Individualized effort dynamics and monitoring-based training in sprint kayaking: a practical model for enhancing athlete performance

Sprint kayaking performance benefits from training strategies matched to athletes' physiological profiles and race demands. This study examined the effects of the Effort Dynamics Control Methodology (EDCM)—a metabolically anchored, feedback-driven model—on elite K1 1000m kayakers. Twelve elite male athletes (mean age = 20.9 ± 1.3 years) undertook a six-month individualized program across five mesocycles. Key performance and physiological variables—boat speed, time to completion, heart rate, blood lactate, and stroke frequency—were assessed at three stages (initial, intermediate, final) using standardized 1000m and 6000m field tests. Non-parametric analyses (Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests) showed significant improvements in time to completion (χ² = 21.50, p < .001), heart rate (χ² = 18.33, p < .001), and blood lactate (χ² = 20.08, p < .001), with additional gains in boat speed (χ² = 12.22, p < .01), 6000m time (χ² = 17.67, p < .001), and stroke frequency (χ² = 9.92–10.58, p < .01). Results indicate consistent physiological adaptations and enhanced race-specific performance following individualized load modulation based on real-time feedback. EDCM appears feasible for high-performance settings, supporting the value of threshold-based, individualized programming, while warranting replication in broader, controlled studies.