Last newsletter we answered a question about numbness in your legs when rowing. Judging by our mailbag this is obviously not an uncommon problem. Dave Sheehan, for example, wrote in to say: Terry, I have the same problem with numbness in one leg when I row. I have tried the cushioning but to no avail. I don't have any back trouble either. I was wondering if it may be related to flexibility?Terry O'Neill: The thing is I don't know what the problem is. I know that numbness is usually caused by restricted blood flow, but it can also be caused by pressure on a nerve. I have first hand experience of both cases; a couple of years ago one of the discs in my back burst while I was lifting an outboard engine. The soft pulp that escaped went into a cavity in my spine and was pressing on the sciatic nerve and I had to have an operation to get it out, since when I have been fine. When I started the million meter programme (see last newsletter), my left leg would go completely numb after twenty minutes. I tried various pads with little success but now I use a cushion from the sofa plus cycling shorts with a chamois insert. Since then I have not had a problem and can row for an hour or so.The point here is that if the numbness is caused from restricted blood flow, and you can alleviate it by padding, then this is quite simple, even if you have to try different padding arrangements before you find something suitable. It is very individual and there is no universal product that is available.The risk is that, if for some reason you have a misalignment and this is causing pressure on a nerve, it needs to be sorted. There is a bloke that has done a lot of work on seats and works closely with the F1 racing teams. He also has some medical background and knows loads of long words so maybe you can speak to him. His name is Simon Goodey at Eel Pie Rowing Supplies. You can e-mail him at simon@goodey,demon.co.uk or visit his web-site at http://www.eelpie-rowing.co.ukTel