Body morphology and handgrip strength parameters of the female canoe slalom paddlers.

Introduction: Canoe slalom is a physically very demanding discipline, in which body constitution, body composition, and relative strength are significant factors in high performance. Although anthropometric and strength parameters are relatively well-studied in male athletes, there is a lack of evidence for any conclusions in women. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the morphology and upper-limb strength parameters of female canoe slalom paddlers and identify whether morphological differences exist between performance groups. Methods: Altogether, 63 female competitors of the 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup (n = 29) and 2023 ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking Competition (n = 34) in Prague (Czech Republic) were examined with a battery of anthropometric tests, segmental bioimpedance analysis, and handgrip strength test. The athletes were divided into groups according to age and performance: elite athletes belonging to the world top 10 according to the ICF World Ranking (WORLD, n = 7), international-level athletes competing during the World Cup (ELITE, n = 22), international-level junior athletes competing in the World Ranking Race (JUNIOR, n = 17), and other lower performance-level athletes competing in the World Ranking Race (REST, n = 17). Results: Female slalom paddlers are, in general, of average body height (∼165 cm), lower body mass (∼60 kg), BMI (∼22 kg/m2), and body fat (∼20%) and without exceptional anthropometric dimensions and proportions. However, differences were detected when performance was factored in. Female paddlers belonging to the world TOP 10 have the largest circumferences of arms and forearms, and their somatotype is more mesomorphic, with a lower proportion of total body fat and a higher proportion of muscle mass. In addition, the WORLD group differs significantly in upper-limb strength. Discussion: The results shows the significance of muscular strength and power for canoe slalom athletes and the importance of well-developed musculature in operating the boat in the unstable environment. Being a successful female canoe slalom athlete requires a well-developed musculature, maximizing strength capabilities while maintaining a low body weight through limited hypertrophy of the lower limbs and a low level of body fat.

Asymmetries in paddle force influence choice of stroke type for canoe slalom athletes.

Canoe slalom is an Olympic discipline where athletes race down a whitewater course in kayaks (K1) or canoes (C1) navigating a set of down-stream and up-stream gates. Kayak paddles are symmetrical and have a blade at each end, whereas C1 paddles have only one blade that must be moved across the boat to perform strokes on either the right or left side. Asymmetries in paddle force between the two sides of the boat may lead to a reduction in predicted race time. The purpose of this study was to quantify asymmetries in the paddle forces between the two sides for slalom paddling. Paddle forces for 42 canoe slalom athletes (C1 and K1) were quantified from the straight sections of a flat-water figure-of-eight course. Paddle forces were measured using strain gauges embedded in the paddle shaft, stroke type was identified using video, and boat trajectory was tracked using inertial measurement units and high-speed GPS: data were fused using in-house analysis software. Paddle forces were quantified by their peak force, and impulse during the stroke. Paddle forces for the kayakers had asymmetries of 14.2 to 17.1% for the male K1M and 11.1 to 14.4% for the women K1W. Canoeists were no more asymmetrical than the kayakers for their 'on-side' strokes between the right and left sides. However, there were considerable differences for their 'off-side' strokes: male C1M off-side paddle forces were similar to their 'on-side' forces for the same side, but the women C1W had a significantly lower (-20.8% to -29.5%) paddle forces for their 'off-side' strokes compared to their 'on-side' strokes on that same side. Despite an increasing number of younger male athletes being introduced to the switching technique, and it being used by C1M athletes in international competitions since 2014, C1M paddlers still do not use switching transitions as much as C1W. The data from this study indicate that there is a biomechanical reason for this sex-based difference in the higher proportion of off-side strokes used by the C1M athletes compared to C1W athletes: and this needs to be considered for optimal technique development and race performance.

