Exercise Testing of Elite Rowers: Comparison of Methods and

Protocols

Kamiliia Mekhdieva

, Anna Zakharova

and Varvara Timokhina

Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Youth Policy, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia

B.N. Yeltsin, 19 Mira Street, Yekaterinburg, Russia

Keywords: Exercise Testing, Elite Athletes, Rowers, VO

2max

, Testing Methods and Protocols.

Abstract: The aim of the study was to search for appropriate, informative, accessible and reproducible method for testing

of elite rowers. Six healthy elite rowers (5 male and 1 female) aged 24±7 underwent two types of exercise

testing (ET). Exercise performance of rowers was evaluated by means of: i) standard maximal RAMP cycle

test, which is considered to be the gold standard measurement in sports medicine; ii) ET specific for rowers

with the use of Concept rowing machine. Both protocols of ET were designed according to International

Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription Tests were conducted with simultaneously HR monitoring

(Garmin) and breath-by-breathe gas-exchange analysis with the use of desktop metabolic analyzer Fitmate

PRO (Cosmed, Italy). A range of physiologic parameters were under consideration: VO

, HR, attained power,

minute ventilation and anaerobic threshold (AT). Undertaken comparative analysis demonstrated no

significant differences in major analysed physiologic parameters during both tests. The obtained data enabled

us to conclude that cycling ET with the use of maximal ramp incremental protocol is an informative,

accessible, reproducible and appropriate method for testing of elite rowers. Conducting both exercise tests ̶

cycling and rowing ̶ may highlight the limiting factors of specific physical workability in rowers.

1 INTRODUCTION

Exercise testing (ET) in sport, especially in high

performance sports, is an integral part of training

process (Smith, 2003; Saw, 2016; Vilikus, 2012). The

range of ET application is quite broad: from sports

selection and search for potential future champions to

evaluation of dynamics and progress in training.

Data obtained from ET provides with valuable

information on various physiologic changes under

exercise load condition (Maxzzani, 2017). It allows to

assess the integrative exercise responses of

cardiopulmonary, neuropsychological and skeletal

muscle systems (Albouaini, 2007). Methods of ET

depend much on a range of important factors. Among

them: i) sports specifics; ii) athletes age, level and

gender; iii) available laboratory equipment and many

others. Currently, various types of protocols, load

machines and measurement devices are used to assess

aerobic performance in athletes (Foster, 2001). The

preference of method selection is in close connection

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2967-2655

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to the aim and information request. In particular,

sometimes incremental step protocols are used,

though, in many cases maximal RAMP protocols are

more reliable. As for the choice of load device type

much depends on the cost and laboratory space limit.

Generally, it is recommended to test elite athletes

specifically to get correct and reliable data.

Meanwhile it is essential to always keep in mind the

significant difference in biomechanics of movements

in the real field and modeled laboratory environment

(Nymark, 2005).

The proposed research was focused on search for

informative, accessible, reproductible and

appropriate method for testing of elite rowers.

2 ORGANIZATION AND

METHODS

Subjects: Six healthy elite rowers (5 male and 1 fe-

Mekhdieva, K., Zakharova, A. and Timokhina, V.

Exercise Testing of Elite Rowers: Comparison of Methods and Protocols.

DOI: 10.5220/0008166900970102

In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support (icSPORTS 2019), pages 97-102

ISBN: 978-989-758-383-4

male) aged 24±7 were recruited for the study. All

participants of the proposed research had more than

10 years of sports experience. Three of studied rowers

were members of national team, winners of a number

of international competitions. Each athlete gave a

written consent to participate in the study with

following data collection and further publication of

the obtained results before the experimental study

was undertaken. The work conforms to the principles

of WHO Helsinki Declaration.

The proposed study was conducted in the sports

research lab of Ural Federal University

(Yekaterinburg, Russia).

2.1 Anthropometric Measurements

Anthropometric measurements are of high

importance in elite sports. Such parameters as

detailed body composition, height, lean muscle mass

(absolute and relative values), body fat component

and BMI are commonly used both in sports selection,

as well as dynamics evaluation in training practice

and research.

Weight and detailed segment body composition

data were measured with the use of MC-980MA Plus

Multi Frequency Segmental Body Composition

Monitor (TANITA, Japan) based on the advanced

Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) technology.

The following parameters were analyzed: body mass

(kg), body mass index (BMI, kg/m

), muscle mass –

absolute and relative values (kg; %), absolute and

relative fat mass (kg; %), fat free mass (kg),

differentiated muscle mass of the trunk, upper and

lower extremities (kg).

