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Rowing for Back Pain: Experiences & Tips with the AUGLETICS Eight Style

2. July 2025

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BY Lars Wichert

Can Rowing Relieve Back Pain? Bettina and Markus share their success stories with the AUGLETICS Eight Style. How the right training helps with tension, disc problems, and more.
Back pain is among the most common health complaints: Around 70 to 80 percent of the population in Germany experience back problems at least once in their lives. Whether due to sedentary activities, lack of exercise, one-sided strain, or age-related wear and tear – the back is sensitive. But there is good news: With the right training, back pain can often be significantly alleviated or even completely eliminated. Two people who have experienced this are Bettina and Markus. Here, they share their experiences with rowing – and why the AUGLETICS Eight Style became a game-changer for them.

Bettina's Story: Chronic Tension in the Upper Back and Neck Area

Bettina has been working in an office for many years. Eight hours a day at a desk, often in front of a computer, little daily exercise – this took its toll over the years. She increasingly suffered from tension in her shoulder and neck area. Additionally, she experienced headaches, sleep disturbances, and progressively worsening posture. Her physiotherapist diagnosed muscular imbalances that had built up over years.
“I noticed that my pain always returned, no matter how often I was massaged or treated,” Bettina recounts. “I had to address the root cause – my muscles.”
A recommendation led her to consider rowing. Gentle, fluid movements that engage almost all muscle groups, yet are joint-friendly – that sounded ideal. She was particularly convinced by the AUGLETICS Eight Style, which she eventually acquired for home training.

Her Experiences with the AUGLETICS Eight Style:

  • The integrated Virtual Coach showed her directly during training where she was making movement errors.
  • She was able to gradually improve her technique and thereby actively reduce muscle tension.
  • Through the training, her back, core, and shoulder muscles noticeably strengthened.
  • The streaming options (Netflix, YouTube) on the 15-inch touchscreen made the training engaging and motivating.
  • After just a few weeks, her headaches and tension noticeably reduced.

A woman trains on an AUGLETICS rowing machine and uses the Kinomap function, which displays a virtual route on the screen

Markus' Story: Lower Back Pain and Herniated Disc

Markus had a different problem: A herniated disc in the L4/L5 region of his lumbar spine. After years of physical strain as a craftsman and improper lifting techniques, it happened. The pain radiated down his leg – typical sciatica symptoms. Movement increasingly caused him anxiety. Any wrong movement could have triggered another herniated disc.
On the recommendation of his orthopedist, Markus also decided on rowing. It was particularly important for him to specifically strengthen his core muscles and stabilize his spine. He also chose the AUGLETICS Eight Style because the precise technique analysis convinced him.

His Experiences with the AUGLETICS Eight Style:

  • Through the Virtual Coach, he learned the movement correctly from the start – without overexertion.
  • He was able to gently strengthen his deep back muscles.
  • The fluid movement strengthened disc nutrition, as the alternating pressure and relief stimulus promotes nutrient supply.
  • Thanks to the almost silent magnetic braking system, Markus could also train pain-free in the evenings without disturbing his family.
  • The ability to select various training programs helped him make slow progress.

Why Rowing Helps So Much with Back Pain

Rowing is one of the few sports that engages almost all major muscle groups simultaneously. The following benefits are particularly relevant for back pain:

  • Strengthening of the Core Muscles: The core performs the main work in stabilizing the spine.
  • Improved Posture: Rowing promotes an upright posture, which counteracts back pain caused by poor posture.
  • Even Load: There are no impact loads like jogging that affect the spine.
  • Gentle Mobilization of the Intervertebral Discs: The interplay between compression and relief promotes blood circulation and nutrition of the intervertebral discs.
  • Stress Reduction: Especially with chronic pain, the psychological aspect also plays a role. Regular training provides relaxation.

