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Physiological and performance effects of low- versus mixed-intensity rowing training
Stephen A Ingham1, Helen Carter, Gregory P Whyte
1English Institute of Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. steve.ingham@eis2win.co.uk
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|April 2, 2008
Summary
Both low-intensity and mixed-intensity training improve rowing performance and V O2peak equally. However, low-intensity training better reduces blood lactate accumulation at exercise intensities compared to mixed training.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Rowing Performance
Background:
- Optimizing training regimens is crucial for enhancing athletic performance in rowing.
- Understanding the physiological adaptations to different training intensities is key for developing effective training programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of exclusively low-intensity training versus a mix of low- and high-intensity training on physiological and performance outcomes in rowers.
- To investigate the impact of training intensity distribution on lactate threshold, V O2peak, and rowing performance.
Main Methods:
- Eighteen experienced rowers completed a 12-week training program, divided into either low-intensity (LOW) or mixed-intensity (MIX) groups.
- Physiological responses were assessed using progressive exercise tests, rest-to-exercise transitions, and a maximal 2000-m ergometer time trial before and after the intervention.
- The LOW group trained at or below lactate threshold (LT), while the MIX group trained 70% below LT and 30% between LT and V O2peak.
Main Results:
- Both training groups showed significant improvements in 2000-m ergometer performance and V O2peak, with no significant difference between groups.
- The LOW group demonstrated greater improvements in power output at lactate threshold (LT) and at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mM compared to the MIX group.
- Training reduced the gain of the V O2 slow component, an adaptation that occurred irrespective of the training group.
Conclusions:
- Both low-intensity and mixed-intensity training protocols effectively enhance rowing performance and V O2peak to a similar extent.
- Low-intensity training was more effective than mixed-intensity training in attenuating the blood lactate response to a given exercise intensity.
- These findings suggest that while overall performance gains may be similar, the metabolic adaptations differ between training intensity distributions.
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