2.2 Exercise Tests

Aerobic performance of rowers was evaluated by

means of ET with the use of two different types of

protocols and load devices. First, we conducted

standard maximal RAMP cycling test, which is

considered to be the gold standard measurement of

integrated cardiopulmonary-muscle oxidative

function (Poole, 2017). Then we applied ET specific

for rowers with the use of Concept rowing machine.

Protocols of ET were designed according to

International Guidelines for Exercise Testing and

Prescription (Pescatello, 2014; Gibbons, 2006;

Wasserman, 2012). Tests were conducted with

simultaneously HR monitoring (Garmin) and gas-

exchange evaluation with the use of desktop

metabolic analyzer Fitmate PRO (Cosmed, Italy).

Both tests were completed within a period of 1

week approximately at the same time of the day in a

controlled laboratory environment (temperature – 20-

22 ͦ C; 50%-60% relative air humidity). These

conditions were kept to minimize the biological

variations on the collected data. As both tests were

performed at maximal protocol to exhaustion, athletes

were recommended to have 24-36 hours of rest from

trainings and competitive activity before the first test

and 24-48 hours of rest between the tests. This

implied sufficient time for recovery and obtaining

accurate and precise data. Additionally, it was

required to avoid any intake of alcohol or caffeine 24

hours before ET and to have meal uptake no later than

4 hours before the test to exclude unexpected

hypoglycemia during ET.

Each tested subject was given comprehensive

instructions on purpose of the experiment, methods

used, registered parameters during ET and safety

regulations before the tests. Athletes were encouraged

to inform laboratory staff about appearance of any

disturbance and such symptoms as acute weakness,

shortness of breath, dizziness etc.

Breath-by-breath oxygen uptake (VO

) data were

analyzed throughout both conducted tests. Before

each test started the metabolic analyzer had been

accurately calibrated according to manufacturer’s

guidelines and instructions.

2.2.1 Cycling Exercise Test

Cycling ET (Fig.1) was performed with the use of

cycle ergometer (Schiller, Switzerland) and desktop

metabolograph Fitmate PRO (Cosmed, Italy). The

cycle seat and handle height and position were

adjusted in accordance with the each athlete’s

comfort (height and limbs length).

The following maximal ramp-incremental

protocol was applied: the initial load (warm-up stage)

was set at 0 W for 1 min with further linearly steady

increase by 40 W per minute (approximately 1 W per

each consecutive 1.5 second of the test). Athletes

were instructed to keep the constant cadence of 80

rpm throughout the whole test, including the warm-

up stage and the 1

min of recovery.

The test was carried out to exhaustion (inability to

maintain the required cadence due to muscle fatigue

despite verbal inciting) or the appearance of absolute

medical restrictions to continuing exercise (abnormal

HR response, shortness of breath, dizziness, signs of

vegetative dysfunction etc.).

The following parameters were recorded starting

with the first warm-up stage (1 min) and continuously

during exercise testing: oxygen consumption (VO

ml/kg/min), heart rate (HR, bpm), stated exercise load

(P, W), volume of ventilation (Ve, l/min), and

icSPORTS 2019 - 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

respiration rate (Rf, 1/min). Current values of all

measured parameters were displayed on the

metabolic analyzer screen and saved in the device

memory for ongoing analysis.

Figure 1: ET with the use of cycle ergometer.

2.2.2 Rowing Exercise Test

The proposed rowing ET (Fig. 2) was carried out with

the use of Concept rowing machine (model E,

Concept 2, USA) and desktop metabolograph Fitmate

PRO (Cosmed, Italy). We designed step incremental

ET protocol for rowers. The duration of each stage

was 1 min. Initial load was set by the athlete himself

at 100 W. After that it was suggested to increase the

load by 50 W each subsequent minute of the test. Test

proceeded up to attainment of refusal criteria and

inability to keep on at the required power for the

current ET stage.

As described in the previous section (cycling test),

we analysed oxygen consumption (VO

, ml/kg/min),

heart rate (HR, bpm), power of exercise load (P, W),

volume of ventilation (Ve, l/min), and respiration rate

(Rf, 1/min).

