Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatric Surgeon — Balance Foot & Ankle, Howell & Bloomfield Hills, MI. Last updated April 2026.

The Biomechanics of Rowing and Foot Loading

Competitive rowing — both on-water sweep and sculling, and indoor ergometer training — presents a foot and ankle injury profile that is rarely discussed outside specialized sports medicine circles. Unlike most sports where the foot contacts the ground in a variety of positions, rowing locks the foot into a fixed stretcher at a predetermined angle throughout each stroke cycle. This static constraint, combined with the extreme range of motion required at the ankle during the catch position and the repetitive high-force loading through thousands of stroke repetitions per training session, creates a predictable set of overuse injuries.

Michigan’s rowing community is active across several programs — the University of Michigan, Michigan State, and numerous club and high school programs train year-round on indoor ergometers and, during warmer months, on the Huron River, Saginaw Bay, and Lake St. Clair waterways. Understanding these sport-specific injury patterns helps coaches, athletes, and clinicians manage and prevent foot problems that can sideline rowers for weeks.

Stretcher Pressure and Foot Pain

The foot is secured in the rowing stretcher (footboard) with a heel cup and adjustable straps. During the drive phase, the rower pushes forcefully through the footplate — transferring body weight and leg power into boat speed. This repeated high-force push-off through a fixed foot position concentrates metatarsal and sesamoid loading in a stereotyped pattern. Metatarsal stress reactions and sesamoiditis are correspondingly common in high-volume rowers, particularly those training through multiple daily ergometer sessions during winter pre-season.

Ankle Plantarflexion and FHL Tendinopathy

At the catch position — the forward-most point of the stroke where the blade enters the water — competitive rowers achieve extreme ankle dorsiflexion with simultaneous compression of the knees toward the chest. For elite rowers, this places extraordinary demand on ankle mobility. Conversely, the finish position requires controlled ankle plantarflexion as the legs drive down. The flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon — running through a fibro-osseous tunnel behind the medial malleolus — is heavily loaded through this repetitive extreme range of motion, producing FHL tendinopathy with medial ankle pain, triggering of the great toe, or both.

Achilles Tendinopathy

The repetitive eccentric loading of the calf-Achilles complex during the stroke cycle — particularly during ergometer training on a fixed surface — predisposes rowers to mid-substance Achilles tendinopathy. Unlike running-related Achilles problems which concentrate at 2–6 cm proximal to insertion, rowers develop more diffuse Achilles tendinopathy related to their characteristic foot position and calf loading pattern.

Ankle Impingement

The extreme dorsiflexion of the catch position can produce anterior ankle impingement — pinching of soft tissue or bony prominences at the anterior joint line. Rowers with limited ankle dorsiflexion (due to equinus contracture or anterior tibiotalar osteophytes) develop anterior ankle pain that is consistently reproduced at the catch. Posterior impingement from the os trigonum or posterior talar process is less common in rowing than in ballet or soccer but occurs in rowers with unusually pointed-toe stretcher positions.

Blisters and Skin Breakdown

Water rowers who spend hours with wet feet in rowing shoes develop macerated skin, blisters, and fissures — particularly at the heel and lateral forefoot. Proper moisture management (wool or synthetic wicking socks, foot powder, heel protectors) and blister treatment protocols are important components of in-season foot care for water rowers.

Prevention Strategies

Optimal stretcher angle individualization — ensuring each athlete’s stretcher is set to allow adequate dorsiflexion at the catch without impingement — is a key injury prevention tool best assessed by a sports podiatrist or physical therapist experienced with rowing biomechanics. Progressive loading of ergometer volume, adequate recovery between sessions, and targeted FHL and calf strengthening programs reduce tendon overuse risk. For rowers with limited ankle dorsiflexion, a structured flexibility program over the off-season significantly reduces injury risk in subsequent competitive seasons.

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Clinical References

1. Thomas MJ, et al. “The population prevalence of foot and ankle pain.” Pain. 2011;152(12):2870-2880.
2. Hill CL, et al. “Prevalence and correlates of foot pain.” J Foot Ankle Res. 2008;1(1):2.
3. Riskowski JL, et al. “Measures of foot function, foot health, and foot pain.” Arthritis Care Res. 2011;63(S11):S229-S236.

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.