Oxygen uptake and ventilation during rowing and running in females and males

This study evaluated if the ventilatory response to exercise is impaired by the cramp position of rowing. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximal expiratory volume (VEmax), and maximal heart rate (HRmax) during rowing and running were compared in 55 males (age, mean +/- SD, 21 +/- 3 years; height 176 +/- 5 cm; body mass 72 +/- 6 kg) and 18 females (age 20 +/- 2 years; height 164 +/- 5 cm; body mass 61 +/- 4 kg). VEmax was larger during rowing than during running (males, 157 +/- 16 vs. 147 +/- 13 L min(-1); 114 +/- 9 vs. 105 +/- 11 L min(-1), P<0.01). Also VO2max was larger during rowing than during running (males, 4.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 4.3 +/- 0.4 L min(-1); females, 3.3 +/- 0.4 vs. 3.2 +/- 0.4 L min(-1), P<0.01). However, HRmax was lower during rowing than during running (males, 194 +/- 8 vs. 198 +/- 11 beats min(-1); females, 192 +/- 6 vs. 196 +/- 8 beats min(-1), P<0.05). VEmax was correlated to body mass and fat-free mass, as was VO2max. Thus, the oxygen pulse (VO2max/HRmax) was larger during rowing than during running, while the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VEmax/VO2max) was similar. We showed that bending the body during rowing does not seem to impair ventilation either in males or in females. The results indicate that VEmax and VO2max relate to body size and fat-free mass for both females and males. The findings indicate that the involvement of more muscles, the entrainment, and the body position during rowing facilitates ventilation and venous return and lowers maximal heart rate.