INTRODUCTION

Rowing is an intensive sport which demands superb conditioning of its athletes. Besides water training, athletes use rowing ergometers to intensify workouts and increase strength and endurance. In his published speech, Dr. Volker Nolte from the University of Western Ontario said that it has been shown that "ergometer training can provide you with fitness levels that you cannot achieve on the water" (1996). Along with this training comes the possibility of injury, usually from over-use. Proper technique is thought to be essential to prevent injury and to produce the best possible performance in the athlete's rowing career. This includes smooth, continuous motion, reducing overall load on the body. Furthermore, according to Dr. Nolte, improper technique and additional loading drastically increases the possibility of injury. Many improper variations of the rowing stroke have evolved, usually being the source of many overuse injuries. A common variation is the "shoot the tail" stroke where the rower's seat leads the rest of the body on the stroke, and often causes lower back injuries. Why does this form of improper technique cause lower back injury while the standard stroke does not?

The purpose of this experiment is to compare the biomechanics of the standard stroke, which exemplifies the proper technique, and the "shoot the tail" stroke to determine why back injury is prevalent among rowers with improper technique. Our team is interested in this topic due to our past histories of back injury which are believed to have stemmed from performing the "shoot the tail" stroke on the ergometer.