Rowing, like other common aerobic exercises (such as swimming, running, cycling, skating, etc.) is not a resistance based exercise.

When rowing (or exercising aerobically) you simply exercise at your desired intensity and you and your equipment moves at a speed proportional to the work you are producing. Increase your intensity and you move faster, the limit to how fast you can go is you, your physiology, the amount of work you can produce. And this will be different for all of us.

This is the naturally self paced aspect of rowing and aerobic exercise.

The WaterRower’s patented WaterFlywheel features naturally self regulating resistance. Rowing and naturally performed aerobic exercise (such as swimming, running, cycling, etc) are not resistance based exercises.

Rowing and naturally performed aerobic exercise relate to the work done to move you (and your equipment) through your medium. Whether it be a boat or swimmer through water or a runner or cyclist through the air. The only resistance which is present is due to the effect of drag acting on you and your equipment. And importantly, this drag is proportional to the speed at which you move through your medium.

For example, as you row, the work that you do overcomes the effect of drag acting on the boat, allowing the boat to move at a certain speed. As you increase work the amount of drag you can overcome increases and the boat moves faster.

Remember, the boat does not apply resistance to you, you apply work to the boat and it moves at a speed which is equal to the amount of drag you overcome. The limit to how fast you can row is you, your ability to produce work and overcome drag. And this will differ from individual to individual; young or old, big or small, male or female, fit or unfit.

This is the self regulating resistance nature of the WaterRower and naturally performed aerobic exercise.

Moreover, in order to pass the work of the upper and lower body between the footboard and the handle, the WaterRower recruits the muscles of the torso in equal proportions to the other major muscle groups of the legs and arms. Recruiting the muscles of the torso in such a way helps in the development of a strong core, strengthening the corset muscles of the torso and leading to the development of strong postural strength and overall posture.

Treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, etc. predominantly use the muscles of the legs and utilise the muscles of the torso very little (if at all).

The development of strong core and posture is essential to avoid of back injuries and is a key to rehabilitating many chronic back ailments.