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Rowing

Adaptive Grip-Aid Indoor Row

The adaptive grip-aid indoor row uses a hand-to-handle aid for rowing with reduced grip demands. It trains cardiovascular endurance and the legs, back, and arms through your available movement range.

  • Beginner
  • Low injury risk
  • Rest 45 sec
Video by WheelChairBB on YouTube

How to do it

  1. Sit on the rowing seat with your feet secured comfortably in the footrests.
  2. Attach the grip aid to your hand and the handle according to its fitting instructions.
  3. Move into your starting position with arms extended, knees comfortably bent, and your torso tilted slightly forward.
  4. Push through the footrests using your available leg motion, keeping your arms extended.
  5. Tilt your torso slightly backward through your available range.
  6. Draw the handle toward your lower ribs.
  7. Extend your arms toward the machine.
  8. Return to the starting position, leading with a forward torso tilt before bending your knees.

Form cues

  • Keep your shoulders low.
  • Keep the aid aligned with your forearm.
  • Exhale during the drive.

Common mistakes

  • Rushing the returnMake the return slower than the drive so the handle does not jerk against the aid.
  • Reaching too far forwardShorten your forward reach to avoid rounding your lower back.
  • Squeezing the handle unnecessarilyLet the aid provide its intended support rather than maintaining a hard grip.

Safety

A poorly fitted aid can create skin pressure or restrict circulation, while an inaccessible release can leave your hand attached unexpectedly. Forceful strokes beyond your controlled range can strain your back or shoulders.

  • Test the release while stationary before each session, with any assistance you need available.
  • Begin with low resistance and easy strokes to check the fit under light tension.
  • Stop rowing before adjusting or removing the aid.
  • End the session for numbness, skin irritation, pain, or difficulty releasing the handle.

If you have reduced hand sensation, fragile skin, or limited trunk control, ask a physiotherapist about an appropriate aid and seating setup before starting.

Muscles worked

Front
Back

Primary muscles

  • Glutes
  • Quadriceps

Secondary muscles

  • Biceps
  • Hamstrings
  • Lats

Equipment

  • Adaptive Rowing Grip Aid
  • Rowing Ergometer

Sets and reps

Sets
2–3
Target
120–180 seconds
Rest
45 sec

Start at a pace where you can speak in full sentences.