Hand Blisters
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Hand Blisters
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
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
- gregsmith01748
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Re: Hand Blisters
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.
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.
Greg - Age: 53 H: 182cm W: 88Kg (should be 83Kg)
Training blog: https://quantifiedrowing.wordpress.com/
Training blog: https://quantifiedrowing.wordpress.com/
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Re: Hand Blisters
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
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
Last edited by Rodger on Mon Aug 05, 2013 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
M | 48 | 1.78 m | 76 kg
- webberg
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Re: Hand Blisters
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.
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.
Uphill to the finish
ID 140904
ID 140904
- hewitt
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Re: Hand Blisters
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.
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.
51 years old.
51 years old.
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Re: Hand Blisters
- nice one Jason.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.
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
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
- Paul Victory
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Re: Hand Blisters
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.
The only problem is I have to hide them if Jason's around.
M 68 6'1" 124kg (May05), 92kg (Feb06), 122kg (Aug10), 95kg (Sep11), 117kg (Jun13), now 98kg
- hewitt
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Re: Hand Blisters
Good to see you back Mr Gould.
Everybody has a plan until they get a punch in the face.
51 years old.
51 years old.
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- Super Dedicated and Truly Free Spirit
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- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:40 am
- I row on...: Model D with PM3
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Re: Hand Blisters
Thanks Jason - now just got to get erging again!!!hewitt wrote:
Good to see you back Mr Gould.
Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
- strider77
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Re: Hand Blisters
Good to see you on here again Paul
Is that signature right-you were a featherweight like me last time I looked ?
Is that signature right-you were a featherweight like me last time I looked ?
[b]67 5ft 10ins tall, 80k, proud to be a Free Spirit[/b]
[img]https://tinyurl.com/fsrsigs/fssig-285.png[/img]
[img]https://tinyurl.com/fsrsigs/fssig-285.png[/img]
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- Super Dedicated and Truly Free Spirit
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Re: Hand Blisters
Thanks Alan - the sig was correct as of 2 weeks ago - hope to at least be back into double digits by year-end.strider77 wrote:Good to see you on here again Paul
Is that signature right-you were a featherweight like me last time I looked ?
Paul G
56, 1.74m , Sep '20 - 114 kg , currently - 98 kg
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30
200m - 30.8
300m - 47.7
30r20 - 7754m
12 hr - 139300m
100 mile - 14:10.12
200km - 18:28.30