Cognitive Resilience and Psychological Responses across a Collegiate Rowing Season

The Kinematics of Fixed-Seat Rowing: A Structured Synthesis

Olympic-style sliding-seat rowing is a sport that has been extensively researched, with studies investigating aspects related to the physiology, biomechanics, kinematics, and the performance of rowers. In contrast, studies on the more classic form of fixed-seat rowing are sparse. The aim of this study is to address this lacuna by analysing for the first time the specific kinematics of fixed-seat rowing as practised by able-bodied athletes, thus (i) documenting how this technique is performed in a manner that is replicable by others and (ii) showing how this technique compares and contrasts with the more standard sliding-seat technique. Fixed-seat rowing was replicated in a biomechanics laboratory where experienced fixed-seat rowers, marked with reflective markers following the modified Helen-Hayes model, were asked to row in a manner that mimics rowing on a fixed-seat boat. The findings from this study, complimented with data gathered through the observation of athletes rowing on water, were compared to sliding-seat ergometer rowing and other control experiments. The results show that, in fixed-seat rowing, there is more forward and backward thoracic movement than in sliding-seat rowing (75-77° vs. 44-52°, p < 0.0005). Tilting of the upper body stems was noted to result from rotations around the pelvis, as in sliding-seat rowing, rather than from spinal movements. The results also confirmed knee flexion in fixed-seat rowing with a range of motion of 30-35°. This is less pronounced than in standard-seat rowing, but not insignificant. These findings provide a biomechanical explanation as to why fixed-seat rowers do not have an increased risk of back injuries when compared with their sliding-seat counterparts. They also provide athletes, coaches, and related personnel with precise and detailed information of how fixed-seat rowing is performed so that they may formulate better and more specific evidence-based training programs to meliorate technique and performance.

Can the 20 and 60 s All-Out Test Predict the 2000 m Indoor Rowing Performance in Athletes?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to look for a new, simple, and fast method of assessing and monitoring indoor race performance and to assess the relationship between 20 s, 60 s, and 2000 m indoor rowing performances of youth rowers to evaluate their anaerobic profile.

Methods: For three consecutive days, 17 young able-bodied male rowers (15.8 ± 2.0 years), performed three tests (20 s, 60 s, and 2000 m) on a rowing ergometer. Mean power (W₂₀, W₆₀, and W₂₀₀₀) and 2000 m time (t₂₀₀₀) were considered for the analysis. In addition, 14 athletes (15–18 years) performed a 20 s, 60 s, and 2000 m tests and used this as a control group. To define the anaerobic profile of the athletes, W₂₀ and W₆₀ were normalized as percentages of W₂₀₀₀. Associations between variables were determined by means of the Pearson correlation coefficient (r).

Results: Mean power decreased with increasing test duration (W₂₀ = 525.1 ± 113.7 W; W₆₀ = 476.1 ± 91.0 W; W₂₀₀₀₌312.9 ± 56.0 W) and negative correlations emerged between t₂₀₀₀ (418.5 ± 23.1 s) and W₂₀ (r = −0.952, p < 0.0001) and W₆₀ (r = −0.930, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: These findings indicate that W₂₀ and W₆₀ are significant predictors of 2000 m rowing ergometer performances. Furthermore, normalized W₂₀ and W₆₀ can be used to evaluate athletes and as a reference for planning anaerobic training sessions, on a rowing ergometer.

Cognitive Resilience to Psychological Stress in Military Personnel

Military personnel often perform complex cognitive operations under unique conditions of intense stress. This requirement to perform diverse physical and mental tasks under stress, often with high stakes, has led to recognition of the term 'tactical athlete' for these performers. Impaired cognitive performance as a result of this stress may have serious implications for the success of military operations and the well-being of military service men and women, particularly in combat scenarios. Therefore, understanding the nature of the stress experienced by military personnel and the resilience of cognitive functioning to this stress is of great importance. This review synthesises the current state of the literature regarding cognitive resilience to psychological stress in tactical athletes. The experience of psychological stress in military personnel is considered through the lens of the Transactional Theory of stress, while offering contemporary updates and new insights. Models of the effects of stress on cognitive performance are then reviewed to highlight the complexity of this interaction before considering recent advancements in the preparation of military personnel for the enhancement of cognitive resilience. Several areas for future research are identified throughout the review, emphasising the need for the wider use of self-report measures and mixed methods approaches to better reflect the subjective experience of stress and its impact on the performance of cognitive operations.

