There is a length to strength ratio in every muscle of our body. Rowers tend to strengthen their legs every chance they get: weight lifting, running, erging, rowing, etc. Unfortunately, most rowers don’t understand the importance of muscle length; therefore, don’t take stretching seriously. A shorter hamstring is weaker than a longer hamstring (the same applies to every muscle). Additionally, a shorter hamstring will pull on the athletes’ pelvis causing a change in position of the bone itself and every single muscle attached to it!
The pelvis plays a central role in rowing because athletes sit on it!
Rowers are supposed to sit on their ichial tuberosities [sitting bones]; however, due to more strength and less length in their tissues {aka weaker hamstrings among many other muscles} the pelvis tilts, posterior tilts, over time. The more time that goes by (years) the more of a change in the position of the pelvis will occur.
One of the main reasons rowers experience pain/injury/setback in their legs, backs, shoulders is because their length to strength relationship is off balance. Start lengthening at the hamstrings to get a much greater and healthier amount of strength in the body.
