Association between hip joint impingement and lumbar disc disease in elite rowers

ObjectivesLumbar disc disease is a known cause of back pain. Increasingly it is thought that cam morphology of the hip may have a causal role in development of lumbar disc disease. The aim of this study was to describe the morphology of the hip and investigate the association of cam morphology with lumbar disc disease observed on MRI in elite rowers.MethodsCross-sectional observational study of 20 elite rowers (12 male, 8 female, mean age 24.45, SD 2.1). Assessment included clinical examination, questionnaires, 3T MRI scans of the hips and lumbar spine. Alpha angle of the hips and Pfirrmann score of lumbar discs were measured.Results85% of rowers had a cam morphology in at least one hip. Alpha angle was greatest at the 1 o’clock position ((bone 70.9 (SD 16.9), cartilage 71.4 (16.3)). 95% of the group were noted to have labral tears, but only 50% of the group had history of groin pain. 85% of rowers had at least one disc with a Pfirrmann score of 3 or more and 95% had a history of back pain. A positive correlation was observed between the alpha angle and radiological degenerative disc disease (correlation coefficient=3.13, p=0.012). A negative correlation was observed between hip joint internal rotation and radiological degenerative disc disease (correlation coefficient=−2.60, p=0.018).ConclusionsRowers have a high prevalence of labral tears, cam morphology and lumbar disc disease. There is a possible association between cam morphology and radiological lumbar degenerative disc disease, however, further investigation is required.

Differences in the Anthropometric and Physiological Profiles of Hungarian Male Rowers of Various Age Categories, Rankings and Career Lengths: Selection Problems

Background: Little is known about the anthropometric and physiological profiles of lower-ranking athletes who aspire to rise to the pinnacle of their profession.Aim: The aim of this study was to create anthropometric and physiological profiles of Hungarian male rowers of different age categories (15–16, 17–18, and over 18 years), sports rankings and career lengths.Materials and Methods: Anthropometric and physiological profiles were created for 55 juniors, 52 older juniors and 23 seniors representing seven of the largest Hungarian rowing clubs. One-way independent analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare arithmetic means.Results: Rowers in older age categories were significantly taller (185.0 ± 5.0 cm vs. 183.0 ± 7.3 cm vs. 178.7 ± 7.2 cm) and heavier (81.1 ± 8.8 kg vs. 73.7 ± 8.4 kg vs. 66.8 ± 12.3 kg) than their younger peers, with significantly higher BMI values and larger body dimensions. Compared to younger athletes, rowers in older age categories also covered 2,000 m significantly faster (6.6 ± 0.3 min vs. 6.9 ± 0.4 min vs. 7.5 ± 0.5 min) while developing significantly more power (372.2 ± 53.0 W vs. 326.8 ± 54.5 W vs. 250.6 ± 44.6 W). Similarly, seniors and older juniors had higher values of maximal oxygen uptake and force max (by 6.2 and 7.0 ml/kg/min, and by 263.4 and 169.8 N). Within the older juniors, internationally ranked rowers had significantly greater body height (+ 5.9 cm), body mass (+ 6.1 kg), sitting height (+ 2.7 cm), arm span (+ 7.9 cm), limb length (+ 3.73 cm) and body surface area (+ 0.21 m2). They also rowed 2,000 m significantly faster (–0.43 min, p < 0.001) and had significantly higher values of power (+ 58.3 W), relative power (+ 0.41 W/kg), jump height (+ 4.5 cm), speed max (+ 0.18 m/s) and force max (+ 163.22 N).Conclusion: The study demonstrated that potential differences in anthropometric and physiological profiles are more difficult to capture in non-elite rowers, and that the final outcome may be determined by external factors. Therefore, athletes with superior aptitude for rowing are more difficult to select from among lower-ranking rowers, and further research is needed to determine specific training requirements to achieve the maximum rowing performance.

Relationship among Nutritional Intake, Anxiety, and Menstrual Irregularity in Elite Rowers

There is evidence showing that excessive mental stress is detrimental to the menstrual period, and it is known that many elite athletes are highly susceptible to mental anxiety. This study investigated the nutritional intake and mental anxiety of 104 relatively young elite endurance athletes aged 16 to 23 years and used a multiple logistic model to examine the factors that might be related to menstrual irregularity. Calcium intake was marginally associated with the occurrence of menstrual irregularities (odds ratio = 1.004, p = 0.030), whereas there were strong associations between body mass or state anxiety and menstrual irregularities in elite athletes (odds ratio = 0.557, p = 0.035 for body mass; odds ratio = 1.094, p = 0.006 for state anxiety). These results suggested that state anxiety would be an important factor causing menstrual irregularity in elite endurance athletes. It is recommended that elite athletes are monitored for anxiety levels and develop a strategy for stress management.

