The effect of four weeks of polarized training on aerobic fitness and performance of professional rowers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Biological Sciences in Sports and Health, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Behavioral Sciences, Cognitive and Sports technology, Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Aerobic fitness is one of the factors influencing the success of rowers in rowing, which requires the use of efficient training methods. Polarized training model based on the intensity distribution of the training would be a suitable strategy in this field. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four weeks of polarized training on aerobic fitness and performance of professional rowers.
Materials and Methods: 20 athletes (10 females and 10 males) who had more than two years of professional rowing experience were divided into two groups of polarized training intensity distribution (75-80% of training volume equivalent to 18 training sessions in zone one with 55-75% of maximum heart rate, 5-10% of the training volume is equivalent to eight training sessions in zone two with 81-87% maximum heart rate and 15-20% of the training volume is equivalent to four training sessions with 88-100% maximum heart rate) and traditional training intensity distribution (20% of training volume in zone one, equivalent to seven sessions per month, 50% in zone two, including 12 sessions per month, and 30% in zone three, including five sessions) were divided and their exercises were performed over four weeks, with six sessions per week (three sessions of rowing + One session of ergometer + two sessions of running) was followed. Before and after the training period, maximal oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, blood lactate, time of 2000 and 1000 meters were evaluated. Repeated analysis of variance with intergroup factor was used to examine the research data (P ≤ 0.05).
Results: According to the results of the present study, the performance of 2000 meters in both groups improved significantly (P < 0.0001). This improvement was 5.56% more reduction in 2000 meters’ record, which shows the greater effectiveness of this training method. However, the performance of 1000 m after four weeks of polarized and traditional training was similar (P = 0.37). There was no significant difference between the two groups for Maximum oxygen consumption (P = 0.14) and respiratory exchange ratio (P = 0.21). Fat percentage in both groups decreased significantly (P = 0.001).
Conclusion: Despite the lack of differences in some physiological parameters, four weeks of traditional and polarized training are associated with improved performance and physiological parameters of rowers, which is greater in the performance of 2000 meters that is the main competition of these athletes with polarized training (about 6%). It seems that the polarization intensity distribution pattern can be a more effective method than traditional exercises in developing the aerobic performance characteristics of rowing athletes.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 24 April 2022
  • Revise Date: 22 May 2022
  • Accept Date: 27 May 2022
  • First Publish Date: 10 August 2022
  • Publish Date: 23 August 2022

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