After completion of both ET trials we recorded the

following parameters: maximum oxygen

consumption (VO

2max

, ml/kg/min), maximum

respiration rate (Rf

max

, 1/min), maximum volume of

ventilation per minute (Ve

max

, l/min), resting heart

rate (HR before the test, bpm), HR at 150 W of work

load (HR

150

, bpm), HR at 200 W of work load (HR

200

bpm), HR at 300 W of work load (HR

300

, bpm),

maximum HR at the end of the test (HR

max

, bpm), HR

at anaerobic threshold (HR

, bpm), HR at the 1

, 2

and 3

minutes of recovery (HR

recovery 1 min

, HR

recovery

2 min

, HR

recovery 3 min

, bpm), percentage of VO

anaerobic threshold (% AT), maximum attained

power (P

max

, W) and relative maximum attained

power (P

max

/kg, W/kg).

Figure 2: ET with the use of Concept rowing machine.

2.3 Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with the use of

statistic software package “SPSS Statistics 23.0”

(IBM). We used descriptive analysis of the obtained

data in order to estimate basic functional status of

athletes.

Normality of distribution was assessed by the

Shapiro-Wilk test. Mean value (M), standard

deviation (SD), minimum and maximal values of the

measured parameters were calculated.

Paired T-test (Student criterion) was used to

evaluate differences between the measured

parameters in studied group. The level of significance

was set at P < 0.05.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The obtained anthropometric data of elite male

rowers (Table 1) showed that studied subjects had

adequate body composition in regards to specific

athletic norms for rowers. Although, high mean

values of lean mass and low values of fat component

were found, these parameters varied within a certain

range. These pointed at individual peculiarities of

skeletal muscle compounds of rowers, thus it may

have an impact on ET results.

Exercise Testing of Elite Rowers: Comparison of Methods and Protocols

Table 1: Anthropometric and body composition data of male

rowers.

Parameters M±SD (min-max)

Height, c

179.6±7.4 171-188

Weight, kg 72.36±5.2 60-74

Muscle mass, k

63.86

2.85 59-66.5

Muscle mass, % 88.24

3.34 83.4-92.6

Fat, k

5.2

2.3 2.2-8.4

Fat, % 7.2

3.24 3-11.8

BMI, kg/

22.5±1.9 20.3-24.7

Assessment of exercise performance of studied

athletes provided with comprehensive data on both

aerobic performance and cardiopulmonary response to

maximum load, as well as strength endurance of

musculoskeletal system.

Generally, each athlete demonstrated high level of

exercise performance and was well tolerated to aerobic

work in both tests.

As was described above it was assumed that ET in

specific test could have shown better results

considering impact of motivation on performing very

hard exercise work.

However, undertaken further comparative analysis

(Table 2) demonstrated no significant differences in all

analysed parameters from both tests.

Table 2: Comparative analysis of ET data in rowers.

Parameters C

cle test Conce

t test P

2max

ml/kg/min

59.5±11.03 64.8±7.1 0.17

max

, 1/min 63.24±7.77 56.44±17.97 0.23

max

, l/min 168.9±23.5 126.78±67.5 0.11

HR before the

test, bp

88.6±17.86 72.7±17.9 0.09

150,

m 135.7±17.1 130.83±15.84 0.31

200,

m 143±17.27 146±16.35 0.38

300,

m 165.2±10 168.3±10.9 0.32

max,

181.2±5.42 177.5±6.69 0.16

AT,

pm 172±7.35 172.8±9.15 0.43

recovery 1 min

155.3±4.63 133.3±44.15 0.13

recovery 2 min

127.5±5.5 132.8±10.5 0.16

recovery 3 min

119.4±5.8 124.5±6.36 0.18

% AT 83±4.05 82.5±3.11 0.42

max

, W 40.3±61.64 429.5±76.96 0.28

max

, W/k

5.75±0.5 6.01±0.74 0.19

2max

– maximum oxygen uptake; HR – heart rate; AT –

anaerobic threshold; P

max

– maximum power.

Although the group of rowers was mixed –formed

of male and female athletes, undertaken paired

comparative analysis for statistics was appropriate

and correct in this case.

Values of the majority of the most important

functional indicators which are milestones in training

design (HR

, % AT) were very close.

Further analysis of individual graphs (Fig. 1-6) of

HR dynamics during stress test revealed no

significant differences of heart response to exercise

load irrespective to type of ergometer and protocol

used.

Nevertheless, when analyzing individual HR-

curves we should take into account the following

issues:

1. In rowing ET the movement pattern is specific

for the tested subjects, whereas cycling is not

widely used in severe Urals weather conditions.

