Rowing Injury Reduction Assessment

Rowing Injury Reduction Assessments are the best way to stay proactive  when it comes to reducing the chances of injury during rowing. Get prepared for the the season and look after your body! Read more about what is involved below.  

What does Rowing Injury Reduction Screening Involve?

• Questions about you - how long you have been rowing, how many sessions per week, which club/school you row with, what boat you row in (crew/size of boat and configuration - scull or sweep) 
• Current injuries or pain
• Previous Injury History
• An assessment of the flexibility of your lower back, hips, ankles, thighs and upper back. Identifying any deficiencies that may lead to poor technique or posture in the  boat and may lead to injury.
• Assessment of strength and ability to use your hip and shoulder muscles properly to ensure good mechanics in the boat. This may also help to improve performance.
• Explanation of Results
• Exercises for any deficiencies identified
• A digital version of the results with a report which can be sent to your coach

Why is an assessment necessary?

Lower back pain is the most common injury in rowers with a 94% lifetime incidence rate in Adolescent Males and 78% in Females (Ng et al., 2013). Statistics like these, unfortunately give lower back pain the term "rower's back."

However, Olympic level rowers had a 57% lifetime incidence rate of lower back pain when evaluated in 2014 (Wilkie and Trease, 2018) - across a lot more years of rowing. With training frequency across the week being similar with adolescents, the principal difference is that the Australian Rowing Team is monitored with strength and flexibility screening in addition to education on training loads to help avoid injuries.

A study in 2011 (Perich et al.) identified that rowing flexibility screening with exercises to remedy different deficits reduced the incidence of lower back pain during the middle and end of the rowing season (when the big races tend to occur). This was performed in addition to a strength and conditioning circuit.

Other Injuries

Rowing Injury Prevention Assessments can also assist with identifying those at risk of other overuse injuries such as:

• Intersection Syndrome of the Forearm
• Rib Stress Fractures and Reactions
• Knee Pain - Patellofemoral or other causes
• Shoulder Pain 

The Assessment will also look at whether other past injuries may be causing inefficient rowing technique or predisposing you to injury.

Where required, a follow up screening session is generally recommended to ensure that deficiencies are adequately addressed. Occasionally, a physiotherapy consult/s may be recommended to assist in attaining improvements of screening results dramatically or in preparation for an upcoming event e.g. Head of the River, State or National Regattas.

Ready to have an assessment?

Please use the console below to book or call 04 2520 9020 to schedule a time. Any questions, please email us at info@therowingphysio.com.au Private Health Rebates are available. 

Bookings available Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday/Monday during the school term.

Perich, D., Burnett, A., O’Sullivan, P., & Perkin, C. (2010). Low back pain in adolescent female rowers: a multi-dimensional intervention study. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 19(1), 20-29. doi: 10.1007/s00167-010-1173-6. 

Wilkie, K., & Trease, L. (2018). GRowing Bodies Practitioner Rowing Injury and Illness Masterclass. Presentation, Adelaide, South Australia.