# Are Rowing Machines at All Useful? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 2, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685 "2003-05-02T18:13:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/1 "2003-05-02T18:13:35Z")
So, Week Two at the gym, and the only machine I have not developed a red-hot enmity toward is the rowing machine. I can sit down, put my Walkman on, close my eyes and pretend I’m Ben-Hur (or that he’s Ben and I’m Her). Which means I have developed the nagging suspicion that rowing machines are doing me absolutely no good whatsoever. Any gym rats have opinions on this? —Olivia Neutron-Bomb ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/2 "2003-05-02T18:25:53Z")
They are decent, working the lats, a little arm action and the rest of the back. They should be PART of a routine, not the only one. You need to hit other machines and exercises to get your whole body involved. Rowing machines, and rowing exercises, are an essential part of any program that includes working the back muscles…but they are just part. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/3 "2003-05-02T18:27:03Z")
[http://www.fitresource.com/Fitness/CalBurn.htm#Gym%20Activities](http://www.fitresource.com/Fitness/CalBurn.htm#Gym%20Activities) The rowing machine is a great way to burn calories. It also gives your shoulders a work out which most of the other machines don’t do. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/4 "2003-05-02T18:34:26Z")
I did the Nautilus circuit today, too . . . They had to set it on “dying elderly lady” for me. ---
**Author:** ![merge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/5 "2003-05-02T18:38:08Z")
actually yes… rowing is great… but you have to work hard when you are doing it… If you are sweating… then you are doing something good… you have to push yourself… and then it works very well… ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/6 "2003-05-02T18:51:56Z")
I’ve found the rowing machines to be very helpful in burning calories. It can be hard on your back, though. One advantage of the rowers that I like is that the college-age kids who make up the majority of patrons of our on-campus gym avoid it like the plague. It’s hard to watch TV while you’re sitting down there, you see. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/7 "2003-05-02T18:56:02Z")
Ummm If you haven’t made it to the other side of the river yet, I don’t think it’s working right. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/8 "2003-05-02T19:08:25Z")
Personally, I prefer paddling to rowing 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/9 "2003-05-02T19:28:05Z")
Congrats on keeping it up for 2 weeks! Now you only have the rest of your life to go! Make sure you use your legs, both to push back and to recoil. Do not let the chain simply pull you back into your starting position. Just think how sexy your shoulders will look in all of your sleeveless summer fashions! ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/10 "2003-05-02T19:38:24Z")
I used one heavily when I was young and thought it was great. Now I find it too much stress for my shoulders and leave it out of my weekly routines. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/11 "2003-05-02T19:57:19Z")
As far as cardio it’s supposed to be great because it works everything (back, shoulders, arms, legs, all of it.) but you’ll still need weights. (People who do crew are always fit looking) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/12 "2003-05-02T19:57:49Z")
Like anything else, it depends on how you use it. If you’re giving it your best shot and working hard, then it’s great. If you’re on there working half-heartedly, then it’s probably not going to do you much good. Have you tried the cross-training machine? Do they have them at your gym? It works your arms and your legs at the same time, and has the elliptical machine’s foot-type thing, so the stress on your knees is minimized. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/13 "2003-05-02T20:10:06Z")
They can be useful. If you’re ever up the creek \* with \* a paddle, at least you’ll already have calloused hands. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/14 "2003-05-02T20:15:53Z")
I _hate_ the cross-training and elliptical machines. I already walk about two miles a day, so don’t need lower-body work as much. Also, I have no equilirium, and tend to fall off them . . . Right now, I am doing the Nautilus circuit, several other lifty and bendy machines, and the rower. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/15 "2003-05-02T20:27:41Z")
I’m doing sit-ups these days. How much does it cost to join a club? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/16 "2003-05-02T20:39:20Z")
Mine was $90 down and $82/month. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/17 "2003-05-02T21:01:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*Right now, I am doing the Nautilus circuit, several other lifty and bendy machines, and the rower. \*\* Not to mention simultaneously posting to the SD! Day-um, girl. You never cease to amaze! ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/18 "2003-05-02T22:34:43Z")
Eve, I used to cox for our college men’s boat club…they seemed to reap lots of aesthetically pleasing results from their training! If you do it right, with the pressure up nice and high and go nice and slowly, with controlled movements, you’ll work your calves, thighs, back, chest and arms. Push off with your legs, then get your arms and back into the stroke. Just for fun, I thought you might like to look at some pictures of Swedish rowers, I know I did… go to [www.ifotograf.com/Sport/english](http://www.ifotograf.com/Sport/english) ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/19 "2003-05-02T23:24:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dinsdale \* > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by Eve_ > > Right now, I am doing the Nautilus circuit, several other lifty and bendy machines, and the rower. > > Not to mention simultaneously posting to the SD! > > Day-um, girl. You never cease to amaze! It’s the chip we inserted into her head. On the one hand, we can montior her thoughts via satelite. On the other hand, she gets a 256 kbps net connection. And should her brain ever be stolen, we can recover it for her within ten minutes after we’ve been notified. Back on topic, though, the rowing machine is my favorite not only for giving me the upper and lower body aerobic exercise, but because of the breeze generated by the flywheel. Ahhhhh… ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685/20 "2003-05-02T23:39:06Z")
I know what you mean about the red-hot enmity, but remember, the lifty and bendy thingies can smell your fear. I suggest you spray each one with the acid vinegar cleaning solution while yelling “die, Captain Nemo!”. They won’t let me use the rowing machine anymore. ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-rowing-machines-at-all-useful/172685.md?page=2)