Strenghten Back Muscles

marvy1 · Post by **marvy1** » May 1st, 2007, 1:06 pm

Hello - Ive been rowing on a Model D for about 2 months now and I really feel a difference in my stamina. However, I pulled a back muscle about a month ago. So I took it easy for a while but I am now back up to my original times (2:35-2:40 per 500/m).

My question is: Does rowing strenghten the back muscles? I found once I injured by back (years ago) that occasionally it will 'go out' again with just the wrong movement (like putting my socks on). I'm hoping that by rowing I can strenghten the back muscles so as to avoid future injuries.

Thanks! - Marvin

Sean Seamus · Post by **Sean Seamus** » May 1st, 2007, 1:35 pm

yes, erging (and rowing) strengthen the muscles of the back

Much of the musculature of the back is designed to HOLD the back and spine as opposed to MOVE it

For the purpose of erging and rowing, the back is largely a PLATFORM from which the LIMBS push and pull

Sit tall, keep the back straight / slightly arched, and hinge from the hips, rather than bending at the waist

MomofJBN · Post by **MomofJBN** » May 1st, 2007, 6:10 pm

Ditto to everything Sean said, plus use your abdominals to support that straight back.

marvy1 · Post by **marvy1** » May 2nd, 2007, 12:46 am

MomofJBN wrote:Ditto to everything Sean said, plus use your abdominals to support that straight back.

What about at the end of the finish stroke where the technique says to lean back slightly?

Thanks again - Marvin

MomofJBN · Post by **MomofJBN** » May 2nd, 2007, 2:01 am

Well, personally, I don't think I use very much lean-back. In any event, the back is straight - it just pivots at the hips. I hope that makes sense. The angle between the back and the ground is not 90 degrees, but the back itself is pretty straight.

marvy1 · Post by **marvy1** » May 2nd, 2007, 3:12 pm

MomofJBN wrote:Well, personally, I don't think I use very much lean-back. In any event, the back is straight - it just pivots at the hips. I hope that makes sense. The angle between the back and the ground is not 90 degrees, but the back itself is pretty straight.

Yes! Thank you! Marvin

bscastro · Post by **bscastro** » May 2nd, 2007, 3:27 pm

marvy1 wrote:
MomofJBN wrote:Ditto to everything Sean said, plus use your abdominals to support that straight back.
What about at the end of the finish stroke where the technique says to lean back slightly?

Thanks again - Marvin

The leanback is very slight, maybe 10 degrees. It is something I have corrected in my own erging, as when I lean back too far, my power output suffers and I end up using my shoulders more and my back (which is a bigger muscle group and thus stronger) less. I've read that this is the case as well - which got me to correct my form. You are not totally straight up at the finish, but you are not leaning very far back either. Some with leaning forward at catch.

Bryan