Overview: Benefits of Rowing for Back Pain

Why the AUGLETICS Eight Style is Perfect for Back Pain Sufferers

Both Bettina and Markus benefit enormously from the special features of the AUGLETICS Eight Style:
1. Virtual Coach for Optimal Technique:
Especially with back pain, proper execution is crucial. The Virtual Coach analyzes stroke length, movement sequence, and rhythm in real-time. Even small posture errors can cause new complaints in the long term. Through the technique feedback, errors become immediately visible and can be corrected directly.
2. Adjustable Resistance:
The 15 finely adjustable resistance levels allow the training to be individually adapted to one’s health condition. This is extremely important, especially for beginners with back problems.
3. Joint-Friendly Magnetic Braking System:
The magnetic braking system ensures a smooth, fluid movement sequence – no jerky movements, no wear and tear on the device, and no overexertion of the back.
4. Motivation through Entertainment:
The rotatable and swiveling 15-inch HD screen not only provides access to training data and virtual rowing courses but also to streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, or virtual river tours. This keeps the training varied and motivating.
5. Compact Design:
Especially for users who do not have a large training area at home, the space-saving design is ideal. After training, the device can simply be folded up.

Expert Opinion

Physiotherapists and doctors now confirm that rowing – under guidance and with the correct technique – is one of the best sports for back pain therapy. The even load without impact, combined with the strengthening of the back and core muscles, is effective both preventively and rehabilitatively. Rowing is already specifically used in many orthopedic rehabilitation facilities today.

Rowing Can Be a Game-Changer for Back Pain

The stories of Bettina and Markus impressively show how much potential rowing has for people with back pain. With the right device, such as the AUGLETICS Eight Style, it is ensured that the technique is correct, the load is adjusted, and motivation remains consistently high. Both preventively and therapeutically, rowing can significantly contribute to alleviating back pain and even overcoming it completely in the long term.

About the author

Lars Wichert

Lars Wichert ist Sportwissenschaftler und ehemaliger Leistungssportler im Rudern. Er war 13 Jahre Teil der deutschen Nationalmannschaft. Dabei kann er auf zwei Teilnahmen an den Olympischen Spielen sowie drei Weltmeistertitel zurückblicken. Er war nach seiner Ruderkarriere als Trainer tätig und konnte mit seinem Team die Europameisterschaft gewinnen. Mittlerweile ist er in seiner Freizeit im Triathlon unterwegs und hält dort die Weltbestzeit der Amateure über die Ironman-Distanz. Lars verfügt über das Wissen als Trainer, Leistungssportler und Sportwissenschaftler, sodass sich jeder angesprochen fühlen kann. Sein Ziel ist es, Spaß an der Bewegung zu vermitteln und zu verdeutlichen, dass mit geringem Aufwand viel für die Gesundheit getan werden kann – denn es gibt keine bessere Vorsorge als die in seine eigene Gesundheit. Lars Wichert è uno scienziato dello sport ed ex atleta agonista di canottaggio. Ha fatto parte della nazionale tedesca per 13 anni. Ha partecipato a due Olimpiadi e ha vinto tre titoli mondiali. Dopo la carriera di canottiere, ha lavorato come allenatore e ha vinto il campionato europeo con la sua squadra. Nel tempo libero pratica il triathlon e detiene il record mondiale amatoriale sulla distanza Ironman. Lars dispone delle conoscenze necessarie come allenatore, atleta agonista e scienziato dello sport, in modo da poter soddisfare le esigenze di tutti. Il suo obiettivo è quello di trasmettere il piacere del movimento e di dimostrare che con poco sforzo si può fare molto per la salute, perché non c’è prevenzione migliore che quella della propria salute. Lars Wichert is a sports scientist and former competitive rower. He was a member of the German national team for 13 years. He can look back on two Olympic appearances and three world championship titles. After his rowing career, he worked as a coach and won the European Championship with his team. He now spends his free time competing in triathlons and holds the world record for amateurs over the Ironman distance. Lars has the knowledge as a coach, competitive athlete and sports scientist, so that everyone can feel addressed. His goal is to convey the fun of exercise and to make it clear that a lot can be done for one’s health with little effort – because there is no better prevention than taking care of one’s own health. Lars Wichert est scientifique du sport et ancien athlète de haut niveau en aviron. Il a fait partie de l’équipe nationale allemande pendant 13 ans. Il a participé à deux reprises aux Jeux Olympiques et remporté trois titres de champion du monde. Après sa carrière d’avironneur, il a travaillé comme entraîneur et a remporté le championnat d’Europe avec son équipe. Aujourd’hui, il consacre son temps libre au triathlon et détient le record mondial amateur sur la distance Ironman. Lars dispose des connaissances nécessaires en tant qu’entraîneur, athlète de haut niveau et scientifique du sport, ce qui lui permet de s’adresser à tout le monde. Son objectif est de transmettre le plaisir de bouger et de montrer qu’il est possible de faire beaucoup pour sa santé avec peu d’efforts, car il n’y a pas de meilleure prévention que celle de sa propre santé.
Picture of Lars Wichert

