rowing and lower back

[cj6530]

How is a day of rowing a raft on the lower back. I have a bad lower back and recently have recovered from surgery. i function quite well now but i just cannot pick up heavy items. The rowing postion seems like it is not bad for the lower back. Whats the story?

thanks

[castnblast]

my lower back does alright...it is my shoulders that ache...maybe I need to use my core muscles more:hmmm:

[tomc]

I have fitted all my rowing boats with seats that have a back to give me relief for my back on long hauls. I also find that varying my work load during a day on the oars helps a lot.
Tom C.

[EasyE]

I have lower back issues but for some reason rowing doesn't cause any problems for me. Installing a seat with a back sounds like a good idea to me.

[Curtis]

I have a bad lower back from working in a lumber yard and other stupid stuff, after two days on the sticks, my back didn't hurt, it was soar, but didn't hurt. A higher back seat might actually not help. For me having more flexibility being able to lean farther back helps me stretch it out and stay as limber as possible.
My .02

My seat was a low back seat, I like it better than a high back pontoon type seat.

[ceviche]

Use the strength of your legs to aid your rowing. Don't rely on your back to pull. Clinch your abdominal and butt muscles to set your back in one position. It's your arms and legs which will give you power. Also, leaning back a little will help a lot. The same goes for when pulling anchor. Set your abdominal muscles to support your back and use your legs to pull the anchor line.

Try ab-crunches to help prepare you for the next time you go out. Having your spine move around too much, when you are carrying or lifting a load, is a bad thing.

[tomc]

Ah, I led you all where I want you... No body uses the back rest on their rowing seat to assist in rowing! You use it to rest your lower back when you are not rowing:beathead: The back rest does exactly what its name states. And if you have to think if a back rest will get in the way of your rowing "style"... then you are telling me this from your arm-chair, not from experience. I could not have continued rowing if it had not been for a back rest on my row boats. The rest is a long story...
Tom C.

By the way, it's nice to see you back Dave, that float tube is still kicking around my wood shed.