Rowing Injuries and Related Factors in Competitive Rowing

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.