[Aims] The purpose of this study was to examine muscle strength and muscle volume of high school rowers based on different performance levels to improve their rowing performance.
[Methods] The subjects were 30 male and 17 female rowers in a high school rowing team in S prefecture, Japan. The measurement items were isometric knee extension strength (IKES), back muscle strength, grip strength, muscle volume (upper limbs, trunk, lower limbs), 2000-m rowing time, and 20-minute rowing distance. Rowing time and rowing distance were measured by a rowing ergometer (Concept2 co.). Subjects were divided into a high-performance group (HPG) and a low-performance group (LPG), based on their performance levels (the HPG had significantly faster 2000-m row time and traveled more distance in the 20-minute rowing distance than the LPG).
[Results] Although there were no significant differences of both sexes in IKES between HPG and LPG, back muscle strength and grip strength of the HPG in both sexes were significantly higher than those of the LPG. In addition, there were significant differences in muscle volume of both sexes between the two groups, except for the lower limbs of the males.
[Conclusion] In upper limbs and trunk, muscle strength and volume of the HPG were higher than the LPG; however, no significant difference was found in lower limbs. Therefore, our findings suggest that high school rowers should strength their lower limbs more, and they should also acquire better rowing skills by using their lower limbs effectively to improve their rowing performance.
Keywords
muscle strength
muscle volume
rowing performance
