Factors of Rowing Ergometer Performance in High-Level Female Rowers

Abstract

The present study investigated morphological and physiological factors of rowing ergometer performance over 2000 m (P_2000, W) in 70 national and international level [27 lightweight (LW) and 43 heavyweight (HW)] female rowers. Maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O_2max, L.min^-1), maximal aerobic power (Pa_max, W), power output corresponding to 4 mmol.L^-1 blood lactate concentration expressed in absolute (PLa₄, W) and relative to Pa_max (PLa₄%, %) values, peak power output (P_peak, W), and rowing gross efficiency (RGE, %) were determined during an incremental rowing test. In the whole group, P_peak was the best predictor of P₂₀₀₀ (r=0.89, p<0.001), as it was shown in men. PLa₄ (r=0.87), V̇O_2max (r=0.83), body mass (r=0.65), and height (r=0.64) were also significantly correlated with P₂₀₀₀ (p<0.001 for all). P_peak was also the best predictor of P₂₀₀₀ when the two sub-groups LW and HW were considered separately. It was concluded that P_peak is an overall index of physiological rowing capacity in groups of high-level LW and HW female rowers. The predictive value of P_peak is similar to that of PLa₄, but P_peak presents the advantage of being obtained with a simple ergometer test without biological measurements.