Improving rowing performance by adjusting oar blade size and angle
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: van Nieuwburg W
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10034370 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:To analyze on-water rowing performance, a valid determination of the power loss due to the generation of propulsion is required. This power los can be calculated as the dot product of the net water force vector ([Formula: see text]) and the time derivative of the position vector of the point at the blade where [Formula: see text] is applied ([Formula: see text]). In this article we presented a method that allows for accurate determination of both parameters using a closed system of three rotational equations of motion for three different locations at the oar. Additionally, the output of the method has been validated. An oar was instrumented with three pairs of strain gauges measuring local strain. Force was applied at different locations of the blade, while the oar was fixed at the oarlock and the end of the handle. Using a force transducer and kinematic registration, the force vector at the blade and the deflection of the oar were measured. These data were considered to be accurate and used to calibrate the measured strain for bending moments, the deflection of the oar and the angle of the blade relative to its unloaded position. Additionally, those data were used to validate the output values of the presented method plus the associated instantaneous power output. Good correspondence was found between the estimated perpendicular blade force and its reference (ICC = .999), while the parallel blade force could not be obtained (ICC = .000). The position of the PoA relative to the blade could be accurately obtained when the perpendicular force was ≥ 5.3 N (ICC = .927). Instantaneous power output values associated with the perpendicular force could be obtained with reasonable accuracy (ICC = .747). These results suggest that the power loss due to the perpendicular water force component can be accurately obtained, while an additional method is required to obtain the power losses due to the parallel force.
| S-EPMC6508922 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundApplied research using the phase angle (PhA) in children and adolescents has increased notably. Using multilevel modeling in a fully Bayesian framework, we examined the relationships between PhA, age, sex, biological maturity status, and body size in 10-16-year-old adolescents.MethodsThe sample comprised 519 adolescents (women, n = 241; men, n = 278) from Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Biological maturity status was assessed with self-examination of pubertal development for sexual maturity and maturity offset protocol to estimate age at peak height velocity (PHV) for somatic maturity status. Stature and body mass were measured by anthropometry. Phase angle was calculated based on raw resistance and reactance values (50 kHz frequency) obtained by bioelectrical impedance with the foot-to-hand technology.ResultsThe multilevel regression analysis revealed that boys had significantly higher values of phase angle than girls, adjusting for age group and sexual maturity status. Overall, older and more mature adolescents had higher values of phase angle. When considering aligning variation in the phase angle by distance to estimated PHV (maturity offset), there was a higher association between the phase angle and time before and after predicted age at PHV for boys (r = 0.31, 90% CI: 0.23 to 0.39) than girls (r = 0.2, 90% CI: 0.11 to 0.28). When including body mass in the multilevel models, corresponding changes in the overall body mass mediate most of the influence of the maturity status and age group on the phase angle.ConclusionThe present study demonstrated that the variability in phase angle is related to inter-individual variation in sex, age, and maturity status, as well as differences in body size. Research with adolescents considering phase angle should use multilevel modeling with standardized parameters as default to adjust for the concurrent influence of sex, age, maturity status, and body size.
| S-EPMC9376599 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Aquatic flight, performed by rowing or flapping fins, wings or limbs, is a primary locomotor mechanism for many animals. We used a computer simulation to compare the mechanical performance of rowing and flapping appendages across a range of speeds. Flapping appendages proved to be more mechanically efficient than rowing appendages at all swimming speeds, suggesting that animals that frequently engage in locomotor behaviours that require energy conservation should employ a flapping stroke. The lower efficiency of rowing appendages across all speeds begs the question of why rowing occurs at all. One answer lies in the ability of rowing fins to generate more thrust than flapping fins during the power stroke. Large forces are necessary for manoeuvring behaviours such as accelerations, turning and braking, which suggests that rowing should be found in slow-swimming animals that frequently manoeuvre. The predictions of the model are supported by observed patterns of behavioural variation among rowing and flapping vertebrates.
