What is it about?
This study aimed to track how elite Indian rowers’ bodies responded to their training program leading up to international competitions. In this study, 10 male and 9 female elite rowers from the national team were monitored over 17 weeks, measuring body composition and blood markers at different training phases: general prep, specific prep, and pre-competition. We measured things like body composition (like body fat percentage), muscle damage markers (like CPK and LDH), and hormones (like testosterone and cortisol) in their blood. We found that as the rowers progressed in their training, their body fat percentage decreased significantly, indicating improved fitness. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes are key indicators of muscle health. Despite changes in muscle markers, there were no significant shifts in hormones like cortisol or testosterone, which influence muscle growth or breakdown. The rowers' performance, measured by their 2000m rowing time, improved significantly by the end of the training program. The study suggests that elite rowers undergo significant physical adaptations during training, mainly seen in muscle health and metabolic changes. These adaptations contribute to improved performance without major shifts in hormonal balances. Understanding these nuances can help coaches and athletes on how elite rowers respond to structured training, offering valuable insights for optimizing training programs more effectively for better results.
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Why is it important?
This is the first study, to our knowledge, that examined different time points of training and reported the seasonal variations in rowers’ body composition, well-being with respect to training demands, and rowing performance of elite Indian rowers.
Perspectives
Writing this article was an incredibly rewarding experience, merging my passion for sports science with a focus on elite athletic performance. Collaborating with fellow researchers to delve into the intricacies of elite Indian rowers' training programs was both fascinating and enlightening. Our findings shed light on the physiological adaptations these athletes undergo during their rigorous training regimen, from changes in body composition to markers of muscle damage. I hope this article serves as a beacon for fellow sports scientists, coaches, and athletes, sparking conversations and prompting further exploration into refining training programs for elite performance. Ultimately, it's about pushing boundaries, both in research and on the water, to achieve peak athletic excellence.
Arnab Das
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Monitoring Training Load, Muscle Damage, and Body Composition Changes of Elite Indian Rowers During a Periodized Training Program, Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise, November 2022, Tsinghua University Press,
DOI: 10.1007/s42978-022-00197-7.
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