Results for World Rowing Federation and Olympic events 1893-2019.

Results in rowing have improved and here we estimate results for Olympic and World rowing championships based on the winning results from 1893 to 2019 obtained in the current seven Olympic events for men (n = 556) and women (n = 239). Data were collected from the official World Rowing Federation online records and from published results and the development analysed by linear regression analysis for the year of competition. Results improved by about 0.7 s per year (15 ± 9.4%) (mean ± SD). Depending on the event, 2020 predicted mean time for the winning boat for men is 363 s (range 326-397) vs. 404 s (362-439) for women (10.3 ± 1.1% slower). The ten-year coefficient of variance for the original boats in Olympic and World Rowing Federation regatta remaining within the Olympic programme, single scull and eight, decreased from 9 ± 2% (1893-1903) to 2 ± 0.4% (2009-2019). Reduced variability in winning times illustrates the standardization of the rowing course and boats, and the improvement in performance point to that body size becomes ever more important for success in competitive rowing.

A quasi-experimental examination of weight-reducing dehydration practices in collegiate male rowers.

BACKGROUND: Lightweight rowers commonly utilize weight loss techniques over 24-h before competition to achieve the qualifying weight for racing. The objective was to investigate, using a quasi-experimental design, whether changes in weight resulting from dehydration practices are related to changes in proxies of bodily systems involved in rowing and whether these relationships depend on the dehydration technique used. METHODS: Twelve elite male rowers performed a power test, an incremental VO2max test, and a visuomotor battery following: weight loss via thermal exposure, weight loss via fluid abstinence and then thermal exposure, and no weight loss. The total percent body mass change (%BMC), %BMC attributable to thermal exposure, and %BMC attributable to fluid abstinence were used to predict performance variables. RESULTS: Fluid abstinence but not thermal exposure was related to a lower total wattage produced on a incremental VO2max test (b = 4261.51 W/1%BMC, 95%CI = 1502.68-7020.34), lower wattages required to elicit 2 mmol/L (b = 27.84 W/1%BMC, 95%CI = 14.69-40.99) and 4 mmol/L blood lactate (b = 20.45 W/1%BMC, 95%CI = 8.91-31.99), and slower movement time on a visuomotor task (b = -38.06 ms/1%BMC, 95%CI = -62.09--14.03). CONCLUSIONS: Dehydration related weight changes are associated with reductions in some proxies of bodily systems involved in rowing but depend on the dehydration technique used.

Efficacy and safety of Aviron Rapid® in 18-60-year-old patients with clinical diagnosis of acute respiratory viral infection: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

AIM: Prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections are given the highest priority because of the tremendous health and economic impact of these diseases. Development of novel effective and safe options for treatment can contribute considerably to decrease the burden of disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in ambulatory-treated adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute upper respiratory tract viral infection. The patients (18-60 years old) were randomized into two groups and followed-up for 5 days. Group 1 received the standard symptomatic therapy + Aviron Rapid®, and Group 2 received the standard symptomatic therapy + placebo. The primary endpoint of the study was defined as the duration of disease measured by the percentages of disease-free patients for every 12-hour period of the study. RESULTS: Treating clinically relevant patients with the natural product Aviron Rapid® for 5 days decreases the duration of disease, the intake of antipyretics and the severity of symptoms. Significant difference between the tested groups for most of studied parameters was found as soon as 12 or 24 hours after initiation of administration in favour of active arm and was the most prominent on days 3 and 4. Significant decrease in the total score of symptoms severity was achieved on day 4 and extended to the end of study. There were no dif-ferences in the adverse events between the groups and the tested product demonstrated excellent safety profile. CONCLUSIONS: This study is a clinical confirmation of well documented antiviral activity of the product targeting multiple points in viral replication and covering broad spectrum viral pathogens.

Delayed diagnosis of osteodiscitis in an adolescent athlete: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral osteomyelitis (OM) is an infectious condition of bone caused by an infecting organism, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Though rare in adolescents, it is important to remember that this population has vascularized intervertebral discs prior to skeletal maturity and, therefore, is more susceptible to an osteodiscitis infection. PURPOSE: To determine the possible factors that lead to a delayed diagnosis of osteodiscitis compared to an early diagnosis in an adolescent athlete. SUMMARY: This case provides a unique example of osteodiscitis in an adolescent rowing athlete where an infected heel blister was the only indication toward a diagnosis. Early diagnosis and successful management of osteodiscitis are dependent on recognizing constitutional and non-constitutional signs and symptoms of infection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In sport, when skin barriers may be compromised more readily, the risk of infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unprovoked back pain.

CONTEXTE: L'ostéomyélite vertébrale (OM) est une affection des os causée par un microorganisme infectieux, le plus souvent Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Bien que cette affection soit rare chez les adolescents, il est important de retenir que cette population a des disques intervertébraux vascularisés avant d'atteindre la maturité squelettique et qu'elle est donc plus exposée à l'ostéodiscite. OBJECTIF: déterminer les facteurs possibles qui conduisent à un diagnostic tardif de l'ostéodiscite par rapport à un diagnostic précoce chez un athlète adolescent. RÉSUMÉ: Ce cas fournit un exemple unique d'ostéodiscite chez un athlète adolescent de l'aviron présentant une ampoule infectée au talon qui était l'unique signe permettant de poser un diagnostic. Le diagnostic précoce et la prise en charge réussie de l'ostéodiscite dépendent de la reconnaissance des signes et symptômes constitutionnels et non constitutionnels de l'infection. PERTINENCE CLINIQUE: Chez les sportifs, les barrières cutanées peuvent être compromises plus facilement et le risque d'infection doit être pris en compte dans le diagnostic différentiel des douleurs dorsales non provoquées.

