Neuromuscular determinants of rowing performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Olympic rowing demands high endurance and complex neuromuscular abilities, yet evidence on their relationship with rowing performance is limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined associations between neuromuscular strength measures and rowing ergometer performance. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted. Among 1,435 identified studies on rowing-specific strength and ergometer performance, 11 met inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses were performed for strength exercises examined in ≥3 studies. Meta-analyses (n = 9) showed strong, significant correlations between maximal strength of leg press/back squat (r = -0.72, p < 0.05) and bench pull (r = -0.71, p < 0.001) with rowing ergometer performance. Six studies demonstrated significant positive associations between explosive strength and rowing power (r = 0.29-0.86, p < 0.050) and negative correlations with rowing time (r = -0.53--0.81, p < 0.050). Strength-endurance (n = 2) correlated significantly with rowing time (r = -0.54--0.68). Five studies using linear regression models explained 54.0-97.5% of 2000 m performance, identifying maximal and explosive strength, alongside physiological and anthropometric variables, as key predictors. This review provides strong evidence linking maximal and explosive strength to rowing ergometer performance. Future research should assess race-phase and stroke-specific neuromuscular demands and evaluate targeted strength training interventions to optimize rowing performance.