Hand Blisters

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colini39
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Hand Blisters

Post by colini39 »

As I'm still very new to this could anyone give me some tips on helping to prevent blisters on the hands.
It has been much more of a problem rowing in this heat,what with the extra sweating and the fact I can now row for over an hour.

Thanks

Colin
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gregsmith01748
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by gregsmith01748 »

The standard advice is to make sure that your grip is nice and loose, more like your fingers are a hook around the handle versus squeezing it.

A few ideas:
1. Sweat bands on the wrists.
2. For longer rows, row at a nice low rate (r18) and try to wiggle your fingers during recovery. I do this like I was tapping my fingers from pinky to index finger on the handle. This reminds me to keep my grip light.
3. Some folks like products like "progrips", which are palm protectors used by some weight lifters.
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Rodger
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by Rodger »

This may be too obvious to mention, but I say it anyway:
Make sure the handle is absolutely clean before you start rowing. You don't want any salty remnants of a previous workout chafing your hands.

The topic of blisters also came up in the beginners thread:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2680&start=50

Prior to Webberg's and Greg's advice about the wrist bands, I always assumed they were for wiping the sweat off the forehead, so no good when rowing :D
Last edited by Rodger on Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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webberg
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by webberg »

Best answer is to use your fingers to "hook" the bar rather than allow the palms to enter into a death grip, as has been observed here before.

Wrist bands are useful to treat symptoms but not cause.

Others have tried various types of glove. These include weight training and cycle gloves as well as perhaps sailing gloves.

You can also try shifting your hands around the handle. Go wide, narrow, underhand, etc. Again though treating a symptom.

Finally, get a very light towel (modern microfibre towels are very absorbent and very thin) and use it to cover the handle whilst rowing. Experimenting will allow there to be not much in the way of loose ends. Keep it close and accessible during pieces because you may only need to use it every 2k or so.

Ultimately these all treat symptoms. You do need to change the way you grip if you are prone to blisters because even the hardest hands will crumble under stress conditions found in rowing.
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hewitt
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by hewitt »

There is always the final option of maybe hardening up and riding through those little blisters on your hands.
I believe bare knuckle boxers used to call gloves " Bitch mittens". I cant really add much more than that.
Everybody has a plan until they get a punch in the face.

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paulgould
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by paulgould »

hewitt wrote:There is always the final option of maybe hardening up and riding through those little blisters on your hands.
I believe bare knuckle boxers used to call gloves " Bitch mittens". I cant really add much more than that.
:) :) :) - nice one Jason.
Still not a bad thing to wear a wristband though - having your hands too sweaty to be able to grip the handle is really annoying.

Paul G
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Paul Victory
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by Paul Victory »

I've never had any problem with blisters since I started using Grip Master pads supplied by Concept2. http://concept2.co.uk/shop/product/hand_pads I find them far better than gloves.

The only problem is I have to hide them if Jason's around. :fswink:
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hewitt
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by hewitt »

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:


Good to see you back Mr Gould.
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paulgould
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by paulgould »

hewitt wrote::twisted: :twisted: :twisted:


Good to see you back Mr Gould.
Thanks Jason - now just got to get erging again!!!

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
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200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
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strider77
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by strider77 »

Good to see you on here again Paul :D

Is that signature right-you were a featherweight like me last time I looked ? :lol:
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paulgould
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Re: Hand Blisters

Post by paulgould »

strider77 wrote:Good to see you on here again Paul :D

Is that signature right-you were a featherweight like me last time I looked ? :lol:
Thanks Alan - the sig was correct as of 2 weeks ago :oops: :oops: - hope to at least be back into double digits by year-end.

Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
Image
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
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