Measurement of maximum oxygen consumption at tissue level (VO2 max) using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is considered the gold standard in evaluating physiological fitness of an athlete. No such testing had been conducted on Sri Lankan national level rowers up to date. With this background the aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological profile of national rowers of Sri Lanka to assess the state of their cardiopulmonary fitness. Anthropometrical and physiological profiles were created for 22 rowers (10 males and 11 females). The Shapiro-Wilcoxon test was used to check the normal distribution. Means and standard deviations of the parameters were calculated. A P value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.  Twenty rowers achieved more than 90% of their predicted HR and one achieved a HR of more than 85% indicating a maximum effort by the entire group. The average work rate achieved by oarsmen were 231 W, which is an average of 82% of the predicted. The average HR achieved was 187 BPM, which corresponds to an achievement of 96% of the predicted. The average respiratory exchange ratio achieved by oarsmen were 0.96, an indication of anaerobic glycolysis at peak exercise. Oarswomen achieved a peak workload of 235 which is slightly more than oarsmen. This is an achievement of 81% of the predicted. The group average HR achieved by oarswomen was 95 BPM, which is an achievement of 95% of the predicted. The group average RER was 0.84 which indicates a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis at peak exercise. The VO2 values obtained by Sri Lankan rowers are low compared to international standards. Despite the overall lower VO2 max obtained by male rowers, their VO2 at AT was at a higher percentage of their peak VO2, indicating better cardiovascular fitness. Cardiovascular exercise can be improved to achieve a higher VO2 with a lower HR through threshold training in order to improve performance and uplift the stranded of rowing in Sri Lanka.

Using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in a laboratory setting is considered the gold standard in evaluating physiological fitness. This allows sports scientists to not only measure the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2Max) but to get an insight into the overall cardiopulmonary fitness of an athlete. Despite winning the Asian netball cup in 2022 and getting qualified to take part in the netball world cup no such testing has ever been conducted on the national netball pool of Sri Lanka up to this study, leading to lack of physiological norms when determining cut off points in the selection process of the players into the national team. With this background we aim to conduct Physiological testing, using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to establish these benchmarks and norms for physiological fitness for Sri Lankan national netballers. All 13 members of the 2022 Asia cup winning national netball pool of Sri Lanka, who have participated in at least 10 tournaments/matches within the last 6 months was included in the study. All CPET was conducted in the morning and in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment. Bruce protocol will be used to carry out the CPET. All the netball players who conducted CPET achieved more than 80% of their peak heart rate indicating a maximum effort. Average peak VO2 value of our study was 29 mil/min/kg. The highest VO2 values were obtained by C players and GD players. There was a significant difference of VO2 values between C,GD and GS players. Despite the relatively low overall VO2 max values most of the players apart from GS achieved more than 90% of their predicated VO2 (VO2/kg predicted%) values. GA achieved more than 80% of their predicted VO2. Oxygen delivery to muscle was more than 100% of the predicated among all the players except GS. (C-Centre, GA-Goal Attack, GD-Goal Defence, GK-Goalkeeper, GS-Goal Shooter, WA-Wing Attack, WD-Wing Defence). Although our sample archived relatively low overall VO2 max values compared to western standards, most of the players apart from GS achieved more than 90% of their predicated VO2 values, with GA achieving more than 80% of their predicted. A statically significant correlation was observed between oxygen delivery to muscle at anaerobic threshold.