The impact of a single high volume exercise stimulus incorporated into a taper on 2000m rowing ergometer performance

• Main Author: Brotherhood, James R.
• Other Authors: Wolski, Lynneth
• Language: English; en
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: rowing; taper; performance; peaking; UVic Subject Index::Sciences and Engineering::Health Sciences::Kinesiology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/1007

The purpose of this experiment was to examine the efficacy of implementing a high intensity, high volume workout into the late stages of a taper, to identify if there was a performance enhancing effect beyond that of an intensity maintained, reduced-volume taper. Eleven male collegiate rowers (age 21.0 ± 1.9 years, VO2max 60.9 ± 5.8 ml/kg/min) completed 23 days of progressively overloaded training, followed by 5 days of reduced training volume. Participants were matched and randomly assigned to either a high intensity-low volume or high intensity-high volume treatment workout approximately 48 hours prior to an indoor rowing competition. Other than the treatment workout, all prescribed training was identical. Both tapers resulted in significant improvements in 2000 m ergometer performance; however there was no statistically significant difference between these groups (Low volume: 5.4 ± 2.7 seconds High volume 4.0 ± 3.3 seconds) Post race blood lactate tended to be higher following taper, however it did not reach significance (p = 0.06) and there was no difference between groups. There were no differences throughout training and taper for hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct.), and plasma volume in either group. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), increased with training and increased further with taper in both groups; conversely, red cell distribution width (RDW) decreased with training and decreased further with taper in both groups. Jump height did not change from pre-taper to competition; however, there was a decrease in dip depth and a corresponding increase in peak acceleration and rate of force development in both groups. There was also a reduction in fatigue at competition compared to week 2 as measured by the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. These physiological and psychological adaptations may in part explain the observed combined 1.8% improvement in 2000m ergometer performance compared to pre-taper test times, however we were unable to discern any differences in any measured parameters between the higher volume and low volume treatment groups. The changes in hematological parameters may be indicative of decreases in erythrocyte age; and the adaptations to acceleration / rate of force development suggest potential improvements under the broad theme of movement economy. This study found that employing a 5 day reduced volume taper improved performance, however, implementing a higher volume, high intensity stimulus 48-52 hours prior to competition resulted in no added benefit and a potentially meaningful (1.4 seconds) yet not significant reduction in performance response to taper.