Training with blisters?

[FPS]

So I've just bought a C2 rowing machine, and am very much looking forward to becoming part of the community; I've used in the gym infrequently and enjoyed, and it seemed the perfect tool to help me get/keep fit while minimising the risk of pulling muscles (which happens ever more frequently as i age).

However, I've found a different problem - blisters. I've read the posts on advice and will take it on board, but couldn't see any that deal with the specific query I have (the main blister thread is also locked so couldn't query there) which is - if I tape them up now, can i train on or is that likely to just cause a longer lay-off in the future? I don't want to have to sit out for a week or two while hands recover and repeat the process until my hands harden or i find a better long term solution.

[Citroen]

Loosen your grip. Try weight lifters chalk to keep your hands dry.

[lindsayh]

I wouldn't tape and would try to mange with a looser grip etc - you don't need to hold the handle tight just a hook. its usually a short term problem

[FPS]

Thanks for the advice.

Grip does seem to be loose - I don't use my thumb (so i assume that is a hook grip) and the blisters are actually mid way up my fingers rather than where you'd usually expect them at the base where they join the palm. I'm not concerned about them longer term, I'll harden up or come up with a solution, its just whether I should ease up now to give them time, or train away (greatly preferred option) - and it comes down to which is likely to mean less lay off time overall.

[thomasbaerten]

You can get special band aids for blisters. Here in Belgium they are called 'Compeed'.
I'm sure your pharmacy can help you. They come in all sorts of sizes.
You put them on and they will of automatically fall off after a few days. It protects and helps to heal the damaged skin.

[hjs]

So I've just bought a C2 rowing machine, and am very much looking forward to becoming part of the community; I've used in the gym infrequently and enjoyed, and it seemed the perfect tool to help me get/keep fit while minimising the risk of pulling muscles (which happens ever more frequently as i age).

However, I've found a different problem - blisters. I've read the posts on advice and will take it on board, but couldn't see any that deal with the specific query I have (the main blister thread is also locked so couldn't query there) which is - if I tape them up now, can i train on or is that likely to just cause a longer lay-off in the future? I don't want to have to sit out for a week or two while hands recover and repeat the process until my hands harden or i find a better long term solution.

If its not to severe, just train, taping up is fine, but that iften comes loose. Rowing simply gives the hands a beating, no way getting around it.

[Dangerscouse]

I use liquid chalk to keep my hands dryer but when I have got blisters I use any cheap kinesiology tape you can get hold of. It works really well and it's never stopped me from training, just think about where you place it in relation to the pressure on the handle and how much you use.

Eventually your hands do get tougher but I always find that they need constant training and for a while, when I get blisters, the soft skin underneath is too soft so the toughening up process takes quite a long time.

I use a loose grip and only hook the handle but it doesn't avoid blisters especially if you do longer distances.

[ampire]

I tend to callous and only blister if I don't perform maintenance on the callouses. If the skin layer builds up too high, it tears and blisters. I've been using a pumice stone and/or sandpaper to reduce the height of callouses. For callous flaps you can use a nail clipper and then use the pumice stone after. There's a guide to callous management on this website as well as a lot of interesting exercises: http://www.beastskills.com/removing-calluses/

[Cyclist2]

You can get special band aids for blisters. Here in Belgium they are called 'Compeed'.

I use regular band aids with the pad on top of the blister. That keeps the skin from tearing off when tape, for example, is used. That skin becomes the callus later on, so don't remove it if possible. You can trim the calluses as necessary to avoid them tearing, as ampire notes. I just use a cuticle scissors.

As debated endlessly here, some people use gloves (I found a nice pair that work well), others don't. I still get the occasional blister during longer pieces, but they are manageable and I don't have to row the next day if I get a bad one (unlike the Talisker Whiskey contestants rowing across the Atlantic; their hands look like hamburger pretty quickly, but no stopping for them).

[lindsayh]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8091

[FPS]

Thanks all - combined a few solutions, the Tesco version of Compeeds with tape over to keep in place. Worked well, although have a few new ones coming. Doing a daily (or so) 10k from not having done much with my hands in a while, so to be expected I guess. Heartened that they can be managed and worked through, training this last while has been very stop start hence the rowing machine purchase!

[FPS]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8091

Thanks - I've had a read of that and its all very useful. Btw, I'd no desire to start a new repetitive thread, but my specific query was re training with the blisters, and couldn't see anything there on that - also couldn't post in it!

[Cyclingman1]

OR ... you could just not fight the problem and go with gloves. For example: https://www.nrs.com/product/25019.01/nr ... s-closeout

[jamesg]

training with the blisters

Keep the strokes long and quick, with lightish handle force, including low drag. Ergdata says I pull at 36-40 kg average, so not more than 20kg per hand, on drag factor 85. This produces 120-130W at rate 20, more if I want. I get no blisters even after a 2-3 month stop, just hard skin on one finger.

20-30 minutes a day but every day is enough to get fit initially and won't cause much damage. Harden up when you're hard yourself, there's no hurry.