The health benefits of rowing

Sliding seat rowing is the greatest sport around, according to Fritz Hagerman, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Ohio University. Hagerman, who studies the physiology of exercise, such as aerobic and anaerobic capacities, metabolic response, and the effects of blood lactate levels in athletes, found that competitive rowers spent nearly twice as many calories on a 2,000-meter track. than a runner in a 3,000-meter race. meters of obstacle course. He says the latter is considered one of the most difficult events.

Doctors say that 1,000,000 joint replacement surgeries are now performed each year due to high-impact sports activities. In 1999, 440,000 people underwent joint replacement surgery in the United States, and the hip and knee accounted for 98 percent of those procedures. For hip surgeries, the average age was 66 years and for the knees, the average age was 68 years.

Both competitive and recreational rowing are unique compared to most sports in that they exercise all major muscle groups. Everything from the legs, back, and arms is involved while paddling. Additionally, rowing is a low-impact sport. When executed correctly, the rowing motion is a fairly safe move, leaving little room for the serious injuries often found in contact and high-impact sports.

The movement of each stroke is made up of four parts that flow together. These are the catch, the momentum, the end, and the recovery. The following is a description of the biomechanics of rowing.

The catch is the beginning of each stroke and is the moment when you place the paddle in the water. The legs, hips, and shoulders in use during the catch involve the following muscle groups: quadriceps, gastrocenium, soleus, gluteus maximus, and biceps brachii.

Drive

As you begin to push with your legs, you are getting into the momentum of the punch. During the push, the legs, back, and arms work with the trapezius, posterior deltoid, quadriceps, pectoralis major, and biceps brachii muscle groups.

The sweater

Once the legs are fully extended, begin pulling the paddle with your arms and swing your shoulders back, bringing you to the final position. You have just used the rest of the muscle groups throughout your body as follows: gluteus maximus, quadriceps, brachioradialis, and abdominal.

The recuperation

The whole process is repeated, each movement flows into the next, forming another stroke.

Achieve Your Fitness Goals Faster A study from Stockholm University has confirmed the additional benefits of recreational activities when done in an outdoor setting. Many of us already suspect that we exercise more with outdoor exercise without feeling as tired or even as if we have worked hard. We also know that the higher the intensity of exercise, the sooner fitness goals can be achieved. Reaching fitness goals faster with improvements like weight loss, reduced stress levels, shaping, and toning are the rewards that help us stick with our training program and keep watching. improvements.

In a recent conversation with Dr. Grant Gainor, a chiropractor for local Olympic rowers and professional athletes, about rowing in the real world versus on a rowing machine, other benefits became clear. According to Dr. Gainor, the range of motion required when rowing in water is dictated by the need to move the hands in the “grip” and “release” that require deliberate alteration in the plane of motion in the movement. This, along with the variables of the water surface and the surrounding obstacles, brings you into a constant state of consciousness and thus a perceptual activity that is difficult to emulate on a rowing machine. He affirmed that on a physical and structural level this is true, but on a mental or emotional level it is even more so. He believes that the impact on us in dealing with the stresses of modern society is difficult to calculate, but the effect of consistent global activity combined with the environment, in his experience, has an unmatched impact on helping the individual maintain health. which for him is more than just fitness.

Rowing is also a time-saving exercise and low-impact sport enjoyed by all ages.

Reduce the health effects of stress and increased cortisol.

Stress causes chemical changes in the body, such as increased cortisol levels, which, if left unchecked, can have negative effects on physical and mental health. High levels of stress contribute to health problems as diverse as depression, insomnia, heart disease, skin disorders, and headaches. Interestingly, stress has been the subject of more than 20,000 scientific studies.

A 10-year study by Kiecolt-Glaser looked at the effects of stress on the health of medical students. The research revealed reduced levels of the body’s natural killer cells, which fight infections and tumors, even during familiar stressful periods from exams. Whether you’re studying for an exam or just trying to cover extra bills, stress can have a negative effect on your health.

Another study from “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association” showed that mental stress can actually reduce blood flow to the heart. Combined with bad cholesterol and smoking, the risk factor for stress in coronary heart disease patients was remarkable.

Although studies confirm that stress can have devastating consequences for our overall health, sometimes we pride ourselves on working harder and harder, being on top of the competition, and working late at the office. This can prepare us for the cycle of stress.

To break free from the vicious cycle of stress and avoid emotional fatigue and depression, try rowing regularly along a local waterway. Your overall health will improve as your tension fades with each breath of fresh air rich in negative ions.

Be environmentally friendly

Lastly, while paddling, you refrain from using an outboard motor and can enjoy the added peace of mind of knowing that you are not contributing to the abrasive sounds, foul odor, and high levels of pollution from outboard sailing. . For more information, I recommend the book “Polluting for pleasure” by Andre Mele. In 1993, his initial calculations showed that 50 million gallons of oil per year, or the equivalent of 5 Exxon Valdés oil spills, were being dumped by recreational boaters into US waterways per year. In the end, he concluded that outboard recreational boating produces as much oil pollution as all road vehicles in America.

Aside from full-body conditioning that builds lean muscle mass while burning 600 calories per hour, rowing allows you to release stress, lose weight, and lower blood pressure. It is a great opportunity to enjoy the movement and your connection with the water as you take each stroke. It can also be the opportunity to push yourself beyond the limits you once thought possible.

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