The integration of training and off-training activities substantially alters training volume and load analysis in elite rowers

Training studies in elite athletes traditionally focus on the relationship between scheduled training (TRAIN) and performance. Here, we added activities outside of scheduled training i.e., off-training (OFF) contributing to total training (TOTAL) to evaluate the contribution of OFF on performance. Eight elite rowers recorded OFF and TRAIN during waking hours for one season (30–45 weeks) with multisensory smartwatches. Changes in performance were assessed via rowing ergometer testing and maximum oxygen uptake ($${\dot{\text{V}}}$$ V ˙ O2max). Based on 1-Hz-sampling of heart rate data during TRAIN and OFF (> 60% maximum heart rate (HRmax), the volume, session count, intensity, training impulse (TRIMP), and training intensity distribution were calculated. OFF altered volume, TRIMP, and session count by 19 ± 13%, 13 ± 9%, and 41 ± 67% (p < 0.001). On an individual level, training intensity distribution changed in 3% of the valid weeks. Athletes exercised 31% of their weekly volume below 60% HRmax. Low to moderate intensities dominated during OFF with 87% (95% CI [79, 95]); however, in some weeks high-intensity activities > 89% HRmax during OFF amounted to 21 min·week−1 (95% CI [4, 45]). No effect of OFF on changes of performance surrogates was found (0.072 > p > 0.604). The integration of OFF substantially altered volume, TRIMP, and session count. However, no effect on performance was found.

Exercise Training Induces Left- but not Right-sided Cardiac Remodelling in Olympic Rowers

Whilst the athlete’s heart has been extensively described, less work has focused on the potential for elite athletes to demonstrate further cardiac remodelling upon an increase in training volume. Moreover, little work explored potential side-specific cardiac remodelling. Therefore, we examined the impact of an increase in training volume across 9-months in elite rowers on left- and right-sided cardiac structure, function and mechanics (i. e. longitudinal, radial and circumferential strain, twist and strain-volume loops). As part of the preparations to the 2012 Olympic Games, twenty-seven elite rowers (26.4±3.7years, 19 male) underwent echocardiography prior to and post (9 months) an increase in training volume (24 to 30–35 h weekly). Training increased left ventricular structure, including wall thickness, diameter, volume, mass and LV twist (all p<0.05). Female rowers demonstrated larger adaptation in left ventricular diameter and mass compared to male rowers (both p<0.05). No changes were observed in other measures of left ventricular function in both sexes (all p>0.05). The 9-month intervention showed no change in right ventricular/atrial structure, function or mechanics (all p>0.05). In conclusion, our data revealed that 9-month increased training volume in elite rowers induced left-sided (but not right-sided) structural remodelling, concomitant with an increase in left ventricular twist, with some changes larger in women.

Perturbation-based Trunk Stabilization Training in Elite Rowers

Low back pain is a major health issue in elite rowers. High training volume, frequent flexion movements of the lower spine and rotational movement in sweep rowing contribute to increased spinal strain and neuropathological pattern. Perturbation-based trunk stabilization training (PTT) may be effective to treat neuromuscular deficits and back pain. All boat classes (8+, 4+/-, 2-) of the male German national sweep rowing team participated in this non-randomized, parallel group study. We included 26 athletes (PTT: n=12, control group: n=14) in our analysis. Sports therapists conducted 16 individualized PTT sessions á 30-40 minutes in 10 weeks, while the control group kept the usual routines. We collected data before and after intervention on back pain intensity and disability, maximum isometric trunk extension and flexion, jump height and postural sway of single-leg stance. We found less disability (5.3 points, 95% CI [0.4, 10.1], g=0.42) for PTT compared to control. Pain intensity decreased similar in both groups (-14.4 and -15.4 points), yielding an inconclusive between-group effect (95% CI [-16.3, 14.3]). Postural sway, strength and jump height tend to have no between and within-group effects. Perturbation-based trunk stabilization training is possibly effective to improve the physical function of the lower back in elite rowers.