| S-EPMC1690750 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Purpose: Research establishing relationships between measures of rowing technique and velocity is limited. In this study, measures of technique and their effect on rowing velocity were investigated. Methods: Ten male singles, eight female singles, three male pairs, and six female pairs participated. Data from each stroke for forty-seven 2,000 m races were collected using Peach PowerLine and OptimEye S5 GPS units. General linear mixed modeling established modifying effects on velocity of two within-crew SD of predictor variables for each boat class, with subsequent adjustment for power, and for power and stroke rate in separate analyses. Twenty-two predictor variables were analyzed, including measures of boat velocity, gate force, and gate angle. Results were interpreted using superiority and inferiority testing with a smallest important change in velocity of 0.3%. Results: Substantial relationships with velocity were found between most variables assessed before adjustment for power, and for power and stroke rate. Effect magnitudes were reduced for most variables after adjustment for power and further reduced after adjustment for stroke rate and power, with precision becoming inadequate in many effects. The greatest modifying effects were found for stroke rate, mean and peak force, and power output before adjustment, and for catch angle after adjustment for stroke rate and power. Substantial between-crew differences in effects were evident for most predictors in some boat classes before adjustment and in some predictors and some boat classes after adjustment for stroke rate and power. Conclusion: The results presented reveal variables associated with improvements in rowing performance and can be used to guide technical analysis and feedback by practitioners. Higher stroke rates and greater catch angles should be targeted to improve rowing performance, and rower force development for the improvement of power output. Relationships between rowing technique and velocity can be crew-dependent and are best assessed on an individual basis for some variables.
| S-EPMC7739831 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine and weigh the anthropometric indicators that were associated with pacing performances for each Olympic rowing category. Methods: Between 2010 and 2015, 1,148 rowers (650 men and 498 women) participated in the finals of World Championships in each heavyweight Olympic event. They were categorized into four morphological clusters according to their height and body mass index (BMI): tall and thin (TT), tall and robust (TR), small and thin (ST), and small and robust (SR). Time and speed, were collected every 50 m for all boats in each competition. Non-parametric inferential methods were used to understand the differences in performance between morphological clusters over the entire race. After, we calculated a new indicator to determine the differences between these morphotypes within the race. Results: In this article, we determined which morphologies had a significant effect on speed for both men and women. For example, the biggest rowers were the fastest in skiff. Analysis of each 50 m demonstrated that between the four morphological categories that the TR male athletes were significantly faster than their ST counterparts between the 800 and 2,000 m of the race by 1.76% of mean speed. Furthermore, the SR were the fastest in female coxless pairs over the majority of the race. These differences in speed by morphological cluster are summarized, by race segment, for all categories and sex. Conclusion: Anthropometric factors impact pacing among rowers' categories. Coupling anthropometry and race pacing is not only helpful to understand which factors work where, but is also helpful in improving training and performance. This can help both in the recruiting of rowers for specific boats and adapting the race strategy. In future, the method used can be adapted for factors other than anthropometry. It can also be individualized to enable athletes to prepare for their race according to future competitors.
| S-EPMC7739618 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Closed-wedge high tibial osteotomy (CWHTO) may be carried out to realign the knee in patients with knee osteoarthritis who do not meet the criteria for open-wedge high tibial osteotomy or total knee arthroplasty. The procedure involves both fibular and tibial osteotomy, and care is needed to prevent peroneal nerve and vessel injury during fibular osteotomy. Notably, use of a tourniquet may mask the development of hematomas or aneurysms until after surgery. We developed a 3-step ankle-angle-adjusting (triple-A) technique to relax the muscles, allowing easy retraction of the peroneal vessels. Crucially, the procedure does not require a tourniquet, thus allowing bleeding to be detected and stopped during surgery. The process involves adjusting the ankle angle by plantar-flexion and applying varus stress to highlight the tension difference between the lateral and posterior compartments; plantar-flexion of the great toe to loosen the flexor hallucis longus muscle, thus exposing the fibular posterior aspect; and valgus stress to loosen the peroneus longus muscle. The muscles can then be retracted sufficiently to allow distal and proximal osteotomies to be performed, and any bleeding can be detected and resolved before wound closure. This technique may improve the ease and safety of fibular osteotomy in patients undergoing CWHTO.
