Six-minute rowing test: a valid and reliable method for assessing power output in amateur male rowers

Standardized tests are currently available to assess power output in elite rowers. However, there are no valid and reliable tests to assess power output in amateur rowers.

This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of a 6-min rowing ergometer test (6-min_RT) as a predictor of power output (PO) in amateur male rowers.

Twelve male amateur rowers were part of the study. All participants were instructed to perform an incremental test (IT), a 6-min_RT test, and a retest. The validity of the 6-min_RT was determined by comparing maximum oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and power output (PO) between the IT and 6-min_RT. Reliability included the coefficient of variation (CV), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and mean standard error between the 6-min_RT test and retest. The significance level was p < 0.05.

There was no significant difference in VO_2max in both IT and 6-min_RT (p = 0.18), while the mean power output (P_mean) generated in the 6-min_RT equaled 91.96% of the maximal aerobic power (MAP) generated in the IT (p = 0.004). Reliability analysis for the 6-min_RT showed a CV = 0.50% and ICC = 0.97 for distance, a CV = 1.85% and ICC = 0.96 for P_mean.

From a ventilatory and mechanical point of view, the 6-min_RT is a maximally valid test for establishing MAP in amateur rowers. Also, the 6-min_RT evidences a high degree of agreement between days. Therefore, the 6-min_RT is a valid and reliable test for assessing PO in amateur male rowers.