title: A comparison of exercise performance on bicycle and rowing ergometers in female master recreational rowers.
abstract: Limited information exists on the response to maximal exercise testing in female masters level recreational rowers. This study examined cardiorespiratory and physiologic responses to progressive, incremental exercise using a variable resistance rowing ergometer and a cycle ergometer in six experienced female masters level rowers. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max:33.8 +/- 7.3, 33.5 +/- 6.6 ml.kg-1.min-1) and minute ventilation (VEmax: 86.1 +/- 9.6 l.min-1, 88.7 +/- 13.8 l.min-1) were similar during both tests (rower vs cycle). Maximal heart rates were significantly higher on the cycle ergometer (177 +/- 9 beats/min-1) compared to the rowing ergometer (173 +/- 11 beats/min-1), while peak power on the rowing ergometer (175 +/- 22 watts) was lower than the cycle ergometer (187 +/- 41 watts). Blood lactate levels taken 1 minute following exercise were similar on the rowing ergometer (10.5 +/- 1.7 mM/l) and cycle ergometer (11.8 +/- 1.5 mM/l) and indicated maximal effort was achieved in all subjects. Ventilatory threshold levels were significantly different on the rower (2.0 +/- 0.16) versus the cycle ergometer (1.9 +/- 0.18) (p = 0.38). These data suggest that the cycle and rowing ergometers yield relatively similar results when testing maximal exercise performance in this population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wiener
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Garber
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Manfredi
mesh_terms: D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*