Lars Wichert

Lars Wichert ist Sportwissenschaftler und ehemaliger Leistungssportler im Rudern. Er war 13 Jahre Teil der deutschen Nationalmannschaft. Dabei kann er auf zwei Teilnahmen an den Olympischen Spielen sowie drei Weltmeistertitel zurückblicken. Er war nach seiner Ruderkarriere als Trainer tätig und konnte mit seinem Team die Europameisterschaft gewinnen. Mittlerweile ist er in seiner Freizeit im Triathlon unterwegs und hält dort die Weltbestzeit der Amateure über die Ironman-Distanz. Lars verfügt über das Wissen als Trainer, Leistungssportler und Sportwissenschaftler, sodass sich jeder angesprochen fühlen kann. Sein Ziel ist es, Spaß an der Bewegung zu vermitteln und zu verdeutlichen, dass mit geringem Aufwand viel für die Gesundheit getan werden kann – denn es gibt keine bessere Vorsorge als die in seine eigene Gesundheit. Lars Wichert è uno scienziato dello sport ed ex atleta agonista di canottaggio. Ha fatto parte della nazionale tedesca per 13 anni. Ha partecipato a due Olimpiadi e ha vinto tre titoli mondiali. Dopo la carriera di canottiere, ha lavorato come allenatore e ha vinto il campionato europeo con la sua squadra. Nel tempo libero pratica il triathlon e detiene il record mondiale amatoriale sulla distanza Ironman. Lars dispone delle conoscenze necessarie come allenatore, atleta agonista e scienziato dello sport, in modo da poter soddisfare le esigenze di tutti. Il suo obiettivo è quello di trasmettere il piacere del movimento e di dimostrare che con poco sforzo si può fare molto per la salute, perché non c'è prevenzione migliore che quella della propria salute. Lars Wichert is a sports scientist and former competitive rower. He was a member of the German national team for 13 years. He can look back on two Olympic appearances and three world championship titles. After his rowing career, he worked as a coach and won the European Championship with his team. He now spends his free time competing in triathlons and holds the world record for amateurs over the Ironman distance. Lars has the knowledge as a coach, competitive athlete and sports scientist, so that everyone can feel addressed. His goal is to convey the fun of exercise and to make it clear that a lot can be done for one's health with little effort – because there is no better prevention than taking care of one's own health. Lars Wichert est scientifique du sport et ancien athlète de haut niveau en aviron. Il a fait partie de l'équipe nationale allemande pendant 13 ans. Il a participé à deux reprises aux Jeux Olympiques et remporté trois titres de champion du monde. Après sa carrière d'avironneur, il a travaillé comme entraîneur et a remporté le championnat d'Europe avec son équipe. Aujourd'hui, il consacre son temps libre au triathlon et détient le record mondial amateur sur la distance Ironman. Lars dispose des connaissances nécessaires en tant qu'entraîneur, athlète de haut niveau et scientifique du sport, ce qui lui permet de s'adresser à tout le monde. Son objectif est de transmettre le plaisir de bouger et de montrer qu'il est possible de faire beaucoup pour sa santé avec peu d'efforts, car il n'y a pas de meilleure prévention que celle de sa propre santé.

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