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?
Former Member
Originally posted by fatboy
Any thoughts on rowing for swimmers with shoulder problems?
Bad idea, good idea?
I don't know. I really don't think I use much of my shoulders. It is really your back you use and especially your legs. I coudl see that if you don't have good technique you might hurt them. But rowingis pretty easy.
Former Member
You should never row full stroke when you already have shoulder trouble. When you row with the correct form you are using your shoulders in order to finish the pull as you swing away, not just your back. For those who only feel it in the middle- to lower-back, check your form and correct it or you will have a new set of problems.
The tension that forms between the shoulder blades (and just above) is a good indication that your stroke is technically sound. So if you have shoulder pain, try rowing without breaking your arms. Keep them straight and work through the pivot motion, but don't over-do it by trying to keep a low split rate. Go ahead and rest yourself. Do the rotator cuff exercises that we all know and love, and in a couple weeks ease back into rowing.
Top rowers spend as little as... 246 minutes a week rowing? That's news to me. When I was in college and camps with the national team we were putting in that much every day! Even at home I like to do at least an hour.
