Rowing Machine....

blow69

Just wondering what part of the body does a rowing machine work out. Shoulders, back, forearms?

Thanks.:)

BaZmO*

What do you mean by "Rowing Machine"?

This?


or this?


The first doesn't really build muscle as it's mainly used for cardio and the second one would build your lats primarily and your biceps secondarily. And it would also work your shoulders depending on grip used. The normal grip is the one in the picture (like your holding skiis) and the grip to target the shoulders would be a grip similar to being on a motorbike.

Colm_OReilly

The human part

Smart answer out of the way, rowing is a fairly complete overall body workout, much like deadlifting, squatting, and power cleaning are.

Proper rowing technique, like all powerful movements, will start with a hip extension as the primary driver. Back extension and finally arm pulling (for want of a better term) finish the movement. The cue we were given in the boats was legs-body-arms, as in it was in that sequence that the row was completed.

Concept2.com have slide shows and other instructionals on this, as does crossfit.com's exercise and demo section. Well worth the look.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Colm_OReilly wrote: »

The human part

Smart answer out of the way, rowing is a fairly complete overall body workout, much like deadlifting, squatting, and power cleaning are.

Proper rowing technique, like all powerful movements, will start with a hip extension as the primary driver. Back extension and finally arm pulling (for want of a better term) finish the movement. The cue we were given in the boats was legs-body-arms, as in it was in that sequence that the row was completed.

Concept2.com have slide shows and other instructionals on this, as does crossfit.com's exercise and demo section. Well worth the look.

I'm glad someone more articulate than myself answered this one first.

Its worth every penny to get professional rowing instruction if you want to do this brilliant exercise properly OP.

I used the concept II machine wrong for years until one of the army rowing instructors gave me some tuitition and by jesus what a difference it made.

Fantastic all over body workout - and one of the toughest!.

PeadarofAodh

Yeah I'll see the majority of most gym instructors not getting this right themselves and then passing on their 'knowledge'. Recommend the Concept2 website and youtube the 'Crash-B' competitions for an idea of technique. (Although bear in mind the Crash-Bs are sprint competitions so obviously you won't be pushing yourself to that level of oxygen deprivation in the gym!)

Last of all - don't be one of the majority who pushes the resistance up to 10 because they think it'll make it tougher. The natural resistance level is 5-6 on a well-maintained ergometer, throwing it up to 10 will result in your muscles fatiguing before you get a proper cardiovascular workout.

Hope that helps!

Forgot to mention muscle groups - no.1 would be your quads if your technique is correct (rowing generates about 70% of its power from your legs), also good workout for back,arms, shoulders and core muscles.

blow69

Hey thanks for the replies. I use the first one so am I right in thinking it's not as good?

BossArky

blow69 wrote: »

Just wondering what part of the body does a rowing machine work out

This is what you are looking for.

BossArky

blow69 wrote: »

Hey thanks for the replies. I use the first one so am I right in thinking it's not as good?

The first is primarily thought of as being a cardio workout as you are going to row for maybe 15 minutes.

The second one is a strength training exercise as you can load a lot more resistance than the fly wheel on the first one. You are going to be doing maybe 3 sets of 10 ish reps on this.

See the difference?

DILLIGAF

DO WEIGHTS THEY'LL MAKE YOU MANLY AND MORE ATTRACTIVE TO THE OPPOSITE SEX!

hahaha! honestly thought if it's CV your looking to build then get running. Some people think these rowing machines will make you as fit as those guys you see rowing in competitions,but they get ripped from weights. I don't think I've ever seen anyone who's grown bigger and stronger simply from rowing machines!