Abstract
Rowing is associated with a high incidence of low back pain (LBP) often attributed to the associated loading and large trunk rotations. Here we examine electromyographic (EMG) activity in rowers who undertake sweep rowing (asymmetrical) or sculling (symmetrical).
22 right handed elite rowers participated and written informed consent was obtained. Each had a preferred rowing side (bow side [BS, n=6]; stroke side [SS, n=7) or sculling [SC, n=9]). Testing was performed in a Cybex isokinetic dynamometer and bilateral EMG activity recorded from trunk muscles (erector spinae [ES] and rectus abdominis [RA]) synchronously.
There were no differences between the groups in peak torque during isokinetic or isometric testing, although extensor torque was higher than flexor torque. Analysis of EMG activity revealed that scullers showed no left/right differences in any of the testing protocols. However, sweep rowers showed significant differences between left and right ES during extension protocols, in the isokinetic testing at 30°s−1 (in the SS rowers [LES 0.11±0.01mV vs RES 0.08±0.01mV] and at 90°s−1 in the BS rowers [LES 0.14±0.02mV vs RES 0.12±0.01mV]. In the isometric tests, the SS rowers showed higher left ES activity than the right [LES 0.11±0.01mV vs RES 0.09±0.01mV]. The flexion protocols did not reveal any left right differences in any groups in any of the protocols used. These results reveal that sweep rowing is associated with asymmetric activity of trunk extensors, but not flexors. This could be a contributing factor to the high incidence of LBP in sweep rowers.
Correspondence should be addressed to: Mr John O’ Dowd, SBPR, c/o BOA, The Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.
