Athletes experiencing an injury often explore low-impact activities for maintaining their fitness levels without putting excessive stress on the injured area and ensuring the prevention of further damage. As per Peter A Derow, rowing is one of the best comprehensive, yet low-impact physical activity that such athletes may try out. Rowing provides full-body exercise, and can be advantageous for individuals in various stages of rehabilitation or recovery.
Peter A Derow underlines how rowing is a perfect low-impact activity for injury recovery
Working out after an injury is a bit tricky. After all, one must find an exercise that does not put too much strain on their healing body, but does allow them to get a proper workout to maintain their fitness and well-being. Rowing is among the best exercises for injury recovery and rehabilitation. It is an effective strength and endurance activity that uses almost every major muscle group in the body. One would use their legs, core, and arms in every stroke, in a motion that is low-impact.
There are many reasons why rowing is an ideal workout for injury recovery, including:
- Low impact: The low-impact nature of rowing is one of the biggest reasons why it is well-suited for people with injuries. One has to throughout the workout. Therefore, the impact on the hips, knees, and ankles is pretty minimal. Rowing is a physical activity that makes it easy for people with conditions like tendonitis or arthritis to workout regularly without worsening their conditions. Rowing requires fluid and smooth movements. Hence, it does not put any sudden, jarring pressure on one’s joint, making it a safe addition to the post-injury recovery routine.
- Improves flexibility: Rowing allows people to improve their range of motion, which can be particularly advantageous for people recovering from injuries. Regular rowing sessions would assist people to increase their overall flexibility, as well as regain their mobility faster. As one’s muscles strengthen and loosen, they shall experience less discomfort and pain during their recovery period.
- Full body workout: Rowing is among the most comprehensive workouts available today. It especially is an excellent post-injury exercise as it targets the shoulders, legs, arms, core and glutes, thereby strengthening the entire body.
- Improves cardio health: It is not easy to strengthen the lungs and heart after an injury, especially without a routine that does not put much strain on the body. Rowing, however, can be a great alternative to get the heart rate up. It allows people to maintain their cardio health, while providing their body a chance to recover. As a person continues to row on a regular basis, their cardiovascular endurance shall invariably improve, making it easier for them to return to other forms of exercise after they fully recover.
In the opinion of Peter A Derow, recovering from an injury is not always just about healing the body. It is also about improving one’s mental health. Rowing can be a good way to get away from stress and problems. The rhythmic, meditative nature of rowing can be useful in inducing a state of mindfulness, which can considerably reduce stress and anxiety levels.