Test-retest reliability of four flatwater performance-related tests in canoe slalom athletes.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the test-retest reliability of four flatwater performance-related tests in canoe slalom athletes. Methods: Twenty-two Slovak national team members of junior and U23 age group racing in a category K1 men (K1M), K1 women (K1W) or C1 men (C1M) volunteered to take part in this study. During both test and retest testing sessions athletes performed 4 flatwater tests: SPS-Sprints with a turn to the preferred side (2 × 15 m shuttle sprints), SNPS-Sprints with a turn to the non-preferred side (2 × 15 m shuttle sprints), SBS-Sprints with turns to both sides (2 × 15 m shuttle sprints) as well as 12 × 15 AOT-12 × 15 m all out shuttle test (12 × 15 m shuttle sprints). Each athlete completed two sessions separated by a minimum of days and a maximum of 5 days. Results: The results have shown the excellent test-retest reliability of all four flatwater tests (ICC-SPS: 0.98; SPNPS 0.97; SBS: 0.98 and 12 × 15 m AOT: 0.96). Additionally, results have shown SEM (SPS: 0.14; SPNPS 0.18; SBS: 0.13 and 12 × 15 m AOT: 1.05) and SWC (SPS: 0.21; SPNPS 0.26; SBS: 0.19 and 12 × 15 m AOT: 1.58). Conclusion: Based on our results we suggest that coaches use these valid and reliable tests to assess changes in their athletes' performance-related physical fitness over time, to verify the effectiveness of training programs focused on improvement in specific physical fitness of athletes as well as to identify asymmetries between the preferred and non-preferred side in canoe slalom athletes.

Morphological and hand grip strength characteristics and differences between participants of the 2022 world rowing championship.

Introduction: Rowing is a strength endurance type of sport, and morphology and mass are undoubtedly performance-related factors. Precisely identifying these morphological factors associated with performance, can assist the exercise scientists and coaches in selecting and developing talented athletes. There is however, a lack of anthropometric data collected at either World Championship or Olympic Games level. The aims of this study were to describe and compare the morphology and basic strength characteristic of male and female heavyweight and lightweight rowers competing at 2022 World Championship (18.-25. September, Racice, Czech Republic). Methods: A total of 68 athletes (of 46 male competitors: 15 competed in the lightweight category and 31 in the heavyweight category; of 22 female athletes: 6 competed in the lightweight category and 16 in the heavyweight category) were assessed using anthropometric methods, bioimpedance analysis and performed a hand-grip test. Results: Between heavyweight and lightweight male rowers there were a statistically and practically significant differences in all monitored aspects except the sport age, sitting height/body height ratio and arm span/body height ratio. Between heavyweight and lightweight female rowers there were also statistically and practically significant differences in all monitored aspects except the identical indicators as in male. Discussion: Within this research it can be argued that female rowers are in many anthropometric aspects more similar to their male counterparts than to female rowers in the lightweight category. In some anthropometric aspects (BMI, thigh girth, calf girth), female rowers are even more similar to male heavyweight than to male lightweight rowers. The physical characteristics of elite male and female lightweight rowers differ radically from those of heavyweight. From a practical point of view, this research can be used to determine what type of athletes should be recruited or selected for heavy category and what type for lightweight category in male and female rowing based on the somatotype.

Strength and strength-related anthropometric parameters of the international level canoe slalom male paddlers / Fuerza y parámetros antropométricos relacionados con la fuerza de los hombres remeros de canotaje slalom de nivel internacional

SUMMARY: The aim of the study was to determine the differences in hand-grip strength and strength-related anthropometric parameters between the highest-performance international paddlers (HILP) and other international paddlers (ILP) in canoe slalom. In male competitors (n=48; 23 canoeists and 25 kayakers) who took part in the 2018 European championship event in canoe slalom in Prague, Czech Republic representing 15 European countries were measured hand-grip strength and strength-related anthropometric parameters two days prior the event. Differences between the group of HILP (medallists from Olympic Games, world championship and European championship in the previous three years and European championship finalists at the same time) and ILP were found. HILP have significantly higher forearm, arm and chest girths than ILP. Moderate or high practical differences and margin statistic differences were found also for hand-grip strength, body weight, body mass index and age. The consistently high-performing paddlers are heavier, have more muscular upper body and are stronger than the other group, while keeping their lower body lean. Therefore, regular upper-body strength training to all canoe slalom paddlers is important but caution is required because body weight over 80 kg may be a limiting factor.

