Physiological and Mechanical Responses to a Graded Exercise Test in Traditional Rowing

Alfonso Penichet-Tomas, Jose M. Jimenez-Olmedo (), Basilio Pueo and Javier Olaya-Cuartero
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Alfonso Penichet-Tomas: Research Group in Health, Physical Activity, and Sports Technology (Health-Tech), Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Jose M. Jimenez-Olmedo: Research Group in Health, Physical Activity, and Sports Technology (Health-Tech), Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Basilio Pueo: Research Group in Health, Physical Activity, and Sports Technology (Health-Tech), Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain
Javier Olaya-Cuartero: Research Group in Health, Physical Activity, and Sports Technology (Health-Tech), Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Maximum oxygen consumption and maximum power output are critical measures for training prescription in endurance sports such as rowing. The objective of this investigation was twofold: to compare the physiological and mechanical responses of female and male traditional rowers during a graded exercise test and to establish reference values in this specific rowing modality that have not yet been documented, unlike in Olympic rowing. Twenty-one highly trained/national level rowers participated in the study: 11 female (age: 30.1 ± 10.6 years, height: 167.3 ± 5.0 cm, body mass: 61.9 ± 4.9 kg) and 10 males (age: 33.5 ± 6.6 years, height: 180.8 ± 6.9 cm, body mass: 74.4 ± 6.9 kg). Significant differences ( p < 0.05) were found in rowing performance between sexes, with a very large effect size ( d = 7.2). The peak power output for the female rowers was 180.9 ± 11.4 W and 287.0 ± 17.7 W for the male rowers. The female rowers reached a VO 2max of 51.2 ± 6.6 mL/kg/min at a mean of 174.5 ± 12.9 W, while the males’ VO 2max was 62.1 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min at a mean of 280.0 ± 20.5 W. These differences in VO 2max and maximal aerobic capacity were significant ( p < 0.05), with a large ( d = 1.9) and very large ( d = 6.2) effect size, respectively. A moderate association between VO 2max, and rowing performance expressed in watts per kilogram of muscle mass was observed in the female rowers ( r = 0.40, p = 0.228). For the male rowers, the correlation between VO 2max and relative peak power output in watts per kilogram of body mass was strong ( r = 0.68; p = 0.031). This study highlights the differences in the kinetics of ventilatory and mechanical parameters between female and male rowers and the importance of these differences for specific physical preparation in traditional rowing.

Keywords: exercise physiology; endurance performance; maxima aerobic power; anthropometry; heart rate; rowing ergometer; fixed seat rowing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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