Influence of Age and Gender on Indoor Rowing Performance

Authors

Briana N. Dawkins, University of Texas at AustinFollow
Stephen J. Roy, University of Texas at AustinFollow
Hirofumi Tanaka, University of Texas at AustinFollow

Abstract

Physiological functional capacity is important in determining one’s ability to perform functional tasks and can be determined by studying peak exercise performance. Rowing is a unique sport requiring substantial muscle strength as well as high endurance capacity. Since it is a non-weight bearing activity, a number of older adults in general and older women in particular engage in this activity as they age. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between aging, gender, and exercise task duration using indoor rowing performance records. METHODS: World records from indoor rowing events were analyzed and plotted against age (17-99 years of age) in both men and women. Rowing events included time trials in distance (e.g., 2000m race) and in time (e.g., 4 minutes race). To standardize these events, all of the performance data were converted to race speed prior to the data analyses. RESULTS: In both men and women, rowing performance declined linearly in all the duration events. The magnitudes of the age-related declines are mild to modest compared with other sporting events previously reported (e.g., running, weight lifting). For women, peak performance was observed in the 19-29 age group for 12 out of the 13 rowing events examined. For men, peak performance was recorded in the 30-39 age group for 8 out of 13 of the events, and in the remaining 5 events, the difference in performance times between the 19-29 and 30-39 age groups was less than 2%. When the data were expressed as a 50-yr decline in rowing performance from the 19-29 age group to the 70-79 age group, women had a greater decrease in performance in shorter sprinting events; however, as the events increased in distance requiring more endurance, the percent decline in performance were similar between men and women. CONCLUSION: The findings in this cross-sectional study indicate that physiological functional capacity as assessed by rowing performance declined linearly but mildly with advancing age, and the rate of age-associated decline is influenced greatly by gender and exercise task duration.

Recommended Citation

Dawkins, Briana N.; Roy, Stephen J.; and Tanaka, Hirofumi (2018) "Influence of Age and Gender on Indoor Rowing Performance," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2: Iss. 10, Article 87.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss10/87