Sport Specific Performance Diagnosis in Rowing: An Incremental Graded Exercise Test in Coxless Pairs

Introduction

Performance evaluation is of importance to elite athletes and their coaches particularly if the results transfer into recommendations for the daily training. Therefore, it is necessary to make performance tests as specific as possible. This is especially valid in sports like rowing with complex movement patterns. Consequently, because rowing ergometry was established during the 80's, cycle ergometry became less important in evaluating the specific performance in rowing [3] [15]. However, it is also difficult to transfer rowing ergometric data directly to performance in rowing during training and competition. Therefore, especially for team boats with two, four or eight rowers, the need for performance testing in rowing boats has grown.

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate an incremental graded exercise test performed in the rowing boat (coxless pairs) in order to give specific performance evaluation data. Furthermore, an attempt was made to transfer these data to training and to control training by heart rates [7] [16] and intensity recommendations similar to that used in endurance running [4].

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