Ventilatory responses and entrainment of breathing during rowing

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Respiratory Physiology

Background:

• Respiration is crucial for exercise performance.
• The mechanics of rowing involve complex coordination.
• Understanding the interplay between breathing and rowing can optimize training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that respiration is coupled with rowing stroke mechanics.
• To compare physiological responses to incremental rowing exercise in untrained, collegiate, and elite female rowers.
• To analyze the pattern and timing of respiration during different phases of the rowing stroke.

Main Methods:

• Incremental rowing ergometer tests were conducted on 16 untrained, 17 collegiate, and 21 elite female rowers.
• Minute ventilation (VE) and respiratory frequency (fR) were measured against oxygen consumption (VO2).
• Respiration patterns and timing were recorded using an inspiratory pneumotachygraph in 10 untrained and 9 elite rowers.

Main Results:

• Untrained subjects had a significantly higher log VE/VO2 slope compared to collegiate and elite rowers.
• Elite rowers exhibited a higher tidal volume (VT) response and lower respiratory frequency (fR) response per VO2 than collegiate rowers.
• In both untrained and elite rowers, the ratio of inspiratory time to total respiratory time decreased during the rowing drive phase and increased during the recovery phase.

Conclusions:

• Breathing patterns are adapted in elite rowers, indicating a coupling between respiration and rowing mechanics.
• Elite rowers demonstrate more efficient respiratory strategies during exercise.
• The timing of breathing relative to the rowing stroke is phase-specific, with distinct patterns during drive and recovery phases.