Female master rowers maintained stable performance across 3 maximal 1,000 m efforts, whereas males showed a small decline in performance from trial 1 to 2 (202 vs 205 seconds, p=0.02).
Observational (n=21)
Do master rowers maintain physiological resilience during repeated maximal efforts?
Master rowers display strong physiological resilience under cumulative stress, with females showing more stable physiological responses across repeated efforts than males.
Abstract Rios, MJ, Cardoso, R, Monteiro, AS, Pyne, DB, Vilas-Boas, JP, and Fernandes, RJ. Male and female master rowers physiologically resilient to repeated maximal efforts? J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—We examined the integrated physiological responses of master rowers during 3 consecutive maximal 1,000 m efforts, focusing on cardiorespiratory, hemodynamic, metabolic, and neuromuscular responses under limited recovery simulating multirace regatta conditions. Twenty-one experienced rowers (15 males: 48 ± 11 years and 6 females: 50 ± 13 years) completed the trials with 45 minutes of passive recovery between efforts. Males showed a small decline in performance from trial 1 to 2 (202 ± 13 vs. 205 ± 13 seconds, p = 0.02), reduced mean power (354 ± 63 vs. 340 ± 64 W, p < 0.001) and an increased time constant of the oxygen uptake (V̇O 2 ) fast component across trials (18.1 ± 6.1 vs 23.5 ± 7.8 vs. 26.3 ± 6.9 seconds, p < 0.001), whereas females maintained stable performance and cardiorespiratory function. Peak V̇O 2 (males 61.9 ± 16.5 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 and females 58.7 ± 10.0 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 ) and heart rate (males 172 ± 9 bpm and females 171 ± 9 bpm) remained consistent across trials. Preexercise blood lactate concentration increased between trials 1–2 (males 2.1 ± 0.6 to 5.1 ± 3.3 mmol·L −1 and females 1.9 ± 0.5 to 5.9 ± 2.1 mmol·L −1 ). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased immediately postexercise and returned to baseline within 30 minutes. Double product rose sharply after exercise across trials (males 110% and females 112%) after exercise and declined during recovery (males 9% and females 11%). Neuromuscular performance was stable, except for a transient ∼3% reduction in power in male rowers in trial 2 ( p = 0.005). Master rowers display strong physiological resilience under cumulative stress, maintaining aerobic and neuromuscular performance despite cardiovascular and metabolic strain, with female rowers showing more stable physiological responses across repeated efforts.
Rios et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Healthy master rowers (n=21). Repeated maximal 1,000 m rowing efforts vs. Between trials and between sexes was evaluated on Integrated physiological responses and performance time. Female master rowers maintained stable performance across 3 maximal 1,000 m efforts, whereas males showed a small decline in performance from trial 1 to 2 (202 vs 205 seconds, p=0.02).