ECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP14
INTRODUCTION: Elite rowers present with diverse physiological profiles (van der Zwaard et al. 2018; Fukuda et al. 2011; Alföldi et al. 2021) which may be due to, in part, variation in the underpinning muscle characteristics, such as muscle oxidative capacity, architecture, volume, typology and strength. Nonetheless, the extent to which these muscle characteristics explain rowing performance has not been determined in a systematic manner previously. In this study, we aimed to identify the skeletal muscle determinants of rowing performance and pacing in elite rowers. METHODS: 22 well-trained rowers (13 male) completed a 7-stage incremental rowing ergometer test to determine rowing economy, the lactate threshold, lactate turn point and VO2peak. The final stage of the incremental test was a maximal effort, representing a 4-min time-trial and was recorded as the criterion dependent variable (i.e., 4 min TT). We also expressed the relative distance that was covered in each minute of the 4 min TT to investigate pacing strategy. Rowers also completed a series of strength and power assessments including loaded and unloaded squat jumps, an isometric mid-thigh pull and 1-repetition maximum (RM) pull up and 3-RM leg press. Rowers underwent an assessment of body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, magnetic resonance imaging of their thigh to determine volumes of the major hip- and knee-spanning muscle functional groups and diffusion tensor imaging to estimate muscle fascicle lengths, pennation angles and physiological cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis (VL). Carnosine content was quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the soleus and expressed as a Z-score to estimate muscle typology. Data were analysed using multiple stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: The majority of rowers had negative Z-score values (17/22; Z-score = -0.44 ± 0.85), indicative of a greater estimated proportion of type I fibres, with similar variation in both male and female rowers. Male rowers had greater normalized knee extensor muscle volume (19.2 cm3·kg−1) compared to female rowers (16.8 cm3·kg−1), while VL fascicle lengths were similar. When controlling for lean body mass and sex, muscle fascicle length in the VL, VO2peak and isometric mid-thigh pull peak force explained 82% of the variation in final stage of the incremental test (i.e., 4 min TT). Muscle typology was the only muscle characteristic that explained variation in pacing strategy, whereby rowers with a higher Z-scores (i.e., greater estimated proportion of type II fibres) started the 4 min TT more conservatively but covered a greater relative distance during the second half. CONCLUSION: In the context our study, these findings indicate that rowers should focus on increasing VL fascicle length, isometric mid-thigh pull strength and aerobic power. Muscle typology was associated with preferential pacing strategies and could be used to inform optimal boat crew pairings to maximise pacing and performance.
Read CV Phillip BellingerECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP14
INTRODUCTION: Rowing events are typically raced over 2000m, which last for 5.5-7 mins [1]. A number of studies indicated that rowing performances were dependent on energy systems, with 70-80% contributed by aerobic metabolism and 20-30% derived from anaerobic metabolism [2,3]. Therefore, it is common for rowing athletes to who live in sea level to train at moderate altitude, in order to improve their endurance performance [4]. In this study, the physiological response of elite rowing athletes who took part at a 4-weeks altitude training camp at altitude 2100 meters were investigated. METHODS: Twenty-seven elite rowing athletes from the Hong Kong Rowing Squad participate in this study (18 male,9 female, age 22.4±3.8). All subjects normally live at sea-level and participated a 4-weeks altitude training camp at altitude 2100 meters. Physiological parameters including hemoglobin (Hb) and body weight were monitored throughout the camp. Incremental test with rowing ergometer (Model D, Concept 2, USA) consists of seven stages of 1km were repeated at 7 days pre-camp, the 16th day during the camp, and 3 days post-camp. 30 mins rowing ergometer training at 22 spm were carried out every week to assess the performance of the rowers during the camp. