Cardiorespiratory Coordination in Collegiate Rowing: A Network Approach to Cardiorespiratory Exercise Testing

Abstract

Collegiate rowing performance is often assessed by a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Rowers’ on-water performance involves non-linear dynamic interactions and synergetic reconfigurations of the cardiorespiratory system. Cardiorespiratory coordination (CRC) method measures the co-variation among cardiorespiratory variables. Novice (n = 9) vs. Intermediate (n = 9) rowers’ CRC (H0: Novice CRC = Intermediate CRC; HA: Novice CRC < Intermediate CRC) was evaluated through principal components analysis (PCA). A female NCAA Division II team (N = 18) grouped based on their off-water performance on 6000 m time trial. Rowers completed a customized CPET to exhaustion and a variety of cardiorespiratory values were recorded. The number of principal components (PCs) and respective PC eigenvalues per group were computed on SPSS vs28. Intermediate (77%) and Novice (33%) groups showed one PC1. Novice group formed an added PC2 due to the shift of expired fraction of oxygen or, alternatively, heart rate/ventilation, from the PC1 cluster of examined variables. Intermediate rowers presented a higher degree of CRC, possible due to their increased ability to utilize the bicarbonate buffering system during the CPET. CRC may be an alternative measure to assess aerobic fitness providing insights to the complex cardiorespiratory interactions involved in rowing during a CPET.

The effect of confounding variables on the relationship between anthropometric and physiological features in 2000-m rowing ergometer performance

“…These findings indicate that relative values and their relationships with rowing performance should be also considered in statistical analyses to facilitate the selection of athletes with the optimal and relatively lowest BFP. Most research conducted on rowers analyzed absolute values, but the significance of relative peak power ( Alfoldi et al, 2021 ; Podstawski et al, 2022 ) and realative VO 2max ( Mikulić, 2008 ; Alfoldi et al, 2021 ; Almeida-Neto et al, 2022 ; Papadakis et al, 2022 ; Podstawski et al, 2022 ) is increasingly recognized. During progressive exercise, individuals with higher BFP are characterized by higher oxygen demand, more rapid and shallow breathing, higher ventilatory demand, but a lower anaerobic threshold than athletes with higher lean body mass ( Li et al, 2001 ; Vargas et al, 2018 ).…”

Impact of a short-term nitrate and citrulline co-supplementation on sport performance in elite rowers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial

“…Among them, whole-body peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ) is a widely used outcome associated with performance and exercise capacity and determines the aerobic capacity of an individual (Bassett and Howley 2000 ). In professional rowers, the VO 2peak is positively correlated with performance during high-intensity endurance efforts lasting between 5 and 7 min (Papadakis et al 2022 ; Penichet-Tomas et al 2023 ). VO 2peak is partly determined by the capacity of the heart to provide blood to peripheral tissues—explained by the stroke volume and maximal heart rate—and therefore, maximum heart rate has been always considered a critical outcome (Coyle 2007 ).…”

Physiological and Mechanical Responses to a Graded Exercise Test in Traditional Rowing

“…Gas exchange measurements during exercise testing have served as the primary assessment tool for decades, though they were overshadowed by the refinement of lactate diagnostics during the 1970s and early ’80s. However, with the new methodological improvements in their measurements [ 6 ], they have regained significance, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max ) and maximal power output achieved during exercise testing are the most frequently applied indicators of endurance capacity [ 7 , 8 , 9 ]. VO 2max reflects the body’s ability to absorb, transport, and metabolize oxygen and is dependent not only on the oxygen metabolism of the muscle to generate energy but also on the respiratory system that absorbs oxygen from the air, the cardiovascular system responsible for delivering it to the muscles, and the blood and haemoglobin that carry it [ 10 , 11 ].…”

“…VO 2max reflects the body’s ability to absorb, transport, and metabolize oxygen and is dependent not only on the oxygen metabolism of the muscle to generate energy but also on the respiratory system that absorbs oxygen from the air, the cardiovascular system responsible for delivering it to the muscles, and the blood and haemoglobin that carry it [ 10 , 11 ]. Furthermore, it is considered the most important indicator of endurance capacity in sports science [ 9 ].…”

“…However, the assessment of VO 2max on water is affected by external factors, such as weather and water conditions, making it unreliable [ 30 ]. The use of rowing ergometers, which simulate the rowing experience and provide a controllable and repeatable environment [ 1 , 14 , 31 ], is considered the gold standard for directly measuring VO 2max in a laboratory setting [ 9 ].…”