Rowing Injury Management

The Rowing Physio specialises in the management of rowing injuries. Management includes a consultation to assess and then work out with you what the best course of management is for your injury. This is individualised to work in your particular setting. It is our goal to avoid you missing time in the boat where necessary but this may be a consideration depending on the severity of the injury.

Some of the common injuries we see include:

• Lower Back Pain
• Rib Stress Reactions and Rib Stress Fractures
• Intersection Syndrome and Forearm Pain or Wrist Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Knee pain - including Patellofemoral Pain and Iliotibial Band Syndrome

What does the Consult involve?

An Initial Asssessment will consist of an interview within the consultation to understand your symptoms, followed by a physical examination which may include an assessment of range of motion, strength and other hands-on tests to look at which structures may be affected by your injury.

The questions will include:

• What club/school you row with
• What boats you row - configuration, size and level
• How many training sessions you have and any other activities or sports you play
• How many years you have been rowing
• Previous Injuries
• Upcoming races

What can I expect after my injury has been assessed?

• A diagnosis and explanation of what could be causing your pain/injury
• Next steps - time to return to sport, medical imaging (x-ray/CT/MRI/Ultrasound) where required, referral to GP, Surgeon or other health practitioner where required.
• Manual Therapy/Massage to reduce pain and increase range of motion
• Taping - where applicable to help settle your pain or assist in return to sport
• Exercises to help with range of motion and strength that will help you move and feel better
• An individualised plan
• Advice on what to do to keep your fitness while your injury heals and what you can do to help settle the pain
• Communication with coaches and other health practitioners in regards to your progress
• Plenty of time and opportunity for questions throughout the consultation!

Matthew enjoys being challenged with questions - there are always plenty of activities and exercises you can do with an injury to stay fit and strong!