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect changes between different time points of the parameters, effect sizes expressed as partial eta-squared (η2). Significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: Mean Hb was 14.0±0.9, 15.4±1.0, 15.3±0.9, 15.4±0.9, 15.2±1.1 g/dl for pre-camp, and week 1-4 respectively. Significant differences were found between pre-camp and week 1-4 (P=0.00, η2=0.44). Mean body weight was 70.95±8.46, 70.4±8.5, 70±8.59 and 69.66±8.44 kg for week 1-4 respectively. Significant differences were found between week 1 to 4 (P=0.00, η2=0.21). Mean power at anaerobic threshold of incremental rowing ergometer test were 250.0±47.6, 246.5±50.7 and 273.2±52.4 W for pre-camp, during-camp and post-camp respectively. Significant differences were found between pre-camp and post-camp (P=0.00, η2=0.50). Mean power of 30 mins rowing ergometer training at 22 spm were 197.3±39.8, 203.5±42.0, 200.2±41.1 and 203.1±43.4 W for week 1-4 respectively. Significant differences were found between week 1 to 4 (P=0.01, η2=0.18). CONCLUSION: Hb increases significantly by 10.1% since the first week of the altitude camp when compared with pre-camp baseline. A trend of body weight decreases for a total of 1.7% throughout the camp. The anaerobic threshold power of incremental test have been increased by 9.3% throughout the camp. The 30 mins rowing ergometer training power were the lowest at week 1 of the camp, then increased by 3.0% from week 1 to week 4. In summary, Hb and anaerobic threshold power increases, with body weight decreased by taking part in the altitude camp, while 30 mins ergometer power increased from week 2 of the camp. 1. Steinacker (1993) 2. Ingham et al. (2002) 3. Stevens et al. (2015) 4. Burtscher et al. (2018)
Read CV Yue Yan ChanECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP14
INTRODUCTION: Performance in elite kayaking is influenced by a complex interplay between aerobic and anaerobic physiological capacities. This study focused on the specific roles of anaerobic power, demonstrated by peak power (PP) and mean power (MP), in relation to blood lactate concentration and aerobic capacity, measured by VO2max. Kayakers competing at national (Nat) and international (Int) level were assessed. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 25 male elite kayakers (23 years ± 4 years) stratified into performance levels. Athletes underwent a spiroergometric test to determine VO2max and a Wingate test to measure anaerobic power (PP and MP). Lactate levels were obtained at the seventh minute post-exercise. Descriptive statistics, normality distribution Shapiro Wilk test and for homogeneity of variance Levenes test, Pearson correlation, T- test for independent variables and regression analyses were used to identify key performance determinants. RESULTS: A comparative analysis of kayaking performance metrics revealed that international-level kayakers (Int) demonstrated significantly higher Peak Power (PP), with mean values of 10.43 W/kg, compared to 9.69 W/kg for national-level athletes (Nat) (t-statistic: -2.83, p-value: 0.0096). Mean Power (MP) also tended to be higher in the international group, averaging 7.71 W/kg, in contrast to 7.36 W/kg for the national group, though this difference did not reach statistical significance (t-statistic: -1.40, p-value: 0.1746). No significant differences were observed in Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2max), with the international group averaging 59.48 ml/min/kg and the national group 61.70 ml/min/kg (t-statistic: 0.76, p-value: 0.4595). Lactic Acid Maximum (LA max) levels were slightly higher for international competitors, averaging 12.21 mmol/L, compared to 11.38 mmol/L for their national counterparts (t-statistic: -0.90, p-value: 0.3786). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between MP and lactate (r = 0.57, p-value: 0.0028), and a negative correlation was observed between lactate levels and VO2max (r = -0.66, p < 0.05). These findings underscore the importance of anaerobic power in the high-performance profile. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that while aerobic capacity provides a fundamental foundation for kayaking performance, the ability to generate and sustain high-intensity anaerobic power, as evidenced by higher peak power and post-exercise lactate levels, is a more significant determinant of success at the highest competitive levels. These insights underscore the importance of tailored training programs that focus on enhancing anaerobic power outputs to improve performance among elite kayakers.
Read CV Tomas MikaECSS Paris 2023: OP-AP14