Anyone who rows hard should develop strong arms, legs, back, lungs and heart. And blisters. Blisters are annoying, sometimes painful, can become infected, and accepted as a normal part of rowing. Often they’re worn with pride as a sign of commitment to the sport.
“Unfortunately,” Dr. Jo Hannafin wrote for USRowing in April, 2016, “all those hours on the erg this winter won’t stop you from developing new blisters and calluses as you transition back to sweep or sculling oars. It’s important to take care of calluses and blisters as they develop… watch out for any signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness at the site of the blister or red streaking into your hand or arm. If you see any of those, seek immediate medical treatment.”[1] That’s good advice and with blisters we accept the trade-off between pain and gain.
So, what is so awful about possible chafing? Chafing is the mild irritation that precedes blisters. It is less annoying, less debilitating, and less inclined to infection that might require immediate medical treatment. Yet blisters are commonly accepted and possible chafing is considered a valid reason for not wearing life-jackets.
Accompanying Dr. Karlson’s advice on blisters is a piece on tendonitis by Kristine Karlson that is also related to the issue of PFDs, albeit unintentionally. “While the return to the water means saying sayonara to the ergs,” Dr. Karlson writes, “it unfortunately means it’s also a common time for repetitive motion injuries, and one to look out for is forearm tendinitis. Since erging does not require feathering,* the rest of the body may be ready to row when the forearms are not.”[2]
For me there is an obvious connection here to the issue of PFDs. As we transition from erging in overheated gyms to rowing on cold waters, if tiring of the forearms or tendonitis inhibits the feathering can lead to catching that crab, why not put on a PFD to protect yourself from sudden immersion and cold shock?
USRowing’s April 2016 advice on sliding safely into spring provides two more good reasons to wear a comfortable PFD when returning to cold waters in the spring.
*(Personally, I’m not a fan of erging, but usually incorporate feathering into my workout when I do it.
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[1] Kristine A. Karlson, MD, , USRowing, Slide into Spring Safely,
[2] Jo A. Hannafin, MD, PhD, USRowing, Slide into Spring Safely, “Lighten Up!”