2. In cycling test the value of maximal attained P (P

at VO

2max

) in ET was determined as an indicator

of strength of lower extremities. As each athlete

was instructed to maintain the constant cadence

of 80 rpm throughout the test whereas the

external load was raised continuously, so the

moment of volitional fatigue (when leg muscles

were not able to maintain the required cadence)

was considered as the maximal power

(P-VO

2max

). So P

max

in cycling ET was limited by

strength of lower extremities together with an

oxidative potential of muscles.

3. Procedure of specific rowing ET implied the

following: every step with demanding load was

provided by internal strength and rowing rate. In

case of limited strength the rower had an

opportunity to increase the stroke frequency.

These means that higher P

max

in rowing ET could

be provided by the rate of strokes rather than

higher volume of working muscle mass.

Figure 3: Heart rate response during ET of the 1

athlete.

Individual HR graph of the 1

athlete (Fig. 3) is a

good example of similar heart response to exercise

load irrespective of type of ergometer and protocol

used. One can see that only respiratory system

response (maximal minute ventilation) differed.

icSPORTS 2019 - 7th International Conference on Sport Sciences Research and Technology Support

100

Figure 4: Heart rate response during ET of the 2

athlete.

rower (Fig. 4) started both tests at high HR

(HR

resting

> 100 bpm), which points at lowered volume

parameters of heart for endurance athletes and low

aerobic abilities. High values of VO

2max

(66.4

ml/kg/min) in rowing ET and low – in cycle ET (43

ml/kg/min) serve as a proof of essential further work

for both increasing of strength and endurance of

lower extremities muscles.

Figure 5: Heart rate response during ET of the 3

athlete.

athlete (Fig. 5) had low resting HR value in the

beginning of both tests (60 bpm) and throughout the

first minutes of ET due to important for successful

rowers sufficient heart volume parameters. The

observed data in cycling ET pointed at good condition

of leg muscles. Meanwhile, difference in VO

2max

value of 7.3 ml/kg/min in tests showed the importance

of additional trainings of upper extremities and back

muscles (increasing the rate of rowing with only arms

and back without legs involvement). Additionally, the

obtained difference in respiration (significant lower

Ve in rowing ET) could have had an impact of

insufficient breathing in rowing test on VO

2max

results.

Data of the 4

rower (Fig.6) revealed a

considerable difference in HR in aerobic exercise

zone. Potentially, increased HR during cycling ET

could be a result of agitation or incomplete recovery.

After 100 W of load increase HR curves match, which

does not enable to state insufficient training

condition. Comparison of P

max

in tests demonstrated

higher level of P in cycling, than in rowing ET. The

reasons could be: i) weak muscles of back and upper

extremities; ii) issues with frequency increase in

rowing test due to lowered speed abilities or inability

to increase the rate of single motion (rowing); iii)

rowing technique incompetence.

Figure 6: Heart rate response during ET of the 4

athlete.

Figure 7: Heart rate response during ET of the 5

athlete.

The curves “load ̶ HR” of the athlete 5 (Fig.7) in

two tests are very similar to the 4

rower’s graphs.

This means that rowers 4 and 5 had identic problems

in specific physical readiness. So their training must

be focused on the same aspects (i-iii).

Rower #6 (female) demonstrated satisfactory

levels of fitness competence in both tests and specific

rowing ET was done efficiently. Comparison of two

curves did not reveal problems although physiologic

coping in both tests is lower than in male athletes.

Overall obtained results indicate, that although the

attained load and absolute values of the measured

parameters varied in tests, in most cases

cardiovascular response to exercise load had no

significant differences. This may serve as a proof that

no matter what type of exercise activity, engaging

more than 2/3 of skeletal muscle, is carried out, it does

not impact significantly on cardiopulmonary

physiologic reaction.

Exercise Testing of Elite Rowers: Comparison of Methods and Protocols

101

Figure 8: Heart rate response during ET of the 6

athlete.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Cycling ET with the use of maximal ramp

incremental protocol is an informative, accessible,

reproducible and appropriate method for testing of

elite rowers. It is safe, cost-effective and has the same

patterns of physiologic response as in specific rowing

test.

Meanwhile conducting both exercise tests ̶

cycling and rowing ̶ provide the researchers with

valuable information highlighting the limiting factors

of specific physical workability in rowers.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work was supported by Act 211 Government of

the Russian Federation, contract # 02.A03.21.0006.

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