International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)

ISSN (Online): 2319-7064

Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391

Rowing Injuries and Related Factors in Competitive

Rowing
Dilani Perera1, Anoja Ariyasinghe2
1
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.
2
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Abstract: Background: Rowing is a popular sport enjoyed at competitive levels and at recreational levels either on the water or with
ergometer machines. As with any sport, extensive training results in injury. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the
injury pattern and its causative factors among professional rowers in Sri Lanka in view to develop strategies to prevent further
occurrence. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in the competitive period with 46 professional rowers in the Sri
Lanka army in the age range of 20-33 years. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information of demographic
data, injury patterns and rowing techniques. Results: The prevalence of injury in male and female rowers was 68.8% and 57.1%
respectively. The type of injury observed for female and male rowers were lower back pain (21.4%, 37.5%), knee pain (14.2%, 12.5%),
pain in hand and wrist (7.1%, 3.1%), hip pain (14.2%, 0.0%), shoulder pain (0.0%, 12.5%), ankle pain (0.0%, 3.1%) and chest pain
(7.1%, 12.5%) respectively. The mean value for training volume of indoor and water training were 12 hours and 15 hours per week
respectively. Both Sculling and sweep rowing techniques correlated significantly with certain injury sites for both male and female
rowers. Conclusion: The prevalence of injury was significant in the Sri Lankan rowers. The anatomical sites most commonly affected
were the lumbar spine and the knees. Injury is also directly related to the rowing techniques.

Keywords: rowing injuries, sweep rowing, sculling rowing, training volume

1. Introduction
Although, many studies have been carried out on rowing
The sport of rowing has been increasing in popularity at injuries in internationally, no information is available about
competitive and recreational levels through the decades [1]. the rowing injuries in Sri Lankan rowers. Therefore, the aim
This article reviews the most common rowing injuries, the of the present study was to assess the prevalence of injuries
associated factors such as different rowing techniques and in rowers and its associated factors in view to prevent further
training volume along with a description of the mechanics of injuries from occurring. With a better understanding of the
the rowing stroke. This information is necessary in order to volume of training, mechanism of rowing, the equipments
make an accurate diagnosis and the treatment protocol. and the training procedures used, this information could aid
in planning and modification of training programs and
It has been reported that rowers are at a risk of developing competitive tactics. This would help to develop the sport of
several types of injuries including lower back, ribs, shoulder, rowing in Sri Lanka to an internationally recognized level in
wrist and knee problems during training and competition [1- the future.
3]. The commonest injury encounted in rowers is low back
pain (LBP)[4-12] followed by knee injuries [8]. It has been 2. Materials and Methods
noted that rowers have a relatively high frequency (6.1% to
22.6%) of rib stress fractures compared to the general Subjects:
population [5,13]. The prevalence and incidence of wrist A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess
injuries have been shown to be high in wrist loading focused the pattern of injury in 46 professional rowers (32 males and
sports such as rowing [14] while wrists and hand injuries are 14 females) in the Sri Lanka army in the age range of 20-33
common in outdoor rowing [2]. Shoulder pain is also quite years. Written informed consent was obtained prior to
common in rowers due to repetitive overload, over-reaching testing. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics
at catch and due to mechanical injury [1] but the literature on Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of
this is limited. The patterns of injury are unique in the sport Peradeniya, Sri Lanka (2014/EC/45).
of rowing because of the biomechanics applied in the rowing
stroke [3]. It involves a continuous repetitive motion which Data collection:
lays stress on various anatomical areas depending on the Questionnaire:
rowing stroke phases [2,3]. Injuries are primarily overuse An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to
[2,8,15] due to change in training volume, alteration of obtain information of demographic data, injury patterns,
rowing techniques and the boat [2,3,16]. Back pain may training volume and rowing techniques in rowers.
present differently depending on sweep versus sculling while
rowers who use both sweep and sculling may lead to the Statistical analysis:
development of wrist injuries [3]. It has been shown that The SPSS 17 version for Windows statistical software
modification in the position in rowing ergometer may lead to package was used to compute and report the data.
knee injuries [3,17]. Therefore it is essential to evaluate the Descriptive statistics were used to describe and summarize
different rowing techniques in order to develop protocols to the data. Multiple regressions were used to identify the
prevent and treat rowing injuries [2,3].
Volume 5 Issue 4, April 2016
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Paper ID: NOV162584 484
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 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
correlation between injury patterns and physical fitness The relationship between different rowing techniques and
characteristics and rowing techniques. p value of less than injury patterns are shown in Table 1. Sculling technique
0.05 (p<0.05) was considered as a significance association. correlated significantly with low back and hand /wrist injury
among female rowers and ankle injury among male rowers.
3. Results Sweep technique correlated significantly with low back,
knee, hands/wrists, hip and chest injuries among female
In total 32 male and 14 female rowers in the Sri Lankan rowers (p<0.01), but it is not significant among male rowers.
army team participated in this study. The mean age of male Both Sculling and sweep rowing techniques correlated
and female rowers was 23.7+3.03 and 23.43+2.10 significantly with knee, hip and chest injury among female
respectively. The prevalence of injury in male and female rowers and knee and ankle injuries among male rowers
rowers was 68.8% and 57.1% respectively. The type of (p<0.01). The volume of training correlated significantly
injury observed for female and male rowers were lower back with low back injury among female rowers and low back,
pain (21.4%, 37.5%), knee pain (14.2%, 12.5%), hand and knee and chest injuries among male rowers (p<0.01).
wrist pain (7.1%, 3.1%), hip pain (14.2%, 0.0%), shoulder
pain (0.0%, 12.5%), ankle pain (0.0%, 3.1%) and chest pain Table 1: Association between pattern of injury with sculling,
(7.1%, 12.5%) respectively (Figure 1). sweep and both sculling & sweep rowing technique