Exploring Health Demographics of Female Collegiate Rowers

CONTEXT

Limited information exists about health patterns among female rowers at the collegiate level. Furthermore, the element of weight class (lightweights classified as <130 lb [59 kg]) as a factor in the physical and mental health of female collegiate athletes has not been investigated, despite weight requirements in sport being a risk factor for the female athlete triad.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypotheses that (1) components of the female athlete triad were more prevalent in lightweight than in openweight rowers; (2) perceived stress levels were greater in lightweight than in openweight rowers; and (3) rowers who were unable to row due to injury had greater perceived stress levels than uninjured athletes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Twelve collegiate women's rowing programs consisting of 6 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I openweight and 6 Intercollegiate Rowing Association-level lightweight teams.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

A total of 158 female collegiate rowers (78 lightweight, 80 openweight).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

An electronic survey addressing injury history, diet and eating habits and body image (according to the triad screening questionnaire), stress levels (Perceived Stress Scale), and athlete identity (Athlete Identity Measurement Scale) was administered.

RESULTS

Lightweight rowers reported limiting or carefully controlling foods more frequently than openweight rowers (41.9% to 29.9%, P = .013). A history of an eating disorder was more prevalent among lightweight than openweight rowers (25.7% to 13.0%, P = .048). Prevalences of stress fractures and menstrual irregularities did not differ between weight classes. Lightweight and openweight rowers' scores on the Perceived Stress Scale (16.0 ± 9.9 and 17.3 ± 6.4, respectively) were not different. Injured rowers scored higher on the Perceived Stress Scale (19.4 ± 7.2) than did uninjured rowers (16.6 ± 5.72).

CONCLUSIONS

Weight class did not contribute to differences in the prevalence of female athlete triad components or perceived stress, although lightweight rowers were more likely to have a history of eating disorder. Injury may be a risk factor for increased stress in this population.

Sleep quality monitoring in individual sports athletes: parameters and definitions by systematic review

In the present review, we identify which instruments and parameters are used for sleep quality monitoring in individual sport athletes and which definitions were used for sleep quality parameters in this literature field. Systematic searches for articles reporting the qualitative markers related to sleep in team sport athletes were conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science online databases. The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. The initial search returned 3316 articles. After the removal of duplicate articles, eligibility assessment, 75 studies were included in this systematic review. Our main findings were that the most widely used measurement instruments were Actigraphy (25%), Rating Likert Scales (16%) and Sleep Diary (13%). On sleep quality parameters (Sleep duration = 14%; Wake after sleep onset = 14%; Sleep Quality = 12%; Sleep Effciency = 11% and Sleep Latency = 9%), the main point is that there are different definitions for the same parameters in many cases reported in the literature. We conclude that the most widely used instruments for monitoring sleep quality were Actigraphy, Likert scales and Sleep diary. Moreover, the definitions of sleep parameters are inconsistent in the literature, hindering the understanding of the sleep-sport performance relationship.

Physical activity and health-related quality of life in former elite and recreational cricketers from the UK with upper extremity or lower extremity persistent joint pain: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in former elite and recreational cricketers with upper extremity (UE), lower extremity (LE) or no joint pain.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort.

SETTING

Despite the high prevalence of joint pain in former athletes, the impact of UE pain and LE pain on PA and HRQoL and potential differences between former recreational and elite athletes are poorly understood.

PARTICIPANTS

703 former cricketers aged ≥18 years (mean age 58.7, SD 12.9, played an average of 30 (IQR 20-40) seasons, 72% of whom had played at a recreational level) were recruited through the Cricket Health and Wellbeing Study and met eligibility requirements (UE pain, LE pain or no joint pain (defined as pain on most days of the past month)).

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form collected weekly metabolic equivalents (METS), while the Short-Form 8 collected physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component scores. Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn's post-hoc and multivariable linear regressions were performed.

RESULTS

Weekly METS were similar in former cricketers with UE pain (median (IQR) 2560 (722-4398)), LE pain (2215 (527-3903)) and no pain (2449 (695-4203), p=0.39). MCS were similar between groups (UE pain 56.0 (52.1-60.0); LE pain 55.2 (51.1-59.4); no pain 54.7 (50.7-58.7), p=0.38). PCS were more impaired in former cricketers with UE pain (49.8 (44.9-54.8)) or LE pain (46.7 (41.0-51.9)) compared with no pain (54.2 (51.5-56.9), p<0.0001). Former cricketers with LE pain reported worse PCS than those with UE pain (p=0.04). Similar relationships were observed in former elite and recreational cricketers.

CONCLUSION

Despite impaired physical components of HRQoL in former cricketers with UE pain or LE pain, pain was not related to PA levels or mental components of HRQoL. Physical components of HRQoL were most impaired in those with LE pain, and findings were similar among former elite and recreational cricketers.