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

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Rowing Performance Analysis

Background:

• Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and peak power output are key performance indicators in endurance sports.
• Establishing sex-specific reference values for traditional rowing is essential for effective training prescription.
• Existing data often focuses on Olympic rowing, leaving a gap for traditional rowing modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the physiological and mechanical responses of female and male traditional rowers during graded exercise.
• To establish documented reference values for VO2max and power output in traditional rowing.
• To identify sex-specific correlations between VO2max and rowing performance metrics.

Main Methods:

• A graded exercise test was administered to 21 highly trained national-level rowers (11 female, 10 male).
• Physiological parameters including VO2max and mechanical parameters such as peak power output were measured.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare sexes and assess correlations between variables.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in peak power output (180.9 W female vs. 287.0 W male) and VO2max (51.2 mL/kg/min female vs. 62.1 mL/kg/min male) between sexes.
• These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05) with very large effect sizes.
• A strong correlation was found between VO2max and relative peak power output in male rowers (r = 0.68), while a moderate association was seen in females (r = 0.40).

Conclusions:

• There are notable differences in physiological and mechanical responses between female and male traditional rowers.
• These sex-specific differences underscore the need for tailored physical preparation strategies in traditional rowing.
• The study provides valuable reference data for VO2max and power output in this rowing discipline.