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As soon as man decided to traverse the waterways of the Earth, he began rowing. It is not clear when rowed vessels began to be used, but there are many references to them in ancient history. Many of the warring vessels from Persia, Greece, Rome, The Norse Viking ships, and trade vessels were powered by rowers. This set the stage for rowing as a sport. Many modern sports are based on practical everyday events, or military applications. If you're looking to improve your rowing or just seeking to prevent rowing injuries it is important to follow the information in this article. In addition, making stretching a part of your fitness regime will have a significant impact. To get you started on a safe and effective stretching routine learn more about The Stretching Handbook and how it can improve your fitness.
In 1454 the first Lord Mayor’s water procession was held in London and included many colorful water events. This continued for four centuries, until 1856. In 1715 Thomas Doggett started the first recognized major competitive event for rowing. He established a prize for the winner. The Coat and Badge given to the winner brought fame and an opportunity to be crew on the Royal Barge during state occasions. It did not bring much fortune to the winners, however. In 1775 a major water festival brought attention to boat racing. It opened the door for future races. The first race logged in England’s ANNUAL REGISTER was a race between two eight-oared cutters from Westminster to Richmond on the Thames in 1788. In 1805 the first boat race was held in Australia. In 1807 boat racing began to be recorded in the United States. In 1814 the first race for women was held with a two guinea prize payout. In 1815 Oxford organized the first college boat club. In 1816 the first Canadian boat race was recorded. It was held in the St. John’s Harbor, Newfoundland. The race, the "Quidi Vidi" continues today. In 1823 the Knickerbocker Club became the first boat club in the United States. The remainder of the 1820s, 1830s and into 1840 saw more clubs being organized and many more races contested. Walker’s Manly Exercises, published in 1836, first in London then in Philadelphia, was the first book extolling the physical benefits of rowing. In the late 1830s many races began offering cash purses of $1,000 to $2,000 to the winners. In 1849 Henry David Thoreau added his hand to the literature involving rowing when he published A Week on the Concord and Merrimac Rivers. The next four decades saw many more publications dealing with rowing and the sport of boat racing. Harvard defeated Yale in 1852 in the first intercollegiate competition. This developed into an annual race that has been held regularly since 1864. The first trans-Atlantic race occurred in 1867, which took place in Paris. In the 1900 Olympics six different rowing events were contested. During World War I, from 1914 to 1918, most boat races were suspended. The first women’s collegiate competition began in 1919. Rowing competitions were suspended again during World War II, from 1941-1945. The rejuvenation of the sport after WWII saw the formation of many more competitions, clubs and organizations. In 1976 the first women’s rowing competition was held at the Olympics. In 1990 the FISA established the World Cup competition for both men and women. Rowing may be done in a traditional crew type activity or in simple row boats. Canoes and kayaks have joined the ranks of race boats, as well. Whitewater racing and ocean kayak races are gaining a footing in the amateur race world. Anatomy Involved The muscles of the back, shoulders, arms, and core are important. The muscles must be strong enough to pull the oars through the water. They must be conditioned enough to handle repetitive rowing motions and flexible enough to move through a full range of motion.
A comprehensive training program to strengthen and condition the muscles listed above will help the rower reach their optimal performance level and prevent injuries. Most Common Rowing and Kayaking Injuries Some of the more common injuries that affect the rower are wrist and shoulder tendonitis, knee bursitis, patellar tendonitis, and lower back pain.
Injury Prevention Strategies
The Top 3 Rowing and Kayaking Stretches Below are 3 of the most beneficial stretches for rowing and kayaking. Obviously there are a lot more, but these are a great place to start. Please make special note of the instructions beside each stretch.
The above 3 stretches are just a small sample of stretching exercises that will help you improve your rowing and kayaking, and eliminate rowing and kayaking injuries.
Together they include over 130 clear photographs and 40 videos of every possible stretching exercise, for every major muscle group in your body. The Stretching Handbook & DVD will show you, step-by-step, how to perform each stretch EXACTLY! Plus, you'll learn the benefits of flexibility; the 7 critical rules for safe stretching; and how to stretch properly. Discover more about The Stretching Handbook & DVD here. If you enjoyed this issue of The Stretching & Sports Injury Report, please feel free to forward it to others, make it available for download from your site or post it on forums for others to read. Please make sure the following paragraph and URL are included. -----------------------------------------------------------
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The first appearance of the term "regatta" was made in 1274 in Venetian documents. The numerous waterways in the city made for a dependence on water transport. In 1315 it is noted that the Venetian regatta also included boat races and other aquatic activities.
Rowers, whether competitive or just recreational, repeat the rowing motion over and over again. This repetitive motion can lead to overuse injuries. Incorrect form can also lead to chronic injuries.
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