Abstract
Metrics
BACKGROUND: Rowing races challenge rowers to combine high sprint and endurance capacity. Muscle morphology is an important determinant of sprint and endurance capacities and as such may also be a critical determinant of rowing performance.
PURPOSE: To determine how much of the rowing performance of Olympic rowers is explained by sprint and endurance capacity and by muscle morphology.
METHODS: 18 elite rowers (12 male, 6 female and 17 competed in different disciplines at the 2016 Olympics) performed a maximal incremental rowing test to obtain V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, reflecting the endurance capacity. Sprint capacity was assessed by a 30-second Wingate cycling test and maximal isometric knee extension torque. Morphology of m. vastus lateralis (volume, physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), fascicle length and pennation angle) was derived from a 3D ultrasound reconstructed voxel array. 13 rowers completed a 2000m time trial on a rowing ergometer to assess rowing performance. Coefficients of determination were obtained from multiple and single regression analyses.
RESULTS: Rowing performance was largely explained by absolute maximal oxygen uptake combined with peak power output obtained during the Wingate test (R2=0.98, p<0.001). Muscle volume largely explained rowing performance (r2=0.85, p<0.001) and was strongly related to Wingate peak power output (r2=0.82, p<0.001), V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (r2=0.65, p<0.0001) and maximal isometric knee extension torque (r2=0.60, p<0.001). Less variance in rowing performance was explained by PCSA (r2=0.68, p<0.001) and fascicle length (r2=0.43, p<0.05) and none by pennation angle (r2=0.00, p=0.774).
CONCLUSION: Rowing performance of Olympic rowers is excellently explained by V[Combining Dot Above]O2max and Wingate peak power output (R2=0.98). Muscle volume, of all morphological properties, is the most important determinant of rowing ergometer performance, and endurance and sprint capacity in Olympic rowers.
BACKGROUND: Rowing races challenge rowers to combine high sprint and endurance capacity. Muscle morphology is an important determinant of sprint and endurance capacities and as such may also be a critical determinant of rowing performance.
PURPOSE: To determine how much of the rowing performance of Olympic rowers is explained by sprint and endurance capacity and by muscle morphology.
METHODS: 18 elite rowers (12 male, 6 female and 17 competed in different disciplines at the 2016 Olympics) performed a maximal incremental rowing test to obtain V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, reflecting the endurance capacity. Sprint capacity was assessed by a 30-second Wingate cycling test and maximal isometric knee extension torque. Morphology of m. vastus lateralis (volume, physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA), fascicle length and pennation angle) was derived from a 3D ultrasound reconstructed voxel array. 13 rowers completed a 2000m time trial on a rowing ergometer to assess rowing performance. Coefficients of determination were obtained from multiple and single regression analyses.
RESULTS: Rowing performance was largely explained by absolute maximal oxygen uptake combined with peak power output obtained during the Wingate test (R2=0.98, p<0.001). Muscle volume largely explained rowing performance (r2=0.85, p<0.001) and was strongly related to Wingate peak power output (r2=0.82, p<0.001), V[Combining Dot Above]O2max (r2=0.65, p<0.0001) and maximal isometric knee extension torque (r2=0.60, p<0.001). Less variance in rowing performance was explained by PCSA (r2=0.68, p<0.001) and fascicle length (r2=0.43, p<0.05) and none by pennation angle (r2=0.00, p=0.774).
CONCLUSION: Rowing performance of Olympic rowers is excellently explained by V[Combining Dot Above]O2max and Wingate peak power output (R2=0.98). Muscle volume, of all morphological properties, is the most important determinant of rowing ergometer performance, and endurance and sprint capacity in Olympic rowers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 768-769 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2017 |
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