(6) CAN ABSOLUTE OR RELATIVE STRENGTH FOR UPPER-BODY, OR FULL-BODY DIFFERENTIATE STARTER VS. NON-STARTER IN COLLEGIATE ROWERS?

Many athletic positions and or status (starter vs. non-starter) are differentiated by one’s physiological profile (speed, strength, agility, etc.).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to see if there are differences in absolute or relative strength for the back-leg-chest dynamometer and hand grip dynamometer between starters and non-starters in division II collegiate female rowers.

Methods: Starters and non-starters were grouped according to the head rowing coach for the women’s rowing team. Nine non-starters (age = 19.22 ± 1.09 years, height 170.16 cm ± 9.90 cm, mass 73.26 kg ± 13.17 kg) and eight starters (age = 19.75 ± 1.39 years, height 170.44 cm ± 2.28 cm, mass 71.91 kg ± 5.80 kg) performed two-three maximum back-leg-chest (BLC) dynamometer repetitions to assess maximum strength (kg’s). All repetitions were performed at 135° knee flexion, an average of the repetitions were used for further analysis. In addition to the BLC assessment, maximum grip strength (HGS) was performed for the right (HGS_R) and left (HGS_L) hands to assess maximum grip strength (kg’s). Each participant performed 2-3 repetitions per limb, and the average of the attempts was used for further analysis.  Each repetition was performed with the elbow flexed at 90°. Absolute strength did not include one’s mass, while relative strength did. A non-parametric Mann Whitney U was used to assess differences between status, and an alpha of 0.05 was used for level of significance.

Results: The present findings observed no significant difference for absolute BLC (P = 0.139), or relative BMC (P = 0.423), additionally, no differences were observed for absolute HGS_R (P = 1.000, relative HGS_R (P = 0.888) nor absolute HGS_L (P = 0.888), or relative HGS_L (P = 0.888).

Conclusion: The present findings suggest that absolute, nor relative maximum strength values (kg’s) were able to differentiate starter from non-starter in division II collegiate rowers. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: These findings may be of importance to the coaching or strength and conditioning staff. While the present study did not see a difference in maximum strength performance between status (starter vs. non-starter), future studies may want to incorporate more sensitive modes of assessment (rate of torque or force development) to further researchers understanding in physiological profile differences with female rowing athletes.

Acknowledgements: None