Rowing Injuries

Abstract

Participation in the sport of rowing has been steadily increasing in recent decades, yet few studies address the specific injuries incurred. This article reviews the most common injuries described in the literature, including musculoskeletal problems in the lower back, ribs, shoulder, wrist and knee. A review of basic rowing physiology and equipment is included, along with a description of the mechanics of the rowing stroke. This information is necessary in order to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment protocol for these injuries, which are mainly chronic in nature. The most frequently injured region is the low back, mainly due to excessive hyperflexion and twisting, and can include specific injuries such as spondylolysis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction and disc herniation. Rib stress fractures account for the most time lost from on-water training and competition. Although theories abound for the mechanism of injury, the exact aetiology of rib stress fractures remains unknown. Other injuries discussed within, which are specific to ribs, include costochondritis, costovertebral joint subluxation and intercostal muscle strains. Shoulder pain is quite common in rowers and can be the result of overuse, poor technique, or tension in the upper body. Injuries concerning the forearm and wrist are also common, and can include exertional compartment syndrome, lateral epicondylitis, deQuervain's and intersection syndrome, and tenosynovitis of the wrist extensors. In the lower body, the major injuries reported include generalised patellofemoral pain due to abnormal patellar tracking, and iliotibial band friction syndrome. Lastly, dermatological issues, such as blisters and abrasions, and miscellaneous issues, such as environmental concerns and the female athlete triad, are also included in this article.Pathophysiology, mechanism of injury, assessment and management strategies are outlined in the text for each injury, with special attention given to ways to correct biomechanical or equipment problems specific to rowing. By gaining an understanding of basic rowing biomechanics and training habits, the physician and/or healthcare provider will be better equipped to treat and prevent injuries in the rowing population.

Preparation and medical follow-up for a single-handed transatlantic rowing race

“…Back and knee pain are most frequent [1,2]. Back problems were not reported in this study, which does not exclude their presence.…”

“…These symptoms had already been described in a study on two transoceanic rowers [3] and on athletic rowers performing short races. They suffered from blisters and skin irritation complicated by itching and lichenification [2]. These symptoms are more prominent in a transatlantic race because of the exaggerated length of the race.…”

“…The intensive nature of rowing sports leads to injuries in athletes. The main musculoskeletal injuries observed are knee pain, lower back pain and costal stress fractures [1,2]. During the race, rowers fine-tune their lifestyle to maintain an optimal level of performance.…”

Aquatic Sports Dermatoses: Clinical Presentation and Treatment Guidelines

“…Rowing blisters result from friction between rower's hands and the oar handles (Rumball et al, 2005). Clinical presentation.…”

Ergonomics of Prehensility in Pushing and Pulling Motions: An Anatomical and Biomechanical Overview

“…Because the different grips affect the flexibility and power of certain movements, our study is focused on the hand grip during paddling with the firm conviction that it exerts a primary role not only in a stylistically correct paddling execution, but mainly in the realization of a more efficacious and powerful paddle stroke and prevention of injury, most commonly referred to as "oarsman's wrist", a tenosynovitis of the extensor muscles, occurring in up to 23% of paddling athletes [4][5][6]. Injury is often found in elite level athletes, since this is a risk factor for overuse injury like intersection syndrome and low back pain in rowers [7].…”