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue determinar las diferencias en la fuerza de prensión manual y los parámetros antropométricos relacionados con la fuerza entre los remeros internacionales de alto rendimiento (RIAR) y otros remeros internacionales de canotaje en slalom. En hombres competidores (n=48; 23 piragüistas y 25 kayakistas) que participaron en el campeonato europeo de slalom en canoa de 2018, en Praga, República Checa, que representa a 15 países europeos, se midió la fuerza de agarre manual y los parámetros antropométricos relacionados con la fuerza dos días antes del evento. Se encontraron diferencias entre el grupo de RIAR (medallistas de Juegos Olímpicos, campeonatos del mundo y campeonatos de Europa en los tres años anteriores y finalistas del campeonato de Europa al mismo tiempo) y remeros internacionales. Los RIAR presentaban circunferencias de antebrazo, brazo y pecho significativamente más altas que los remeros internacionales. Además, se encontraron diferencias prácticas moderadas o altas y diferencias estadísticas en el límite para la fuerza de prensión manual, el peso corporal, el índice de masa corporal y la edad. Los remeros de alto rendimiento son más pesados, tienen la parte superior del cuerpo más musculosa y son más fuertes que el otro grupo, mientras mantienen la parte inferior del cuerpo esbelta. Por lo tanto, es importante el entrenamiento regular de fuerza de la parte superior del cuerpo para todos los remeros de piragüismo, sin embargo se requiere precaución debido a que el peso corporal superior a 80 kg puede ser un factor limitante.

Morphological characteristics of European slalom canoe and kayak paddlers / Características morfológicas de los remeros de canoa y kayak de slalom europeos

SUMMARY: The primary aim of this study was to determine the morphology of elite canoe slalom paddlers and to identity if morphology differences existed between kayak and canoe paddlers. The survey included a total of 74 canoe slalom paddlers who competed in the 2018 European Championship. These competitors were assessed using a battery of anthropometric dimensions according to standardized anthropometric techniques and bioimpedance analysis using the multifrequency octopolar device Tanita MC-980. Elite slalom male competitors can be characterized to having average body height (~180 cm), average weight (~75 kg), with ectomorphic mesomorph somatotype (1.3 - 5.5 - 2.7), well developed trunk and arm muscles (biceps girth: 35.4 ± 1.8), low hypertrophy of legs and low body fat (8 ± 3.2 %). In addition, there are no significant differences between canoe (C1) and kayak (K1) paddlers. For female competitors we can conclude, there has been little change in anthropometric values through the decades. However, C1 competitors are younger, more mesomorphic and less ectomorphic.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la morfología de los remeros de canoa de slalom de élite e identificar si existían diferencias morfológicas entre los remeros de kayak y canoa. El análisis incluyó un total de 74 remeros de canoa slalom que compitieron en el Campeonato de Europa de 2018. Los competidores fueron evaluados mediante una batería de dimensiones antropométricas según técnicas antropométricas estandarizadas y análisis de bioimpedancia utilizando el dispositivo octopolar multifrecuencia Tanita MC-980. Los competidores masculinos de slalom de élite se pueden caracterizar por tener una estatura corporal promedio (~ 180 cm), un peso promedio (~ 75 kg), con somatotipo mesomorfo ectomorfo (1,3 - 5,5 - 2,7), músculos del tronco y del brazo bien desarrollados (circunferencia del bíceps: 35,4 ± 1,8), baja hipertrofia de piernas y baja grasa corporal (8 ± 3,2 %). Además, no existen diferencias significativas entre los remeros en canoa (C1) y kayak (K1). Para las competidoras, podemos concluir que se han observado pocos cambios en los valores antropométricos a lo largo de las décadas. Sin embargo, los competidores de C1 son más jóvenes, más mesomórficos y menos ectomórficos.