ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2019 May;59(5):767-73

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08524-9

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Physical performance indicators in traditional rowing championships

Alfonso PENICHET-TOMÁS ✉, Basilio PUEO, José M. JIMÉNEZ-OLMEDO

Area of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain

BACKGROUND: Traditional rowing is a very popular discipline practiced worldwide through sliding and fixed seat modalities with little scientific evidence. The aim of this study is to analyze high and low-performance rowers’ profile of traditional rowing modalities in order to establish performance reference values.
METHODS: One hundred and fifteen male rowers were split into high and low performance groups, competing in the Spanish National Championships, volunteered to participate. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, and strength and power of lower extremities were evaluated by a jump height protocol.
RESULTS: In the high-performance group, sliding seat rowers were characterized by longer lower extremities (97.5±3.5 cm), whereas fixed seat rowers resulted in higher countermovement jump values (36.8±5.0 cm). Also, sliding seat rowers showed a resistance index to fast strength significantly higher (0.8±0.1) than fixed seat rowers (0.8±0.0). On the other hand, group comparison within modality indicated that high-performance rowers of both modalities were significantly taller than lower performance rowers (184.3±6.8 and 181.2±4.9 cm vs. 179.3±6.4 and 177.9±5.9 cm for sliding and fixed seat rowers, respectively). Furthermore, leg length (97.5±3.5 cm) and resistance index to fast strength (0.8±0.1) for sliding seat modality, and arm span (187.3±5.7 cm), trunk length (87.4±3.7 cm) and repeat jump height (28.6±4.2 cm) for fixed seat modality were found as performance factors in traditional rowing.
CONCLUSIONS: This study facilitates talent detection and selection of athletes to form competitive traditional rowing teams based on measurable physical characteristics.

KEY WORDS: Athletic performance - Muscle strength - Anthropometry - Water sports