Hamstrings and Rowing: Special Feature with Kellie Wilkie

Kellie Wilkie is a rockstar physical therapist in the rowing world, having spent 2008 to 2016 working with the Australian Rowing Team medical staff, publishing extensively on rowing injury research, and running her own clinic in Tasmania. Kellie wrote to us after our May issue to say that she had some different perspectives on hamstrings, rowing, and low back pain, and she agreed to come here to share that knowledge with all of us.
Hamstring articles in our May issue: scienceofrowin...
[1:30] What is the hamstrings' role in the rowing stroke?
[7:25] What assessments should we use for hamstring flexibility?
[11:36] How can rowers/coaches identify and correct hamstring tightness?
[18:00] How to coach/train pelvic control and positioning when rowing
[20:30] Trunk strength, endurance, and relationship to pelvic movement
[25:00] Male/Female differences
[28:25] Land drills for pelvic positioning/movement
[30:00] Can't touch toes? How to work around flexibility limitations
[32:25] Hamstrings on the drive vs. recovery and low back pain
[36:10] Specific recommendations for improving strength, flexibility, movement
Additional Links from Kellie:
Follow on Twitter: / kelliewilkie
Follow on Instagram: / growing_bodies
Core Exercises: ​​rowingaustrali...
Core/Pelvic Control: rowingaustrali...
Stretching Images: d2wmdlq830ho5j...
Science of Rowing is the resource for coaches and rowers of all levels. Each month, we read across dozens of academic journals for rowing-relevant research, deliver summaries and takeaways from the most relevant articles, and discuss practical applications via audio roundtables, infographics and video.
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[@powerhousephysio553]

Thank you for sharing this! What wonderful ways to look at so so many important aspects for keeping bodies healthy and rowing!

[@scienceofrowing]

Absolutely! So many nuances to layers to consider. Thanks for listening Lisa.

[@Fiziologix]

Great conversation. I particularly appreciated Joe's question at the 20:35 mark for clarification on strength vs. endurance, as those two terms seem to be too often conflated when they're in actuality two discreet and individually important functions encompassing all facets of the stroke and the body's transitional adaptations through each phase of it.

[@scienceofrowing]

Thanks Greg! Glad you enjoyed the special interview with Kellie and appreciated the question. I hope all is well with you! - Joe

[@dermotbalaam5358]

When we talk about flexibility are we really talking about elasticity?

[@scienceofrowing]

First, how are you defining elasticity ? What’s the time stamp in the video for your question?
In general, elasticity means that when a load is applied the tissue is stretched and returns to its original shape and length. For example a fiberglass rod is flexible but a rubberband is elastic.