title: Physiological aspects of training in rowing.
abstract: At the start of a rowing race, the boat is accelerated and the force on the oars reaches between 1000 and 1500 N. During the race, the speed is maintained at a lower level with a peak rowing force of 500-700 N for 210-230 strokes for about 6.5 min. Rowers are adapted to this effort by a large muscle mass and high metabolic capacities. The muscles of successful rowers demonstrate 70%-85% slow-twitch fibers. Both slow- and fast-twitch fibers have increased oxidative enzyme activities reflecting elevated number and density of mitochondria. Rowing force and boat velocity correlate to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2) which reaches 6.0-6.61.min-1 (65-70 ml.min-1. kg-1) and to the VO2 during a race. In turn, the VO2 during a race is related to slow-twitch fibers content of the muscles, also to the aerobic-anaerobic threshold (AAT) and inversely related to the maximal blood lactate level. The AAT is 80%-85% of maximal performance in highly trained rowers. In successful rowers training intensity is 70% -90% of the training time below the AAT. Training eliciting a blood lactate above 4.0 mmol/l, sprint training and athletics training complete the training schedule, which may reach 1000 h, or 5000-7000 km per year.
authors.affiliation: Abt. Sport- und Leistungsmedizin, Universität Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steinacker
mesh_terms: D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates