Abstract
The rowing stroke begins with the feet generation force against the foot stretcher. It has been suggested that force application at the foot stretcher can be a limiting factor to rowing performance, however it is unknown how different strategies of applying force underneath the feet influence muscle activation and force-time profiles. PURPOSE: To determine how different strategies of applying force underneath the feet influences muscle activation and force-time profiles during maximal ergometer rowing. METHODS: Seven collegiate rowers (5-female, 2-male) completed two trials of ten maximal strokes. Trial conditions consisted of instructional cues: “Push through the balls of your feet”, “Push through the heels of your feet”. EMG of the erector-spinal (ES), lastissimus-dorsi (LD), gluteus-maximum (GM), and rectus-femoris (RF) were bilaterally recorded, sampling at 1500Hz. Pressure distribution under both feet was recorded while using a wireless in-shoe plantar-pressure system sampling at 500Hz. Peak force and impulse were calculated in a custom MATLAB program for the total foot, heel, and forefoot regions, under both conditions. Timing of muscle activation, duration, and integrals (iEMG) of drive activation were calculated for the middle 5 strokes. Paired t tests were used to compare dependent variables between the conditions. RESULTS: Six participants produced significantly higher peak forces (517.6±109.8N, p&It0.012, d=1.57) and impulses (359.3±57.2N, p&It0.007, d=1.80) when pushing through the balls than when pushing through the heels. Three participants displayed the opposite pattern. EMG analysis did not reveal significant differences in onset, duration, or integration of muscle activation between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Rowers in this study can be separated into two groups based on their ability to produce force and generate impulse: those more effective at pushing through the balls of the feet, at those more effective at pushing through the heels. Future research may want to examine performance, strength, and flexibility parameters to determine whether this difference is a beneficial or detrimental adaptation. If certain strategies are associated with variables that determine successful performance, then coaches may use this information to improve rowing performance.
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