| S-EPMC9826976 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Mindfulness can benefit athletes' mindset and performance. These benefits may be enhanced by sport-specific mindfulness interventions. Accordingly, our objectives were 2-fold: first, to develop a rowing-specific mindfulness intervention, and second, to investigate its effects on mindfulness, flow, reinvestment, and rowing performance. Rowers were randomly assigned to either a 6-week rowing-specific mindfulness intervention (n = 23), which included generic and rowing-specific practices, or a control group (n = 21). Rowers completed pre-test and post-test measures of performance, mindfulness, flow, and rowing-specific reinvestment. Lastly, rowers completed an evaluation form following the intervention. The results demonstrated that the intervention group increased flow, mindfulness, and improved performance, additionally conscious motor processing decreased from pre-test to post-test. However, the intervention did not preferentially change mindfulness or reinvestment compared to control. Participants provided favorable feedback and evaluated the intervention positively. Our 6-week rowing-specific mindfulness intervention promoted flow, encouraged mindfulness, and aided performance. Thus, we provide preliminary explorative evidence that a sport-specific mindfulness intervention can benefit athletes. We recommend that future research, with large sample sizes and improved home practice, should examine mediators and moderators of the mindfulness-performance relationship.
| S-EPMC9491153 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The aim of this research was to develop different regression models to predict 2000 m rowing ergometer performance with the use of anthropometric, anaerobic and strength variables and to determine how precisely the prediction models constituted by different variables predict performance, when conducted together in the same equation or individually. 38 male collegiate rowers (20.17 ± 1.22 years) participated in this study. Anthropometric, strength, 2000 m maximal rowing ergometer and rowing anaerobic power tests were applied. Multiple linear regression procedures were employed in SPSS 16 to constitute five different regression formulas using a different group of variables. The reliability of the regression models was expressed by R2 and the standard error of estimate (SEE). Relationships of all parameters with performance were investigated through Pearson correlation coefficients. The prediction model using a combination of anaerobic, strength and anthropometric variables was found to be the most reliable equation to predict 2000 m rowing ergometer performance (R2 = 0.92, SEE= 3.11 s). Besides, the equation that used rowing anaerobic and strength test results also provided a reliable prediction (R2 = 0.85, SEE= 4.27 s). As a conclusion, it seems clear that physiological determinants which are affected by anaerobic energy pathways should also get involved in the processes and models used for performance prediction and talent identification in rowing.
| S-EPMC4120446 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Contemporary meta-analyses have generally demonstrated a positive effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation on exercise performance. However, despite these claims, there is limited data on contrasting individualized and standardized timing of NaHCO3 ingestion prior to exercise to further enhance performance outcomes. Purpose: To determine whether NaHCO3 ingestion timing impacts 2,000-m rowing time-trial (TT) performance in elite-level rowers (Senior National team including Olympic/World Championships level) adhering to their own individualized pre-race strategies (e.g. nutrition, warm-up, etc.). Methods: Twenty three (n = 23) rowers across two research centers (using the exact same methods/protocols) completed three trials: NaHCO3 loading profile at rest to determine the individual's time-to-peak bicarbonate concentration [ Results: There was a significant mean difference of +2.9 [± 0.4 mmol·L?1 Conclusions: The present study demonstrated a small but significant performance effect of an individualized NaHCO3 ingestion strategy. Similarities after warm-up between pre-TT
| S-EPMC7509055 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionSince rowing became an Olympic sport in 1900, rowers have made significant performance gains, partly attributed to increased research, training, and competition knowledge. Rowing technique and biomechanics play an essential role in rowing performance. While some aspects can be quantified with modern tools, coaches' expertise remains essential for technical performance evaluation. Coaches often play a pivotal role in identifying and correcting technical faws; however, novice and intermediate coaches may struggle. This study examines how expert-level rowing coaches assess the technical performance of athletes during on-water rowing.MethodsFour current and former national team coaches were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The repertory grid technique was employed to explore their initial foci when assessing the rowing technique. The acquired data were content-analysed and listed in a summarising table.ResultsWe have detailed both the positive and negative aspects of rowing technique identified by these coaches. Three overarching themes were identified: perceived force application, perceived movement precision, and perceived rhythm and timing.DiscussionExamining the categories revealed that the coaches with a shared federation background exhibited a relatively high level of similarity in their initial foci. However, looking into their subjective aspects revealed considerable differences. This leads to the hypothesis that a broad spectrum of unique coaches' criteria can lead to the same or similar technique executions from their athletes.
| S-EPMC11499098 | biostudies-literature