Wrist support on Concept2

alexthecheese · Post by **alexthecheese** » July 30th, 2007, 4:31 am

Hi guys, I'm new to rowing but am starting to enjoy it and really get into it. I used to do 2k rowing but found that it wasn't really long enough to really get into, being only a 7 min frenetic attack.

I turned to 5k a week ago and am thoroughly enjoying it, but I find that because I'm now doing almost 20 mins as opposed to 7, my left wrist is starting to feel the strain. I also play a lot of guitar which requires that my wrist be flexible, and I am feeling the strain in my fretting hand.

Are there any wrist supports that you'd recommend? I must admit that I'm wary of wearing a few that I've seen as they look quite clunky, and though I'm not a poser in the gym I'd rather something more discreet. At the end of the day though I do not want carpal tunnel as this would ruin my guitar playing.

Thanks for your time.

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » July 30th, 2007, 1:11 pm

Wrist injuries are caused by putting pressure on your wrists and then twisting them. No, don't wear anything on your wrists for support.

Keep your stroke rate up and have a smooth quiet catch.

Be sure you have a smooth drive, and are keeping your wrists in the same position through the drive.

If you have any wrist strain then keep focusing on the above, and soak your wrists in a bowl of cold water with ice cubes several times a day till they're healed.

Dreadnought · Post by **Dreadnought** » July 31st, 2007, 11:09 pm

alexthecheese wrote:Hi guys, I'm new to rowing but am starting to enjoy it and really get into it. I used to do 2k rowing but found that it wasn't really long enough to really get into, being only a 7 min frenetic attack.

I turned to 5k a week ago and am thoroughly enjoying it, but I find that because I'm now doing almost 20 mins as opposed to 7, my left wrist is starting to feel the strain. I also play a lot of guitar which requires that my wrist be flexible, and I am feeling the strain in my fretting hand.

Are there any wrist supports that you'd recommend? I must admit that I'm wary of wearing a few that I've seen as they look quite clunky, and though I'm not a poser in the gym I'd rather something more discreet. At the end of the day though I do not want carpal tunnel as this would ruin my guitar playing.

Thanks for your time.

I brought this issue up before:
http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... ight=wrist

nowherefast · Post by **nowherefast** » August 1st, 2007, 7:00 pm

Be aware of your grip on the handle. Don't grasp it too tightly and try not to hook your thumb around it. I had some wrist problems awhile back and found that adjusting my grip by "lightening" it helped, after rest, prevent a reoccurence of my injury.

Buckiller · Post by **Buckiller** » August 1st, 2007, 9:11 pm

Yeah... when holding the handle i pretty much have no pressure on it (other than the reactionary force created by the chain pulling it) during the recovery and practically only use my fingers when on the drive.

almostflipped · Post by **almostflipped** » August 2nd, 2007, 2:04 am

Two other items to look at are the angle of your wrist at the finish and whether you are attempting to pull with your wrists at the finish. I'm not going to say that there is a definite/specific angle or position that your wrists should be at during the last few inches of the stroke, but look in a mirror. If they look like they are in a freaky or pinched position, then they are and you are asking for problems long term. In terms of pulling with your wrists, I've seen people attempt to flick their wrists inwards during the last few inches. Seems that this is some attempt at maintaining or adding pressure at the end. All it does is compress the tendons and nerves and injure you. Keep contact with the handle loose, allow your wrists to move in a natural pattern at the finish, and remember that the last inch really doesn't matter if you've done the 4+ feet in front of it correctly.

Buckiller · Post by **Buckiller** » August 2nd, 2007, 2:50 pm

almostflipped wrote:Two other items to look at are the angle of your wrist at the finish and whether you are attempting to pull with your wrists at the finish. I'm not going to say that there is a definite/specific angle or position that your wrists should be at during the last few inches of the stroke, but look in a mirror. If they look like they are in a freaky or pinched position, then they are and you are asking for problems long term. In terms of pulling with your wrists, I've seen people attempt to flick their wrists inwards during the last few inches. Seems that this is some attempt at maintaining or adding pressure at the end. All it does is compress the tendons and nerves and injure you. Keep contact with the handle loose, allow your wrists to move in a natural pattern at the finish, and remember that the last inch really doesn't matter if you've done the 4+ feet in front of it correctly.

When on the water, some crews teach novices (in sweep boats) not to bend the (outside) wrists up or down as correct technique. And if it is a problem, it can be remedied by taping something like popsicle sticks to the top and bottom of the outside wrist.

And since on the erg you really dont need wrist technique... you should probably not bend the wrists up or down at all (because what are you feathering?)

alexthecheese · Post by **alexthecheese** » August 8th, 2007, 8:41 am

Well, I must be doing something quite substantially wrong as after 5 minutes on the guitar at the weekend I have felt a sharp pain and have been left with an uncomfortable left wrist/forearm since the weekend. Not pleased at all really, and it feels like it will be a while until I can a) play guitar and b) get back on the rowing machine.

I did have a wrist support that I got from the local sports shop, but I was finding that instead of supporting the wrist, it was compressing the exact area that gave me grief. I quickly ditched that and went back to using just my hands, trying as much as possible to keep my arm straight right through until my knuckles and using just my fingers to grasp the handles, and I had the problems the day after.

I think it must be linked to the guitar, I play an awful lot, often a few hours per night, and it's only happening in my fretting hand.

Is there any way of assisting the repair of my arm? I've taken some ibuprofen which says alleviates muscular pain and more, which helped a little but I'm one of those people who rarely takes any drugs and feels it is - on the whole - a little unnecessary.

I would take a video of it but I row down the gym and this is not possible.

Anybody else had any problems of this nature? In my life my guitars comes first (well, between them and rowing anyway

), and it would be a shame to have to give up rowing because of this. Any advice would be appreciated.

Ray79 · Post by **Ray79** » August 8th, 2007, 9:41 am

Ibuprofen is an anti inflammatory and whereas it will alleviate muscular discomfort by reducing the inflammation you HAVE to rest the affected areas as well. No IF's or BUT's, if you dont it will never clear up.

Bob S. · Post by **Bob S.** » August 8th, 2007, 11:43 am

There is some possibility that you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome. It is something that you should have checked out soon.

Bob S.

Byron Drachman · Post by **Byron Drachman** » August 8th, 2007, 7:08 pm

Hi Alex,

If you have a digital camera, or can borrow one, maybe you could take a short video and post it at youtube or someplace similar. There is always the possibility that you are doing something that you don't realize you are doing, and somebody will spot it. I got some good help from Paul Smith when I posted a short video of myself a couple of years ago. It's mostly a friendly and helpful group at this forum.

Since you are already just hooking the handle with the fingers, my suggestion is to concentrate on keeping your arms straight but loose and relaxed for as long as you can during the first part of the drive and consequently postpone the arm pull as long as you can.

I had sore wrists when erging and finally made my own handle that changed the angles of my wrists and that solved the problem for me. John Rupp showed a neat homemade handle that also allowed you to change the angle of the wrists once that might help.

I hope you solve the problem.

Byron

Dreadnought · Post by **Dreadnought** » August 10th, 2007, 8:26 am

I just got a pair of APT lifting hooks. I tried them in the gym with the weight machines. They really do take a lot of stress off the wrists. My next step is to try them on the erg.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images ... ting-goods
Does anyone know if one is allowed to use them during indoor rowing competitions?

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Wrist support on Concept2

Wrist support on Concept2

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