Physical Therapy for Rowing

Contrary to what may be initially anticipated, rowing can be a highly intense sport and it certainly requires the use of various muscle groups. Are you sore from rowing and need to seek physical therapy to help strengthen your muscles?  Island Sports Physical Therapy in Huntington, NY can provide you with strengthening programs that adequately get your necessary muscle groups prepared for hitting the water. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to make an appointment for your injuries or sore muscles. For readers who are interested in the sport of rowing, please continue looking through this article.  

What is rowing?

Rowing is a strenuous sport that has participants race through a body of water with the help of a boat and an oar. The rower uses the oar to glide themselves across the water by consistently moving forward and backward with their arms. Rowers typically race one another to the finish line and can race for miles on end. Historically speaking, rowing had originated back in Egypt, Greece, and Rome as a mode of transportation. As time went on, it eventually became a sport in England during the 17th and 18th centuries. With the turn of the 19th century, rowing then became popularized across the globe, including in the U.S. Rowing is not known as a contact sport, but it can cause injuries to the rower if they don’t stretch or exercise properly.

Injuries

Despite the lack of physical contact, rowing can still cause injury to the body through ordinary wear and tear. The rower is maintaining proper positioning by sitting in the boat and using various muscle groups to help accomplish their goal of winning the race. With extensive hours of training, injuries are inevitable, especially if the rowers don’t take care of their body’s properly.  Some injuries that can occur from rowing may include the following:

• Lower back pain.
• Knee pain.
• Extensor Tenosynovitis of the wrist (occurs mostly at the beginning of spring and causes major swelling and pain in the wrist).
• Stress fractures in the ribs.

What’s a blessing and a curse about rowing is that it requires the use of many different muscle groups all at once. Muscles around your body are steadily being used as a result of the back and forth motion. Some of the muscle groups that are used while rowing includes the following:

• Erector Spinae.
• Rectus-Abdominis.
• Triceps.
• Rhomboids.
• Deltoids.
• Trapezius.
• Pectoralis Major.
• Wrist Extensors and Flexors.
• Quadriceps.
• Glutes.
• Hamstrings.
• Gastrocnemius.
• Soleus.

Maintaining your key strength within these muscle groups is essential for making you an elite competitor in this sport. By getting physical therapy in Huntington, NY, you can rest assured that your body is at peak physical condition when it’s time to head back out onto the boat with your teammates. Physical therapists can also target the specific muscle groups that are required in rowing, promoting strength in your back, shoulders, and other areas.

Our specialists at Island Sports Physical Therapy in Huntington, NY can ensure that if you are in pain from rowing, they can assist you and get you ready for the next race.