Oarside and Nonoarside Knee Extensor Strength Measures and Their Relationship to Rowing Ergometer Performance

Laterality difference in strength characterize some sports and occupations. The purposes of this study were to compare oarside and nonoarside knee extensor strength of intercollegiate rowers and to determine the relationship between joint-specific strength measures and rowing ergometer performance. Fifteen light-weight sweep oarsmen performed concentric-eccentric cycles with a five-second pause between muscle actions through the range of 90 degrees to 10 degrees flexion at angular velocities of 160 and 200 degrees /sec. Although the oarside knee extensors produced greater peak and average torques in seven of eight comparisons, only the peak torque during oarside concentric muscle actions at 160 degrees /sec angular velocity was significantly greater (p < 0.05), i.e., about six percent. Correlations between rowing ergometer scores and strength measurements were low (r = -0.26 to -0.43) and nonsignificant (p > 0.05). A tendency may exist for light-weight sweep rowers to develop greater strength in the oarside knee extensors. Unilateral and joint-specific tests may provide valuable comparative information to guide rehabilitation and training; however, these tests of knee extensor strength are poorly related to and should not be used as the only predictors of readiness to return to activity and rowing performance. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;14(5):213-219.