Comparison of the Effects of Long-Term Rowing Training in Professional Rowers

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Rowing Ergometer Training for Novice Rowers: Participants will complete an 8-week supervised rowing ergometer training program performed twice weekly. Each session will consist of a 10-minute warm-up, 30-40 minutes of moderate-intensity rowing emphasizing technical skill development and progressive interval training (RPE 11-13), followed by a 5-10-minute cool-down. Exercise intensity and duration will be progressively adjusted according to each participant's tolerance and training adaptation.

High-Performance Rowing Ergometer Training: Participants will complete an 8-week supervised high-performance rowing ergometer training program performed twice weekly. Each session will include a 10-15-minute warm-up, 40-60 minutes of high-intensity interval rowing, race-pace training, sprint intervals, and endurance sets (RPE 14-18), followed by a 10-minute cool-down. Training intensity and volume will be progressively individualized according to each participant's maximal exercise capacity.

Study summary

This study aims to compare the effects of long-term rowing training on aerobic capacity, physical fitness, heart rate variability, and psychological performance in novice rowers, professional rowers, and healthy controls. Approximately 60 adults aged 18-65 years will be enrolled and allocated into three groups: novice rowers, professional rowers, and a non-exercising control group. Participants in the rowing groups will complete an 8-week supervised rowing ergometer training program (twice weekly), while the control group will maintain their usual daily activities without structured exercise. Assessments will be performed before and after the intervention and will include aerobic capacity (shuttle walk test, 500-m and 2000-m rowing ergometer tests), muscle strength, muscle power, muscular endurance, core stability, flexibility, agility, posture, heart rate variability, flow state, and mental toughness. The study is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the physiological and psychological adaptations associated with rowing training at different levels of experience and to identify factors that distinguish novice and elite rowers.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• 2000-Meter Rowing Ergometer Performance — Baseline and Week 8
  Time required to complete the 2000-meter rowing ergometer test as the primary indicator of rowing performance and aerobic fitness.
• Flow State — Baseline and Week 8
  Change in flow state assessed using the Alpak Flow Scale. The Alpak Flow Scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater flow experience. Lower scores indicate a lower level of flow (worse outcome), whereas higher scores indicate a higher level of flow (better outcome).
• Mental Toughness — Baseline and Week 8
  Change in mental toughness assessed using the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire. The Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire consists of 14 items, with total scores ranging from 14 to 56. Higher scores indicate greater mental toughness (better outcome), whereas lower scores indicate lower mental toughness (worse outcome).
• Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) — Baseline and Week 8
  Change in resting heart rate variability assessed using the Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD). RMSSD is expressed in milliseconds (ms). Higher values indicate greater parasympathetic (vagal) activity and better cardiac autonomic function.
• Standard Deviation of Normal-to-Normal Intervals (SDNN) — Baseline and Week 8
  Change in resting heart rate variability assessed using the Standard Deviation of Normal-to-Normal Intervals (SDNN). SDNN is expressed in milliseconds (ms). Higher values indicate greater overall heart rate variability and better cardiac autonomic function.
• Low-Frequency Power (LF) — Baseline and Week 8
  Change in resting heart rate variability assessed using Low-Frequency Power (LF). LF is expressed according to the analysis method (e.g., milliseconds squared \[ms²\] or normalized units \[nu\]).
• High-Frequency Power (HF) — Baseline and Week 8
  Change in resting heart rate variability assessed using High-Frequency Power (HF). HF is expressed according to the analysis method (e.g., milliseconds squared \[ms²\] or normalized units \[nu\]). Higher values generally indicate greater parasympathetic modulation.

Trial sites (1)

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