title: Determination of critical power in trained rowers using a three-minute all-out rowing test.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the hyperbolic relationship between power output and time to exhaustion (work - time and power - [1/time] models) could be estimated from a modified version of a three-minute all-out rowing test (3-min RT), and to investigate the test-retest reliability of the 3-min RT. Eighteen male rowers volunteered to participate in this study and underwent an incremental exercise test (IRT), three constant-work rate tests to establish the critical power (CP) and the curvature constant (W'), and two 3-min RTs against a fixed resistance to estimate the end-test power (EP) and work-done-above-EP (WEP) on a rowing ergometer. Peak VO(2max) and maximal VO(2max) oxygen uptakes were calculated as the highest 30 s average achieved during the 3-min RT and IRT tests. The results showed that EP and WEP determinations, based on the 3-min RT, have moderate reproducibility (P = 0.002). EP (269 ± 39 W) was significantly correlated with CP (work - time, 272 ± 30 W; power - [1/time], 276 ± 32 W) (P = 0.000), with no significant differences observed between the EP and CP values (P = 0.474). However, WEP did not significantly correlate with W' (P = 0.254), and was significantly higher than the W' values. There was a significant correlation between the VO(2max) (60 ± 3 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and VO(2max) (61 ± 4 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) (P = 0.003). These results indicate that the 3-min RT has moderate reliability, and is able to appropriately estimate the aerobic capacity in rowers, particularly for the CP and VO(2max) parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Athletic Performance, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yi-Shan
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chia-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chun-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid