Concept 2 Ski erg.

[smifffymoto]

I had a rower until I got lower back and disc problems,so I sold it as it wasn’t helping.
Now my back is a lot better after treatment,will a Skierg give me the same sort of workout without the potential back problems resurfacing?

[Slagathore]

I will pre-face this by saying I've never used a ski-erg.

But looking at the movement, it kind of looks like it would load the back the same? Particularly with poor technique.

Was your rowing technique the problem and exacerbating the back problem? I only say that because I know a lot of people who have had back and disc issues who row and are OK. But I can also imagine how bad technique would aggravate a back problem quite quickly.

Having said that, both of them with a very low drag factor could be an option to start with and just see how things go?

[anonymous-user]

Ive got one in my gym and some of my clients suffer with lower back pain - they find it great and no ill effects

Its a great workout machine than can strengthen core and lower back. A rower is a nightmare for the lower back - the Erg will be fine!

[Animal]

smifffymoto said:

I had a rower until I got lower back and disc problems,so I sold it as it wasn’t helping.
Now my back is a lot better after treatment,will a Skierg give me the same sort of workout without the potential back problems resurfacing?

The resistance mechanism is the same, so it'd feel very familiar to use. It'll impact your lats, but also your triceps and your shoulders more than the rower.
In terms of back pain, it really does depend on the severity, location and cause. It might be better.

Have you got a friend who's a member at a PureGym? Failing that, have you got a local Facebook group that you could post on asking for any local PureGym member to share a mate's code with you (members typically get a certain number of workout buddy codes per month so that they can take a mate along). Every PureGym I've seen so far has SkiErg machines so you could try one at your own face and see how it fits you.

Failing that, get in touch with a local CrossFit gym and ask them if you can try theirs?

I love the SkiErg, but without knowing exactly what your back pain is (and in the absence of any kind of medical training), I'd be loathe to encourage you to buy one! The only upside is that they're popular, so if you buy one and it doesn't work for you you're unlikely to lose much money.