Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen the single sculler uses the ProW Seat Pad while racing at one of the past Luzern World Cups. You can see the pink pad taped to his scull seat top on our cover image. What you can’t see are the wedges inserted underneath the pad which lift up your pelvis off the seat giving relief to glute/ hamstring/ sciatic pain for many users.

We received a question from one of our readers:

“Is there a women’s version, with wider holes? I have consistent rowing- or erging-related inflammation around the left sitting bone-piriformis-top of the hamstring, and really need a good seat pad. I’ve tried the usual ones, and they don’t help much. Men’s ones make it worse.”

The product has very wide holes compared to most rowing seats so it will definitely be worth a try. Here’s our readers reply:

Thanks for following up on this. I’m trying to find something that will also help with persistent bruising/inflammation in the left sitting bone/piriformis area. Glute stretches help up to a point. Do you happen to have any advice?

And, yes we do have advice for sore bum while rowing or sculling or on the rowing machine. My suggestion is to go to a sports masseuse and/ or osteopath (NOT a physiotherapist).

Ask them to loosen off the musculature around your pelvis/ IT band, upper thighs, and lower back. I find osteopaths consider the whole body and what is causing the injury not just treating the symptoms.

I suspect your muscles are very tight indeed and you may need to take a rest from sitting sport and rest them while they heal and relax back to a looser state. Personally, I enjoy intense yoga stretching for keeping me injury free – this could help you too after you’ve got your muscles reset back to their normal state.

Let us know about your advice on alleviating hamstring pain!