bad knees

blue_heron · Post by **blue_heron** » March 4th, 2007, 11:36 pm

I'm 48, and have pretty creaky knees. I know rowing is supposed to be easy on the knees, but I'm finding that the extention on catch is really pulling them. I have really short legs so I don't generate much stroke, I'm trying to figure a way to not extend my knees all the way. any ideas?

margaret · Post by **margaret** » March 5th, 2007, 1:31 am

I'm 48, and have pretty creaky knees. I know rowing is supposed to be easy on the knees, but I'm finding that the extention on catch is really pulling them. I have really short legs so I don't generate much stroke, I'm trying to figure a way to not extend my knees all the way. any ideas?

Does you keen problem occur when you are leaning slightly forward with arms extended towards the flywheel and knees most bent (beginning of the drive), or at the end of the drive, when you are leaning slightly back, your legs are mostly straight and you're holding the handle nearest your body with elbows bent, and you're ready for the recovery portion of the stroke?

Occasionally I've had passing knee pain on stairs, which reminds me not to slide too far forward and overcompress my knees before starting the drive, so I won't put too much pressure on overextended knees. I've never had a problem with my legs going "too straight" at the end of the dirve, if that is what you mean. If you are, try rowing without foot straps; you don't want to shoot off the end of rail without them (straps). I think you want all your momentum transferred to the flywheel by the end of your drive so you're not wasting your energy.

I also have short legs but that has never been a problem (I'm 5'2"), even when keeping synch in a boat with others much taller (6'), I just matched their pace with a slightly slower slide forward. On an erg it's never a problem for me.

Good luck!

MomofJBN · Post by **MomofJBN** » March 5th, 2007, 1:01 pm

From personal experience, there are 2 things that can make my knees complain about erging. The first is if I over compress at the catch (get my seat too close to my heels). The second is if I let my knees wobble from side to side during either the drive or the recovery. Watch your kneecaps, and make sure they go straight back and forth with no side to side.

stargazertechie · Post by **stargazertechie** » March 12th, 2007, 10:46 pm

I'm on a crew team, and I also have problems with my knees. I find that I let my ankles roll at the catch, which misaligns my knees. I'm 5'5, and I do try to overcompensate at the catch, so just be careful to not overcompress.

One thing that you might want to do is come up to the catch and have someone check to see where your knees are at full compression. Then put a strip of electrical tape on the slide at the very front of where your seat is. This way if you go to overcompress, you feel a BUMP as you go past full compression. A few days (weeks) of this will help retrain you if this is a problem.

Bob S. · Post by **Bob S.** » March 13th, 2007, 12:40 pm

stargazertechie wrote:I'm on a crew team

Please. A crew is a rowing team, so "crew team" is redundant.

pedant.

Kiwi_Rower · Post by **Kiwi_Rower** » March 16th, 2007, 9:06 am

Bob S. wrote:
stargazertechie wrote:I'm on a crew team
Please. A crew is a rowing team, so "crew team" is redundant.

pedant.

Male posters in the women's forum are fine. Pendantic ones are redundant.

blue_heron · Post by **blue_heron** » March 16th, 2007, 10:33 am

I agree. besides, if there was more than one crew on the team, wouldn't "crew team" still be accurate?

I'm the original poster-- for those of you who actually put in usable advice, thank you! it's helping.

dinodi · Post by **dinodi** » March 16th, 2007, 5:45 pm

...is the lack of ego ( or is it testosterone?), supportive comments for those at ALL rowing level and the general goodwill and comraderie it displays. I stopped reading several other sections of the forum because I was sick to death of sniping and pettiness. Although the addition of the Rant and Rave section has diminished some of this, it still exists from time to time and I don't care to read it.

So--the bottom line is--who in the heck cares if it is a crew or a crew team?
That wasn't the point of the post. In other words, Bob, keep your comments to yourself unless they are constructive and serve any purpose other than to display your vast knowledge of Willie Strunk's Elements of Style!

Dino Duck

Kinley · Post by **Kinley** » March 16th, 2007, 7:19 pm

dinodi wrote: In other words, Bob, keep your comments to yourself unless they are constructive and serve any purpose other than to display your vast knowledge of Willie Strunk's Elements of Style!

Don't be insolent. Bob is right.

dinodi · Post by **dinodi** » March 16th, 2007, 7:52 pm

I offer apologies for being a bit testy. My personal reference was uncalled for. However, my main point remains the same. The comment about "crew" was not constructive and served no purpose other than to point out another's "failings." That's not what this forum is all about.

Dino Duck

Alissa · Post by **Alissa** » March 16th, 2007, 9:28 pm

Bob, I'm glad you posted! It's always nice when someone who has been rowing as long as you have is willing to share the way to "sling the lingo" so as to avoid indefinitely sounding like a newbie. Hope you never stop!

Alissa

blue_heron · Post by **blue_heron** » March 16th, 2007, 9:43 pm

ok, we've all had our rant.
anyone who has more ideas to help out bad knees, let's put them out there. thanks

stargazertechie · Post by **stargazertechie** » March 18th, 2007, 10:52 pm

I originally had a spite-filled comment here, but I've replaced it because I'm the bigger person. I've had the stomach flu for the last week, been rowing 20-30 miles OTW a day, and have hadns that look like a small animal has attacked. Sorry that my grammar isn't up to your standards right now. I'd like to see you survive the rigors of what I'm doing (Nursing School/Pre-Medical Classes/Rowing/Campus Ministry Music Worship/2-3 hours of cross-training a day, physical therapy for my knees/back, and a cancer scare) and still have time to post to MULTIPLE online communities.

So Please, enough with the grammar nazi bs. Save it for the classroom.

Storm Petrel · Post by **Storm Petrel** » June 16th, 2007, 4:52 pm

blue heron, this is late, and I'm not sure if you're still having knee issues...
but my 2 cents....'keeping everything in line' is important, not only is it a stronger position but you're not tweeking the joints in a manner inconsistent with normal function, watch your heels, that they don't deviate outward, i.e. try keeping them more toward the monorail then out...and stay controlled on the recovery, make sure you don't rush up the slide so you can control the amount of compression you want to achieve.

Liquid · Post by **Liquid** » June 19th, 2007, 10:21 am

I prefer being corrected rather than making a faux pas ad infinitum. Some of my favorites are "truly unique", "completely surrounded", "free gift", and the one which now seems to be acceptable, "close proximity".

Good luck with the knees.

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bad knees