Reliable Peak Power Assessment During Concentric and Flexion-Extension-Cycle Based Rowing Strokes using a Non-Modified Rowing Ergometer

Accurate assessment of peak rowing power is crucial for rowing specific performance testing. Therefore, within and between day reliability of a non-modified rowing ergometer was examined. 52 trained male rowers (21.0 +/- 2.9 years; 1.89 +/- 0.05 m; 83.2 +/- 8.2 kg; 2,000-m ergometer Time Trial mean power: 369 +/- 57 W) performed (two times 4) isolated concentric rowing strokes (DRIVE) and single flexion-extension cycle (FEC-type) rowing strokes (SLIDE-DRIVE) on two separate days (1 week apart). Good to excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (0.94 <= ICC <= 1.00), low standard error of measurement (<= 2.7%), low coefficient of variation (<= 4.9%), and suitable level of agreements (<= 30W) for DRIVE and SLIDE-DRIVE indicated a high level of (within and between day) reliability. In addition, SLIDE-DRIVE (423 +/- 157 W) revealed remarkably higher rowing power (p <= 0.001; eta p2 = 0.601; SMD = 0.34) compared to DRIVE (370 +/- 154 W). The non-modified rowing ergometer is considered to be a reliable tool for the peak power assessment during isolated concentric contraction and FEC-type rowing strokes. Notably higher power outputs (compared to an isolated concentric contraction) during FEC rowing may refer to an underlying stretch shortening cycle.

Automated summary

Accurate assessment of peak rowing power is crucial for rowing specific performance testing. The study found that the non-modified rowing ergometer showed high reliability within and between days, and higher power outputs during FEC rowing compared to isolated concentric contractions.