Specific respiratory warm-up improves rowing performance and exertional dyspnea.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was a) to compare the effect of three different warm-up protocols upon rowing performance and perception of dyspnea, and b) to identify the functional significance of a respiratory warm-up.


METHODS
A group of well-trained club rowers (N = 14) performed a 6-min all-out rowing simulation (Concept II). We examined differences in mean power output and dyspnea measures (modified CR-Borg scale) under three different conditions: after a submaximal rowing warm-up (SWU), a specific rowing warm-up (RWU), and a specific rowing warm-up with the addition of a respiratory warm-up (RWUplus) protocol.


RESULTS
Mean power output during the 6-min all-out rowing effort increased by 1.2% after the RWUplus compared with that obtained after the RWU (P < 0.05) which, in turn, was by 3.2% higher than the performance after the SWU (P < 0.01). Similarly, after the RWUplus, dyspnea was 0.6 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.05) units of the Borg scale lower compared with the dyspnea after the RWU and 0.8 +/- 0.2 (P < 0.05) units lower than the dyspnea after the SWU.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that a combination of a respiratory warm-up protocol together with a specific rowing warm-up is more effective than a specific rowing warm-up or a submaximal warm-up alone as a preparation for rowing performance.
Volianitis
S
S
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom. S.Volianitis@bham.ac.uk
McConnell
A K
AK
Koutedakis
Y
Y
Jones
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis