VO2max protocol for non-elite rowers?

[Kieran]

I'm fairly sure that elite rowers are generally tested for VO2max with a
simple 2km maximal ergo test. I recall reading an article about testing
of some US team members in this way. I agree that this is a valid
protocol for testing elite rowers, as they are optimally trained to
completely max out in 2km, and they are highly motivated.

Most standard VO2max protocols however, are designed for non-elite
individuals, and attempt to account for the fact that they are not
highly motivated, nor well trained to "max out" in any given time
period. Most protocols (cycle ergometry and treadmill running are the
most common) use some sort of stepping protocol, where power output is
monitored and incremented every few minutes for about 10-15 minutes or
until the individual can not maintain the pace.

I'm wondering if anyone knows of established protocols for rowing
ergometer VO2max testing, other than just doing a max 2000m, 2500m, or
3000m (etc.) piece?

Thanks for any tips...
-Kieran

[oarsman]

Kieran,

There is an indirect method for measuring VO2. It is something like an
ekg, and requires no activity what so ever. I had it done about the
same time that I had direct testing on an erg and the scores were very
comparible. Here is a link to their web site for more information:

http://www.omegawavesport.com/index.html

Also, on the conceptii site there is an article outlining an indirect
method using and erg:

http://www.concept2.co.uk/guide/guide.php?article=physiological_tools

[Donal Casey]

As a definitely not elite rower, except in my imagination, perhaps the
below experience may be of interest.

Years ago at my one invitation to the British Olympic Medical Centre I
went with IC as a lwt and we did, from memory, the test on the
following basis(from memory)

2.10 splits for 10 mins
2.00 splits for 5 mins
1.50 split for 5 mins
1.48 for 1 min
1.46
1.44
1.42
1.40 for 1 min
1.38 for 30 sec
1.36 for 30 sec
1.35 for 30
1.34
1.33
1.32 for 30 secs etc until failure

For me the most interesting result was that (in my personal view) VO2
max indicated the naturals but anaebolic threshold indicated the
trained..ie those that worked and worked but didnt necessarily have
the inbuilt "engine" could actually achieve a lower final score. Mind
over matter - desire over ability - or perhaps simply delusion over
reality.

Though for the scientists they tend to be interested in the "engines".
Those that may when properly nurtured produce the required results.

Anyway, an excellent athlete with a substantially better VO2 max than
mine crashed out earlier because my AT was better..ie Id trained
harder or wanted it more.

Also regarding stepped tests personally I am an advocate of them
anyway.
Again at IC we had this test where you could not drop below 36 for one
stroke otherwise the reset key would be hit by the coach. So even the
poor heavyweights had to rate 37/38 to ensure that the one errant 35
did not halt them in their endeavours after 5 minutes.I remember a
couple of them walking off sobbing bitterly at the unfairness of it
all but the answer remained that if the stroke rated 36 the fatboys
couldnt get away with 32 just because thats where their strength lay.
Syncopated rowing has never really been proven to work.

I hit 2159 for 7 minutes(6.23 for 2k) whilst pulling 1.44 for the
first minute and not going below 1.40 until after the third. Just
means that you have to be getting around 1.30 for a chunk of the time
and even less for a bit.

Oh the other interesting trick to play is to pull a few heavyweights
first to lull your body into a false sense of security. Not to mention
Soda Rush which Ive never tried and sounds too horrible to seriously
consider.

Regards

Donal

Kieran <kc_...@sonic.net> wrote in message news:<cufvg6$f6h$1...@prometheus.acsu.buffalo.edu>...

[Kieran]

Thanks, but I'm looking for direct protocols for VO2max testing. At our
lab, we have all the equipment for real testing, so the estimated
indirect protocols are unnecessary.

-Kieran

[Kieran]

Donal Casey wrote:
> As a definitely not elite rower, except in my imagination, perhaps the
> below experience may be of interest.

Thanks Donal. However, I'm hoping to find an established (maybe even
published) protocol somewhere, that is widely used by several labs, or
at least commonly used in a few labs.

> Years ago at my one invitation to the British Olympic Medical Centre I
> went with IC as a lwt and we did, from memory, the test on the
> following basis(from memory)
>
> 2.10 splits for 10 mins
> 2.00 splits for 5 mins
> 1.50 split for 5 mins
> 1.48 for 1 min
> 1.46
> 1.44
> 1.42
> 1.40 for 1 min
> 1.38 for 30 sec
> 1.36 for 30 sec
> 1.35 for 30
> 1.34
> 1.33
> 1.32 for 30 secs etc until failure

That, to me, sounds like much too long of a test for VO2max. Most
protocols attempt to make the athlete max out between 10 and 15 minutes,
starting with an easy walk (or paddle) for the first 2~3 minutes.

> For me the most interesting result was that (in my personal view) VO2
> max indicated the naturals but anaebolic threshold indicated the
> trained..ie those that worked and worked but didnt necessarily have
> the inbuilt "engine" could actually achieve a lower final score. Mind
> over matter - desire over ability - or perhaps simply delusion over
> reality.
>
> Though for the scientists they tend to be interested in the "engines".
> Those that may when properly nurtured produce the required results.

Well, your observations were correct. And no "scientist" worth his/her
salt would be interested in ONLY the "engine" (i.e. VO2max). The whole
picture must be considered, i.e. VO2max *and* lactate threshold (aka AT).

> Anyway, an excellent athlete with a substantially better VO2 max than
> mine crashed out earlier because my AT was better..ie Id trained
> harder or wanted it more.

Could be both the AT and the mental "wanting it more". However, I
wouldn't call him/her an "excellent" athlete if his/her motivation was
so low or absent. "Gifted individual" may be more accurate.

-Kieran

[vafl...@gmail.com]

Hi Kieran,
Did you ever get a protocol down? I am doing research now and came across many options but still not one for non-elite. These are the ones I've read:
1. Klusiewicz 2014: Reference values of Vo2 max for polish rowers
2. Klusiewicz 2005: Relationship between anaerobic threshold and max lactate steady state in male and female rowers
3. Brezenczek-Owczarzak 2007: Estimation of one-year rowing training efficacy on the basis of aerobic capacity changes
4. Huntsman 2011: Development of a rowing specific vo2max field test

[KC]

Hi there,
Wow, what an old post you have resurrected... and an old poster (i.e. me) as well. (Thanks Ewoud for drawing my attention to it - I'd no idea this group was still so active).
Anyway, No I never found a published protocol, and no one from any National Governing Bodies for the sport of rowing ever responded, nor did any Universities who are doing aerobic research on rowers. IIRC, I ended up not using VO2max in my study design, which was more based on instantaneous force and power and not on endurance. Had I continued this study further, it would have required evaluating muscle fatigue over the course of a race via reduction in force production. At that point VO2max may have been a helpful characteristic to rule out aerobic fatigue as a confounding factor.
... Or something like that. This was 11 years ago afterall. :^)
Having graduated from graduate school (twice) and moved on to a non-rowing career, I have not been doing much active research in rowing science or coaching for some time (roughly 7 years). So I'm not familiar with the references you posted. Although the title for #2 looks familiar. I may have read that back in the day.
Post back if you have any specific questions. I'd be happy to discuss.
KC