Rowing Injury

Nov 03, 2011

• Jamie Virtue asked The Guru for the following Physiotherapy Advice:

  
  

  Hello,

  I do a lot of indoor rowing and have competed in various events. I didn't really stretch or warm up as I should have done and eventually I started to get pain in my left knee. There was no swelling and it didn't feel any different but I couldn't fully bend or straighten it and it felt weak as though it was about to give out. I had to diclofenac to relieve the pain. My doctor then suggested surgery as it was through to be a torn meniscus. I had the surgery but the surgeon told me the meniscus wasn't torn but I had a swelling most likely caused by my use of the rowing machine. He also said I shouldn't do any further high impact sports and rowing was definitely out. I consulted a rowing coach who said I should do light sessions to see if my knee gave me any pain.

  Two months after the surgery I did two 10 minute very light sessions on the machine and my knee didn't feel right the next day. I had no physiotherapy through all of this presumably as the surgeon thought I wouldn't row again. This is an awkward question to answer but do I need to stop rowing altogether or is there a way I can continue without causing further damage to my knee? Thanks Jamie

• The Six Physio Guru respond:

  
  

  Hi Jamie

  V odd. I take it you had an MRI scan pre the surgery? The ortho dude should have told you what the problem was, not just "swelling".

  Most surgeons know very little about rowing or applied mechanics,coaches know lots about rowing but little about mechanics.

  You need to see a physio who knows a bit about both......Can't give much more advice than that!

  Good Luck

  The Guru

5 Comments

• Jamie Virtue Responded:

  Nov 03, 2011

  Thanks Guru,
  
  I did have an MRI pre surgery plus when I saw the
  surgeon I wasn't in there very long but he did show me a picture of the
  inside of my knee and there was a lump there which he was sure had been
  caused by rowing.
  I'm trying to find someone who knows the mechanics
  and the rowing so I can make an informed decision about continuing to
  row or not.
  
  Jamie

• The Six Physio Guru Responded:

  Nov 03, 2011

  Which part of the country are you in?
  
  The Guru

• Jamie Virtue Responded:

  Nov 03, 2011

  I work in central London and live near Canary Wharf.

• The Six Physio Guru Responded:

  Nov 03, 2011

  Hi Jamie
  
  Whether you have private medical insurance or not I'd
  recommend you come and see one of us so we can give you the once over
  and hopefully explain and show you what's up and what you may need to do
  to either allow you to continue or modify and do something else.....
  
  The Guru

• The Six Physio Guru Responded:

  Nov 03, 2011

  Hi Jamie
  
  Whether you have private medical insurance or not I'd
  recommend you come and see one of us so we can give you the once over
  and hopefully explain and show you what's up and what you may need to do
  to either allow you to continue or modify and do something else.....
  
  The Guru