Ergometer rowing to mitigate spinal pain in neurosurgeons

Work-related musculoskeletal pain, particularly spinal pain, is common among surgeons and other healthcare workers. Despite advances in intraoperative technologies allowing improved ergonomics, prolonged periods in suboptimal posture are commonly unavoidable. Spinal pain associated with poor posture can lead to diminished quality of life, chronic injuries, and shortened careers. Strategies to mitigate work-related, spinal pain for surgeons should be multi-faceted. One modifiable risk factor for musculoskeletal health is to involve exercise, such as rowing, that provides aerobic conditioning and core strengthening. Rowing can improve the endurance of core muscles (i.e., transversus abdominis, multifidi, scapular stabilizers) and extensor muscles of the spine, helping alleviate muscular fatigue in the operating room. Understanding proper rowing biomechanics is important for exercise safety and injury prevention.