Multimodal high-intensity interval training increases muscle function and metabolic performance in females.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient method of improving aerobic and anaerobic power and capacity. In most individuals, however, HIIT using modalities such as cycling, running, and rowing does not typically result in increased muscle strength, power, or endurance. The purpose of this study is to compare the physiological outcomes of traditional HIIT using rowing (Row-HIIT) with a novel multimodal HIIT (MM-HIIT) circuit incorporating multiple modalities, including strength exercises, within an interval. Twenty-eight recreationally active women (age 24.7 ± 5.4 years) completed 6 weeks of either Row-HIIT or MM-HIIT and were tested on multiple fitness parameters. MM-HIIT and Row-HIIT resulted in similar improvements (p < 0.05 for post hoc pre- vs. post-training increases for each group) in maximal aerobic power (7% vs. 5%), anaerobic threshold (13% vs. 12%), respiratory compensation threshold (7% vs. 5%), anaerobic power (15% vs. 12%), and anaerobic capacity (18% vs. 14%). The MM-HIIT group had significant (p < 0.01 for all) increases in squat (39%), press (27%), and deadlift (18%) strength, broad jump distance (6%), and squat endurance (280%), whereas the Row-HIIT group had no increase in any muscle performance variable (p values 0.33-0.90). Post-training, 1-repetition maximum (1RM) squat (64.2 ± 13.6 vs. 45.8 ± 16.2 kg, p = 0.02), 1RM press (33.2 ± 3.8 vs. 26.0 ± 9.6 kg, p = 0.01), and squat endurance (23.9 ± 12.3 vs. 10.2 ± 5.6 reps, p < 0.01) were greater in the MM-HIIT group than in the Row-HIIT group. MM-HIIT resulted in similar aerobic and anaerobic adaptations but greater muscle performance increases than Row-HIIT in recreationally active women.

Individual variability in cardiac biomarker release after 30 min of high-intensity rowing in elite and amateur athletes.

This study had two objectives: (i) to examine individual variation in the pattern of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release in response to high-intensity rowing exercise, and (ii) to establish whether individual heterogeneity in biomarker appearance was influenced by athletic status (elite vs. amateur). We examined cTnI and NT-proBNP in 18 elite and 14 amateur rowers before and 5 min, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after a 30-min maximal rowing test. Compared with pre-exercise levels, peak postexercise cTnI (pre: 0.014 ± 0.030 µg·L(-1); peak post: 0.058 ± 0.091 µg·L(-1); p = 0.000) and NT-proBNP (pre: 15 ± 11 ng·L(-1); peak post: 31 ± 19 ng·L(-1); p = 0.000) were elevated. Substantial individual heterogeneity in peak and time-course data was noted for cTnI. Peak cTnI exceeded the upper reference limit (URL) in 9 elite and 3 amateur rowers. No rower exceeded the URL for NT-proBNP. Elite rowers had higher baseline (0.019 ± 0.038 vs. 0.008 ± 0.015 µg·L(-1); p = 0.003) and peak postexercise cTnI (0.080 ± 0.115 vs. 0.030 ± 0.029 µg·L(-1); p = 0.022) than amateur rowers, but the change with exercise was similar between groups. There were no significant differences in baseline and peak postexercise NT-proBNP between groups. In summary, marked individuality in the cTnI response to a short but high-intensity rowing bout was observed. Athletic status did not seem to affect the change in cardiac biomarkers in response to high-intensity exercise.

Caffeine, but not bicarbonate, improves 6 min maximal performance in elite rowers.

This study examined the ergogenic effects in a 6 min maximal performance test (PT) on 12 elite rowers: 6 open-weight (mean ± SD; 25 ± 1 years, and 92 ± 3 kg) and 6 light-weight (25 ± 3 years, and 73 ± 6 kg), following supplementation with caffeine (CAF), sodium bicarbonate (SB), and the combination of both, in a double-blind randomized placebo (PLA) controlled design. PT was executed on 4 occasions, on separate days within a week, and in a non-fasted state, with standardized training being performed the day before PT. Protocols were as follows: (i) CAF, 3 mg/kg, 45 min prior to PT + calcium as SB-PLA; (ii) SB, 0.3 g/kg, 75 min prior to PT + dextrose as CAF-PLA; (iii) CAF + SB; and (iv) PLA; CAF-PLA + SB-PLA. The total distance in the CAF (1878 ± 97 m) and CAF + SB (1877 ± 97 m) was longer than in the PLA (1865 ± 104 m; P < 0.05) and SB (1860 ± 96 m; P < 0.01). The mean power in CAF (400 ± 58 W) and CAF + SB (400 ± 58 W) was higher than the PLA (393 ± 61 W; P < 0.05) and SB (389 ± 57 W; P < 0.01). In CAF and CAF + SB, power was higher (P < 0.05) relative to PLA in the last half (4-6 min) of PT. Trials with CAF were more effective in light-weight rowers (1.0% ± 0.8% improvement in distance; P < 0.05) than in open-weight rowers (0.3% ± 0.8%; P > 0.05). No difference between interventions was observed for readiness and stomach comfort before PT and perceived exertion during PT. This study demonstrates that caffeine ingestion does improve performance in elite rowing. In contrast sodium bicarbonate does not appear to be ergogenic, but it does not abolish the ergogenic effect of caffeine.