to not dislocate it during the healing process. This meant care getting on and off the machine so as not to allow the knees to extend above waist. This is why docs often suggest higher toilets. It's also one reason why some prefer the C2 with long legs. In addition I applied tape to the rail so that on the recovery I could not move too far forward towards the normal catch. Once this was done I could row safely at a reduced force level. In no time I was rowing normally. I've rowed many millions of meters since without any difficulty. At the time of my surgery I was quite concerned about whether or not I would be able to row. In fact I was so worried I put off having the surgery as soon as I should have because I was worried I would never be able to road cycle (racing bike position), row, or kayak again. Nothing could be further from the truth. I still regularly do all these things. I consulted this forum and if you search the history the posts and replies I received are still available. A fresh joint has allowed me to be more active and limber than ever. It is possible to injure your back on a C2 with improper technique if you go too hard when you are fatigued and you have bad form. If you maintain good form and know when to back off you will never experience any difficulty. That's been my experience, but of course I'm one person and I'm not a Dr. or physical therapist. I would definitely consult both and make sure that the exercise regime you follow is medically appropriate for your situation.

[Ombrax]

How about trying a SkiErg? Would that be easier or harder on one's hips compared to the RowErg?

I've never tried it, but it sure looks like a great workout if you can do it without hip-related problems.

Good Luck

[LarryRow]

Hello Ron,

Your experience is heartening. Maybe time will allow me to get back to rowing. Fourteen months after surgery, I don’t think I have to worry about the knees being higher than the hips when getting on, but I do have to worry about the position at the catch.

The idea of putting tape on the rail is a good idea but I barely move the seat on the RP3, I am instead pulling the head to me. Perhaps I can put some tape on the head end of the rail to limit that travel.

The SkiErg is an excellent idea! I used to take rowing classes from two brothers who skied at Yale and Henley. One was big on the SkiErg. That machine is absolutely brutal, in terms of its workout, but the hips do not flex anywhere near as deep as when rowing on a machine.

My wife thinks I can walk by way to recovery, but you have to walk for many miles, and it is almost impossible to raise one’s heart rate while walking. Besides that, I live in an area with many broken sidewalks which can make walking treacherous.

I have a desk treadmill where I trudge on forever at 1mph but I set it aside after this last bout with pain.

[LarryRow]

I ordered the SkiErg!

Thanks for the recommendation!

[Ron Ginsberg]

I have seen RP3's online and they are amazing machines. When I recuperated with my hip I was on a regular C2 model D. Recently I purchased a C2 Dynamic. I still have have the model D in another location. I think that the motion of the Dynamic or RP3 would complicate how you would ensure that you did not flex the hip excessively. On the RP3 is it possible to "fix" the head of the machine so that it doesn't travel back and forth on the rail like a plain old Model D? The videos I've seen of the RP3's appear as if both the seat and the head can travel freely on the rail. On the Dynamic the seat rail and foot rollers are on separate tracks. The seat has a restricted travel. So on the Dynamic, you could tape the foot press roller. On either machine, it seems that as long as you can fix either the foot stretcher or the seat, you could safely tape a "stop" on the single movable part to prevent excessive hip flexing. In the for what it is worth department, I would add that the natural motion of the Dynamic makes me less likely to flex my hip excessively.

[LarryRow]

Yes, the seat and the head move freely on the same rail. You need good form to row on it because if you muscle it, the head and seat will bounce off of the rubber stops at either end of the rail.

Since my seat moves a short distance on the rail, I think it would be easy to put piece of tape on the head end of the rail. I have already tried moving to less than full slide and can do it without a piece of tape.

The seat end of the rail is slightly bent so the seat stays in position.

I don’t want to row static because I feel the dynamic nature of the machine puts less stress on my body. The RP3 feels like a boat in how it moves.

[Ron Ginsberg]

I agree with you 100% about the fact that rowing "dynamically", whether on the C2 Dynamic or the RP3 would involve less stress. And, I do think you will be automatically less inclined to flex in ways that would be unhealthy given your situation. The only question would be how to ensure that it would not be possible for you to over flex given that the design of the RP3 allows both feet and seat to float together/and independently on the rail. Thus they could even be moving in different directions. As long as you can figure out how you could not "crunch up" excessively for your condition, I think you will be fine.

[LarryRow]

Tonight, I set up a new SkiErg.

I think this machine will allow me to drop the extra weight and get back into shape. For the first time in over a year, I have some hope that I can regain some fitness.

[Ombrax]

Tonight, I set up a new SkiErg.

I think this machine will allow me to drop the extra weight and get back into shape. For the first time in over a year, I have some hope that I can regain some fitness.

Congratulations!

Same as for the rower: be sure you use the appropriate techniques, 1) one that works for your body, and 2) one that's right for the ski-erg.

You may have already seen it, but there's some discussion of ski-erg technique in this thread on the SkiErg sub-forum:

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=207663

More on technique here: https://www.concept2.com/skierg/training/technique

Finally, don't try to do too much too quickly. That always gets me into trouble. There's no rush, start slowly and gradually work your way up.

Good Luck

[LarryRow]

I’ve been at the SkiErg for a few weeks now and am slowly building up strength. My triceps were killing me the first few weeks but they’re getting stronger now.

What is the right mix of short and fast versus long and slow?

What stroke rate do people aim for? Split time?