An investigation into the development and validity of progressive fitness tests for rowing, and young people

Abstract

The aim of this thesis was to develop a new rowing based version of the multistage fitness test to be used on a concept II rowing ergometer in any gymnasium. It was also to quantify the physiological strain and asses the validity of the multistage fitness test on young people and its relationship between speed and strength variables. In Study one, an incremental based rowing protocol (IRT) was developed. A Significant correlation was observed between a treadmill based V02max and the IRT for V02max (r =0.68, SEE 4.7) and heart rate (r =0.76, SEE =5.8). In 41 gym users (35 females, 25 males) V02max values were significantly different between treadmill running (44.7. ± 6.5 mL·kg-1·min,1) and rowing (42.2 ± 7.3 mL'kg,1' min,1; P < 0.05). In all subjects maximum heart rate (HRmax) was significantly higher during the running V02max test (192.2 ± 9.6 beats'min,1) compared to the IRT (184.3 ± 10.6 beats'min-1 ; P < 0.05). In study two, the validity of the MSFT was testing in young people. The MSFT had a significant relationship in girls (n =35) between 10m sprint (r =-0.48; P < 0.05), 40m sprint (r =-0040; P < 0.05), hand grip dynamometer strength (r =0.34; P < 0,05) and pull dynamometer strength (r = 0049; P < 0.05).Only 40 m sprint speed was significant in boys (n =25) (r =-0.57; P < 0.05). Boys had no significance between the MSFT and 10m sprint (r = -0.35; P> 0.05), hand grip dynamometer (r = 0.30; P> 0.05) strength and pull dynamometer strength (r =0.29' P> 0.05).