Rowing and Hip Resurfacing

[sdunn4]

Well, I did finally get around to asking Dr. Gross's assistant, Lee Webb, about rowing.  She explained that due to the repetitive stressing of the femoral neck when extending the legs, and the chance you'll have bending in excess of 120 degrees for many cycles, she and Dr. Gross do not recommend rowing until 6 months.

Bummer!  I will continue to use the fluid trainer for my bike and I have dusted off my old Nordic Track XC ski exerciser, both which have been endorsed for use by Dr. Gross.  Come on, 6 months!

I'm glad I asked the doctor- in all seriousness it is not worth having a problem after coming this far, however slim the chances are!

Steve

[FlbrkMike]

Steve -

Definitely not worth the risk...always heed your Doctor's instructions.  At least you have some alternatives.  My only exercise before getting back on the C2 was walking and doing the stuff my PT gave me.  My therapist wasn't too keen on me getting on the erg at all until I had explicit permission from the Doc, which I got at four months and even then I was doing almost no resistance for about four more weeks.

Don't worry about it...the time will fly by with all the other stuff you have to think about.

I'm now at 10 months (plus 2 days) on one hip and 9 months on the other.  I was able to do 13K last night at an average of about 2:05 (not all at once   ;)  ).  Improvement comes slowly but surely if you keep at it.

[bothdone]

13K!    How on earth does your rear end cope with that?  My bottom gets numb affter about 15 minutes.

I had a break from rowing recently and have just started getting back into it over the last couple of weeks.   I managed 8.01.4 for the 2000m yesterday.  You soon remember why you love/hate the erg.    ;D   

Ed

ps Mike.  I see your surgeon has an appropriate name for a hip surgeon.

[FlbrkMike]

I have the same problem, Ed.  My right leg starts going numb, from the butt down, if I stay on that seat too long.  I have to break up my workouts into shorter pieces.  A typical routine is something like this:

2K warmup at an easy pace, followed by a few minutes of stretching - hamstrings, quads, calfs and triceps.

5k or 6K, two times.  I get up and walk around for a couple of minutes between the sets to keep my butt from getting too sore.  The last 1000 meters of the 6K is pretty hard.  Sometimes if I feel like I'm starting to go numb I'll bend forward a couple of times with my knees straight, like a hamstring stretch, and it seems to help.

Last, a final 1000 meters, usually the first 500 is all out and then 500 really easy.

My longest workout is 15K, the 2+6+6+1.  Sometimes I'll just do one of the 6Ks or one of the 5Ks or shorten one to 3K depending on how I feel.

That 2K time is really good.  I've gone slightly under 8:00 for a 2K.  There are people out there my age doing sub 7 2Ks...something I never expect to approach.  My next goal is a 20 minute 5K but the thought of a timed 5K is pretty daunting.  Yes, it's definitely a love/hate thing.  I never want to start but I always feel great when I finish.

A friend of mine, back in the 80s, had an orthopedic surgeon named Dr. Bonebrake.  Seriously.

[bothdone]

Hi Mike

I like your idea of linking a series of long reps into one session.  I might have a go at something similar when I've built back up.  When I do my 2k blasts I do 1 minute fast (about 1.54 pace) couple of minutes rest - then the 2k.  I finish with a final 1 min blast as fast as I can manage - that varies between 1.49 pace and 1.52 depending on how tired I am.

In February this year when I was doing two sessions a week I managed 20.05.5 for the 5000m.  It will take me a while to get back to that.     I think my fastest ever 2k was 7.28 about 10 years ago.  I'll be happy to get back to 7.55.

I think the accuracy of working against the onboard computer on the erg helps a lot.   Seconds matter.    From your signature block I think I'm a couple of years older than you as I was 58 in September - not much age difference though.

I like your Dr Bonebrake - very apt.

Ed

[sdunn4]

You guys are pretty serious rowers!  I look forward to getting back on the erg this spring.  In the meantime I will find alternate methods to keep in some kind of aerobic shape.  You are making me jealous!

Steve

[bothdone]

Hi Steve

I hope your recovery is going well and continues to progress.  As I'm sure you've been advised, don't rush things.  The erg will still be there, lurking silently, when you and your hip are really ready to begin again.

Best wishes to you, and all rowers (and all hippies), for Christmas and the New Year.

Ed

[FlbrkMike]

Rowed 12K today and passed 1,000,000 meters since getting back on the erg in July.  I wanted to get the million by New Years but that was overly ambitious, and I slacked off a lot in Dec and Jan.  Getting back into it now, though.

I did A 2k warmup and then managed a 20:15.0 5K, which is my fastest in many years. 

[sdunn4]

Mike,

Great job!  That is some fast rowing and a great milestone to achieve.  I hit 15 weeks tomorrow Post-op, and still have a while to go until I can use my rower- I'm waiting until the 6-month mark as per doctor's orders.  In the meantime I am alternating the bike fluid trainer (indoors) with my old Nordic Track ski exerciser, and walking / hiking on the weekends.  I do miss the overall workout from the C2 Rower!

Keep up the great work!

Steve

[hernanu]

Congrats Mike... You just rowed from Boston to Columbia, SC (rounded down a bit). Could say hello to Dr. Gross   ;D.

(I know you're in CA, but I decided to run with this anyways.. )

[FlbrkMike]

LOL...when you look at it that way I could have rowed from here to Sonoma and stopped for a nice cabernet or pinot noir.
8)