Comparison of the Effects of Long-Term Rowing Training in Professional Rowers
ConditionRowing
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorHacettepe University
About this trial
This study aims to compare the effects of long-term rowing training on aerobic capacity, physical fitness, heart rate variability, and psychological performance in novice rowers, professional rowers, and healthy controls. Approximately 60 adults aged 18-65 years will be enrolled and allocated into three groups: novice rowers, professional rowers, and a non-exercising control group. Participants in the rowing groups will complete an 8-week supervised rowing ergometer training program (twice weekly), while the control group will maintain their usual daily activities without structured exercise. Assessments will be performed before and after the intervention and will include aerobic capacity (shuttle walk test, 500-m and 2000-m rowing ergometer tests), muscle strength, muscle power, muscular endurance, core stability, flexibility, agility, posture, heart rate variability, flow state, and mental toughness. The study is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the physiological and psychological adaptations associated with rowing training at different levels of experience and to identify factors that distinguish novice and elite rowers.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
None
Disqualifiers
None
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Rowing Ergometer Training for Novice Rowers
Other interventionParticipants will complete an 8-week supervised rowing ergometer training program performed twice weekly. Each session will consist of a 10-minute warm-up, 30-40 minutes of moderate-intensity rowing emphasizing technical skill development and progressive interval training (RPE 11-13), followed by a 5-10-minute cool-down. Exercise intensity and duration will be progressively adjusted according to each participant's tolerance and training adaptation.
High-Performance Rowing Ergometer Training
Other interventionParticipants will complete an 8-week supervised high-performance rowing ergometer training program performed twice weekly. Each session will include a 10-15-minute warm-up, 40-60 minutes of high-intensity interval rowing, race-pace training, sprint intervals, and endurance sets (RPE 14-18), followed by a 10-minute cool-down. Training intensity and volume will be progressively individualized according to each participant's maximal exercise capacity.
Treatment groups
54 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: Novice RowersExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Professional RowersExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Healthy ControlNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
2000-Meter Rowing Ergometer Performance
Time required to complete the 2000-meter rowing ergometer test as the primary indicator of rowing performance and aerobic fitness.
Time frame
Baseline and Week 82
Flow State
Change in flow state assessed using the Alpak Flow Scale. The Alpak Flow Scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater flow experience. Lower scores indicate a lower level of flow (worse outcome), whereas higher scores indicate a higher level of flow (better outcome).
Time frame
Baseline and Week 83
Mental Toughness
Change in mental toughness assessed using the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire. The Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire consists of 14 items, with total scores ranging from 14 to 56. Higher scores indicate greater mental toughness (better outcome), whereas lower scores indicate lower mental toughness (worse outcome).
Time frame
Baseline and Week 84
Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD)
Change in resting heart rate variability assessed using the Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD). RMSSD is expressed in milliseconds (ms). Higher values indicate greater parasympathetic (vagal) activity and better cardiac autonomic function.
Time frame
Baseline and Week 8Secondary outcomes
1
Shuttle Walk Test Distance
Change in functional aerobic capacity assessed using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test. The outcome is the total distance walked during the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, measured in meters (m). Minimum value: 0 meters. There is no fixed maximum value. Higher walking distances indicate better functional aerobic capacity (better outcome).
Time frame
Baseline and Week 82
500-Meter Rowing Ergometer Performance
Change in performance assessed using the 500-Meter Rowing Ergometer Test. The outcome is the time required to complete a 500-meter rowing ergometer test, measured in seconds (s). Minimum value: 0 seconds. There is no fixed maximum value. Lower completion times indicate better rowing performance (better outcome), whereas higher completion times indicate poorer rowing performance (worse outcome).
Time frame
Baseline and Week 83
Back and Leg Muscle Strength
Change in maximal isometric back and leg muscle strength measured using a back-leg dynamometer.
Time frame
Baseline and Week 84
Lower Limb Muscle Power
Change in lower limb muscle power assessed using the Countermovement Jump Test. The outcome is the maximum jump height measured in centimeters (cm). Minimum value: 0 cm. There is no fixed maximum value. Higher values indicate greater lower limb muscle power (better outcome).
Time frame
Baseline and Week 8Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Hacettepe University
Lead sponsor
Munzur University
Sponsor institution
Source ClinicalTrials.gov