Coaching Adaptive Rowers - completely new to me

[bloom...@gmail.com]

I am working with a group of masters rowers, most of which are fairly skilled and have a lot of prior experience. One of my new charges, however, is less experienced (approx. 1 year rowing) and is missing his right arm from just above the elbow.

For his first two practices, he sat in with a mixed eight we put out. His technique is okay, considering his situation (catches in time, finishes a little weak). He rowed port. I am wondering if he would be better off rowing starboard, as he has a cloth "glove" on his right arm that he latches to the oar with velcro. On port, he has to feather and square with his outside hand. On starboard, he could use his hand to do the fine bladework and use his "glove" on the outside of the oar.

Otherwise, any suggestions on how to work with adaptive rowers would be great. I have been able to give him feedback on his stroke, but know that saying things regarding his handicap would not be beneficial.

Cheers,

Paul

[wmar...@gmail.com]

It would probably be better as you suggest, to row him on Starboard. I don't have a lot of experience with arm amputee rowers (some with leg amputee) but I suspect that if you treat him like a normal person as much as possible. Suggest using upper back muscles to activate the "new" outside arm.

Walter

[wmar...@gmail.com]

Oh yeah. Ask him questions about how this is working - let him help you learn about the work-arounds that will help get him going.
W

[sully]

I coach Walter who is blind and Caroline who had severe head trauma and coma and has very limited motor response/reflex, etc.

I treat them as I would an Oly candidate, indeed until Walt injured himself, he was headed to Paralympic camp and more to their ages and gender than to
their adaptive challenges.

This forum has a lot of posts on my work with both of them.

off the top of my head, I think your rower will be more effective rowing starboard, and shouldn't have too much trouble feathering outside hand.
A lot of ppl are feathering outside hand already, we had discussion about that here. but he'll have more leverage on the handle with the outside arm.


I think it would be a fun challenge to try to engineer some sort of prosthetic
that would allow him to apply pressure with his inside shoulder during the drive before the outside arm breaks. Something flexible in a way that will
resist stiffly on the early drive but then flex easily so as not to resist
the pull with outside hand. No idea how to engineer that, but I think it would make him more effective in the shell. Your rower would have some ideas, I bet, now that he knows a little about rowing.

[bloom...@gmail.com]

Sul,

He does have some cloth/velcro contraption that interfaces between his shoulder/humerus and the handle. Not sure how much pressure he gets from it, but it does allow that inside "hand" on port side to contribute.

I'll read up on what you've done - but yes I agree it should come down to the same respect for any athlete and providing him with a challenge.

Thank you all!

[sully]

I was confused I think. I thought his left arm missing, thus by rowing stbd his outside arm would pull and feather.

if the contraption on his missing limb is cloth, it wouldn't seem to be able
to connect much pressure from the legs to the handle, but I could imagine
something like chain mail material, will not stretch, but as you stop pulling,
it won't resist compression at all.

lock it on a harness. Hmm, if I've thought of this it's prolly been done a million times and there's a catalogue out with a selection of styles!

:^)