I saw a while back that there were a bunch of rowers on the forum and I was hoping you guys could help me out. I rowed in college on a very competitive team and put ~20 hrs per week of training. From sophomore year on I rowed solely port, and because I’m short (5’10") especially for a heavyweight (no lwt program), I had to reach a long way to match the 6’4" guy who inevitably was put in front of me. Basically all the reaching and leaning shifted my pelvis bone so the left side is about 1/2" higher than the right, so i’m all lopsided. This has only created some problems so far, but I’m guessing more are on the way the older I get and I’m only 2 years out of college now. My questions are: have other rowers experienced this? If so, how long until the problem evened itself out or at all? What kind of treatment did you get? Am I just totally F***ed? Thanks for all replies, any info is greatly appreciated.
I saw a while back that there were a bunch of rowers on the forum and I was hoping you guys could help me out. I rowed in college on a very competitive team and put ~20 hrs per week of training. From sophomore year on I rowed solely port, and because I’m short (5’10") especially for a heavyweight (no lwt program), I had to reach a long way to match the 6’4" guy who inevitably was put in front of me. Basically all the reaching and leaning shifted my pelvis bone so the left side is about 1/2" higher than the right, so i’m all lopsided. This has only created some problems so far, but I’m guessing more are on the way the older I get and I’m only 2 years out of college now. My questions are: have other rowers experienced this? If so, how long until the problem evened itself out or at all? What kind of treatment did you get? Am I just totally F***ed? Thanks for all replies, any info is greatly appreciated.
I have never heard of such a problem in a rower. I was pure starboard but taller than most (we did have lightweight program) but I still reached as far as I could and still maintain form. I didn’t compensate because the boat was filled with “runts” nor did the coach ask me to. I suspect you are simply out of balance. I would start with a sports physical therapist or something like that.
I’m speaking from a rowing background. There are, unfortunately, a lot of rowers who a permanently messed-up because of this, especially rowers in big time high-school programs who logged big hours before their bodies developed. While I am sure that is not what you wanted to hear, the real answer is that you really need to see a good PT. This is not something, AFAIK, that will just fix itself. I imagine you’ll end up doing a LOT of rotary hip exercises and work on balance beams. You can fix it, so don’t worry. But don’t just let it go.
As for my own experience, I was lucky enough to row both sides, so I was okay, but rowing did mess up my shoulders quite a bit, and it wasn’t until I went to a PT that I fixed that. So PT is definitely the way to go. Doing any repetitive motion sport is murder on your body. Good luck!
I’m a former rower too (three years as an undergrad and then three years at a club competing at nationals and canadian henley). As an undergrad I only rowed port, and like you, we had no lightweight program so I had to compete with the heavies for a spot in the varsity.
We spent a lot of time on the erg and in the weightroom to make sure we stayed balanced. The only injury I ever got was some tendonitis in my feathering wrist. Once out of school (and I started rowing on both sides, as well as sculling), I developed some hip flexor problems as a result of poor stretching.
If you were reaching as far as you say you where and weren’t doing anything to keep yourself balanced, then you likely have some overdeveloped muscles on one side. Short of going to a PT or chiropractor (which you should definitely do), I’d get involved in a quality flexibility program.
Do you have a leg-length discrepancy? Do you have scoliosis? I find it highly unlikely that rowing with a proper technique would shift your pelvic bones. More likely, you have a pre-existing leg-length issue, or are severely unbalanced in your core area.
I rowed sweep for 4 years and sculled for another 5. I also had a rotated pelvis. Through chiropratic adjustments, hip extension/flexion exercises, and massage I overcame this injury. For the record, sculling is much better for muscular balance.
Dave in VA
why not row starboard for a couple years?
kidding aside, go see a chiro. he’ll give it a kick back into place.