Need help with rib pain

[Namrettel]

Hey all,

I started rowing on the erg again to get back into rowing shape so I can hopefully get back to competing next year, and have been spending around an hour on the erg every day. My splits have been getting better, but lately I've been feeling some pressure/discomfort/pain in my ribs when I row. This is kind of similar to what I had over the previous summer when I was training a lot on the water and it felt like I had a stitch that just wouldn't go away. My coach told me last summer that it was an "intercostal"(sp?) problem and that I needed to strengthen my core. I'm assuming that if thats what it was then, and this feels the same then I"m having the same issue. I'm wondering if theres anything I can do to mitigate
the problem/fix it or if the only thing I can do is to take it easy for a few weeks and let it heal. Do I need to strengthen my core (specifically my obliques) or am I just kinda screwed?

Thanks for helping

[johnlvs2run]

You must be twisting and/or bending your rib cage on the drive.

Make sure to rotate from your hips and keep your back straight, which helps to take the pressure off your ribs.

[JohnBove]

You must be twisting and/or bending your rib cage on the drive.

Make sure to rotate from your hips and keep your back straight, which helps to take the pressure off your ribs.

Take any advice from this buffoon at your peril.

[Namrettel]

I know that I"m not twisting during the drive. I've been pretty mindful of my technique on the erg and I mostly sculled during my rowing career so I don't have a tendency to lean to my rigger (altho I have swept a lot).

[bloomp]

The two things that come to mind are leaning too far at the catch - your ribs would be hitting your legs - or pulling the handle into your ribs. The latter is a novice mistake, so see if sitting up more at the catch and not compressing your chest into your knees fixes the problem.

[Namrettel]

Okay, I'll try and see if that works/helps.