Pattern of Sculling rowing Sweep rowing Both Sculling &

injury P value P value sweep rowing P
value
Male Female Male Female Male Female
Lower 0.17 0.00** 0.55 0.00** 0.50 0.29
back
Percentage (%)

Knee 0.25 0.40 0.09 0.00** 0.00** 0.00**

Hands & - 0.00** - 0.00** 0.25 0.43
wrist
Hip 0.20 0.00** 0.00**
Shoulder - - - - 0.50 -
Ankle 0.00** - 0.09 - 0.00** -
Chest 0.08 0.20 0.09 0.00** 0.50 0.00**
*p<0.05- significant
**p<0.01-highy significant

4. Discussion

Figure 1: Prevalence of injury among male and female The injury incidence is directly related to the volume of
rowers training and different rowing techniques. The rowing injuries
are primarily due to overuse [18]. A high percentage of
Figure 2 shows the different rowing techniques used by male rowers in this study suffered from low back pain followed by
and female rowers; sculling (44.5%, 35.7%), sweep (37.4%, knee pain (Figure 1). Several past studies show that low
14.2%) and both sculling and sweep (18.5%, 50%) rowing back pain is a common complaint in the rowing population
techniques respectively. [2,4,8,11,15,17,19] and it is prevalent in almost all rowers
undergoing serious rowing training [9] with ergometer
pieces longer than 30 minutes [11].

In the present study it was observed that female have a

higher prevalence of low back pain than male rowers.
Similarly, Howell’s revealed an 82.2% incidence of low
back pain among elite lightweight female rowers compared
with an age- and sex-matched general population which was
20% to 30% [20]. In the present study both sculling and
sweep rowing techniques significantly correlated with low
back pain in both male and female rowers. The flexion and
compressive loading during each stroke are similar for
sculling and sweep ergometer rowing [3]. In addition to
flexion and compression, sweep rowers rotate the trunk
during rowing ergometer [22]. These forces can cause injury
to the lumbar spine [22]. Sweep rowers who change sides
during a season also had a significantly greater chance of
Figure 2: Rowing techniques among male and female developing low back pain than those who did not change the
rowers sides [3,8]. The back behaves as a braced cantilever during
the rowing stroke and transfers the power from the legs to
the oar. Therefore it is suggested that evaluation of the load
Volume 5 Issue 4, April 2016
www.ijsr.net
Paper ID: NOV162584 485
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
ISSN (Online): 2319-7064
Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2015): 6.391
at the oar while maintaining a steady pace and changing the occur during periods of intense training with a relatively low
stroke rate showed a significant decrease in load [3]. stroke rate and high load per stroke. This occurs during the
fall and winter training months when the rowers are doing
Second most common injury among Sri Lankan rowers was long aerobic pieces on the rowing ergometer in temperate
knee injuries. Males suffered from knee pain more than countries. Chest injuries are significantly correlated with the
females. But Kristine and Karlson had shown that this is sweep rowing technique and both sculling and sweep rowing
more common among women than men [2]. Knee is a techniques (p<0.01) in female rowers.
commonly affected site for injury and it could be due to
chondromalacia patella and Ilio tibial band (ITB) friction 5. Conclusion
syndrome [15]. Rowing involves extreme loading of the
patella-femoral joint [3]. This is because rowing training is In conclusion, the prevalence of injuries among both male
designed to increase the strength of the quadriceps muscle and female rowers in the Sri Lankan army was significant.
which can cause significant patella pressure. The anatomical sites most commonly affected were the
Chondromalacia patella can present as anterior knee pain lumbar spine and the knees. The present study emphasizes
during rowing or quadriceps strengthening training the importance of being aware of the injury patterns,
activities. It is also commonly found in those with genu different rowing techniques and biomechanical forces
varus [2,3]. The ITB friction syndrome is also fairly affecting the athlete so that measures could be initiated to
common in the rowing population. ITB band may produce prevent disability and enhance the performance of rowers in
inflammation over the lateral femoral condyle resulting in the future.
localized pain [2,3]. Knee injuries are common among Sri
Lankan rowers who perform both sculling and sweep rowing 6. Acknowledgement
techniques and it showed significant correlation. It is
suggested that several modifications in the position in The authors would like to acknowledge all members of the
rowing ergometre can alter the patellofemoral mechanism; as Sri Lankan army rowing teams, team coach and in charge of
an example, raising the height of the foot stretcher decreases rowing for their support and collaboration during the study.
the knee flexion angle leading to a decrease in patella
compression [3]. Functional knee varus can be addressed by
changing the rotation of the toe-in or toe-out position of the
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