In the past few weeks, I've been rowing after swimming, and I feel amazing. I feel more powerful in the water and can feel definite gains in upper body strength. However, I also have a bit more tension in the ligaments behind my knee, and I swim breaststroke (eek!) Does anybody else row? Does it effect your swimming? Any thoughts on how to either strengthen the knees or why I might be having tension?
Parents
Former Member
The problem with your knees is the result of driving too hard with the legs, and not pivoting from the hips at the finish. When all the momentum of the drive finishes with the body in a 90-degree position to the legs (at the release of course), then the energy that was created finishes in your posterior. That's how rowing coaches came up with the term "shooting the slide" because your rear is shooting down the tracks, making you leap away from the foot-stretchers, forcing your knees to hyper-extend and wear-out your ligaments. Trust me, back in college I had the same injury from rowing.
Try changing up how you row by doing a series of 10 minute rows without putting your feet in the stretchers. This will retrain your rowing stroke so that you have a proper finish by pivoting your body past the vertical position into a lean away position. Use your abs to finish every stroke and the energy of the drive will finish up at your shoulder blades without endangering your knees.
Kelly
The problem with your knees is the result of driving too hard with the legs, and not pivoting from the hips at the finish. When all the momentum of the drive finishes with the body in a 90-degree position to the legs (at the release of course), then the energy that was created finishes in your posterior. That's how rowing coaches came up with the term "shooting the slide" because your rear is shooting down the tracks, making you leap away from the foot-stretchers, forcing your knees to hyper-extend and wear-out your ligaments. Trust me, back in college I had the same injury from rowing.
Try changing up how you row by doing a series of 10 minute rows without putting your feet in the stretchers. This will retrain your rowing stroke so that you have a proper finish by pivoting your body past the vertical position into a lean away position. Use your abs to finish every stroke and the energy of the drive will finish up at your shoulder blades without endangering your knees.
Kelly
