(5) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP FORCE-TIME CHARACTERISTICS AND 2,000-METER ROWING ERGOMETER PERFORMANCE

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COUNTERMOVEMENT JUMP FORCE_TIME CHARACTERISTICS AND 2,000-METER ROWING ERGOMETER PERFORMANCE

Joseph M. DeLeo^1,2, Alex Wolf³, Nicolas Phillipp¹, Kathryn E. Ackerman², and Andrew C. Fry¹

¹Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory – Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

²Female Athlete Program-Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, Division of Sports Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America

³ Strength & Conditioning Academy Ltd., United Kingdom

Background: Rowing is a strength-endurance sport that requires the development of many physical qualities. The Olympic race distance of 2,000-meters requires high aerobic and anaerobic energy system contributions. Furthermore, successful rowing performance requires sustained high force output.

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between rowing ergometer performance and countermovement (CMJ) performance and its associated force-time curve characteristics related to force, power, and impulse.

Methods: A total of 30 rowers between 18-49 years old competing at the 2023 US Rowing Atlantic City Indoor National Championships participated in this study. During the competition weekend athletes completed 3 vertical CMJ’s on VALD ForceDecks (force plates) at a sampling rate of 1,000 Hz. 2,000-meter rowing ergometer performance time was converted to watts and compared to CMJ variables of interest. All variables of interest were tested for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Values were rounded up to the nearest hundredth. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results: The CMJ variable that expressed a strong, significant relationship to 2,000-meter rowing ergometer performance was Positive Impulse (N · s) ( r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Several CMJ variables showed a moderate, but significant relationship including, Concentric Mean Force (N) ( r = 0.65, p < 0.001), Concentric Mean Power (W)  ( r = 0.58, p < 0.001), Concentric Peak Force (N) ( r = 0.61, p < 0.001) and Peak Power (W) ( r = 0.61, p < 0.001). Weak, non-significant relationships were observed for Jump Height (Imp-mom) (cm) ( r = 0.06, p = 0.769) and Countermovement Depth (cm) ( r = -0.31, p = 0.101).  

Conclusions: The force-time characteristics related to positive impulse and concentric mean force indicate a strong and moderate relationship to 2,000-meter rowing ergometer performance. Jump height was not correlated to 2,000-meter rowing ergometer performance which contradicts previous research and indicates that strength and conditioning coaches are better served monitoring CMJ variables around force and impulse. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The CMJ variables of Positive Impulse and Concentric Mean Force should be monitored longitudinally to see if increases in these variables coincide with improved 2,000-meter rowing performance. This study supports that 2,000-meter rowing ergometer performance can be improved through endurance training and strength training.

 

Acknowledgements:

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors would like to thank the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation for their support and funding of this study as part of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.