Male and Female Master Rowers Physiologically Resilient to Repeated Maximal Efforts?

Rios, MJ, Cardoso, R, Monteiro, AS, Pyne, DB, Vilas-Boas, JP, and Fernandes, RJ. Male and female master rowers physiologically resilient to repeated maximal efforts? J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-We examined the integrated physiological responses of master rowers during 3 consecutive maximal 1,000 m efforts, focusing on cardiorespiratory, hemodynamic, metabolic, and neuromuscular responses under limited recovery simulating multirace regatta conditions. Twenty-one experienced rowers (15 males: 48 ± 11 years and 6 females: 50 ± 13 years) completed the trials with 45 minutes of passive recovery between efforts. Males showed a small decline in performance from trial 1 to 2 (202 ± 13 vs. 205 ± 13 seconds, p = 0.02), reduced mean power (354 ± 63 vs. 340 ± 64 W, p < 0.001) and an increased time constant of the oxygen uptake (V̇O2) fast component across trials (18.1 ± 6.1 vs 23.5 ± 7.8 vs. 26.3 ± 6.9 seconds, p < 0.001), whereas females maintained stable performance and cardiorespiratory function. Peak V̇O2 (males 61.9 ± 16.5 ml·kg-1·min-1 and females 58.7 ± 10.0 ml·kg-1·min-1) and heart rate (males 172 ± 9 bpm and females 171 ± 9 bpm) remained consistent across trials. Preexercise blood lactate concentration increased between trials 1-2 (males 2.1 ± 0.6 to 5.1 ± 3.3 mmol·L-1 and females 1.9 ± 0.5 to 5.9 ± 2.1 mmol·L-1). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased immediately postexercise and returned to baseline within 30 minutes. Double product rose sharply after exercise across trials (males 110% and females 112%) after exercise and declined during recovery (males 9% and females 11%). Neuromuscular performance was stable, except for a transient ∼3% reduction in power in male rowers in trial 2 (p = 0.005). Master rowers display strong physiological resilience under cumulative stress, maintaining aerobic and neuromuscular performance despite cardiovascular and metabolic strain, with female rowers showing more stable physiological responses across repeated efforts.