Technical noteA new instrumentation system for training rowers
Introduction
Competitive rowing is an extremely technical and physically demanding activity. The task of propelling a racing shell across a given distance of water as fast as possible involves the interaction between physical strength, endurance, technical skill of the athlete, and the design of the shell/oar system. A potentially valuable tool for training both novice and elite rowers is a feedback system that provides the athlete with quantitative information about his/her rowing mechanics and the instantaneous power developed throughout a stroke as he/she rows.
Though the technology is available to construct a training tool of the type described above, the literature does not suggest that such a device exists. Researchers have studied physiological aspects of rowing (Di Prampero et al., 1971; Hagerman et al., 1978; Hagerman, 1984), movement kinematics and kinetics during rowing (Bompa, 1980; Martin and Bernfield, 1980; Struble et al., 1981; Schneider and Hauser, 1981; Asami et al., 1981; Nelson and Widule, 1983; Deming et al., 1988; Hartmann et al., 1993; Roth et al., 1993; Pudlo et al., 1996; MacFarlane et al., 1997), and boat/oar loading (Celentano et al., 1974; Deming et al., 1988; Roth et al., 1993). Typically these studies involve considerable lag time between the data collection, data processing and analysis, and finally the presentation of the findings to the coach or athlete. This lag time limits the coach's effectiveness in using the information to modify technique and evaluate the impact these modifications have on performance.
The objective of this study was to construct a dry-land rowing system that provides immediate feedback about the rower's joint kinematics, pulling force and pulling power. The unique feature of this system is its ability to provide immediate feedback on both human movement characteristics and the force and power delivered to the rowing handle throughout a rowing stroke. This feature allows the coach and athlete to quickly identify movement strategies that maximize propulsive power. Further, the feedback information can be compared between rowers and used to assist coaches in team selection.
Section snippets
Methods
The biofeedback system (see Fig. 1) contains both hardware and software components. The hardware consists of four electrogoniometers attached to the athlete, a potentiometer and force transducer attached to a commercial dry-land rowing ergometer, and a computer and custom software for collecting, processing and displaying data derived from the various instrumentation.
The electrogoniometers are used to quantify a rower's ankle, knee, hip, and elbow flexion/extension angles. The
Results
The objective of this project was to develop a rowing instrumentation system capable of providing immediate feedback pertaining to both human movement characteristics and the force and power delivered to the rowing handle throughout a rowing stroke. The simplest way to demonstrate that such a system was achieved is to present the results provided to the athlete tested (see Fig. 3). The feedback displayed to the athlete included a stick figure animation, joint kinematics, pulling force, and
Discussion
This rowing instrumentation system integrates appropriate hardware and software to quantify and graphically display information about the rower's joint kinematics, pulling force, and pulling power. The force transducer measures forces to within ±2 N. The distance the handle moves is determined accurately to within ±1 mm. The electrogoniometers quantify joint angles to within ±2°. The software allows data acquisition, processing and display within a time frame appropriate for use during a single
References (17)
- et al.
Biomechanical analysis of rowing performances
Technique and muscle force
Canadian Journal of Applied Sports Science
(1980)- Deming, L., Yunde, W., Jiping, S., 1988. Kinematic and kinetic studies on measurement of rowing technique. In:...
- et al.
Physiological aspects of rowing
Journal of Applied Physiology
(1971) - et al.
Mechanical aspects of rowing
Journal of Applied Physiology
(1974) Applied physiology of rowing
Sports Medicine
(1984)- et al.
Energy expenditure during simulated rowing
Journal of Applied Physiology: Respiratory, Environmental, and Exercise Physiology
(1978) - et al.
Peak force, velocity, and power during five and ten maximal rowing ergometer strokes by world class female and male rowers
International Journal of Sports Medicine
(1993)
Cited by (46)
Polymer optical fiber and fiber Bragg grating sensors for biomedical engineering Applications: A comprehensive review
2024, Optics and Laser TechnologyViscoelastic features based compensation technique for polymer optical fiber curvature sensors
2018, Optics and Laser TechnologyCitation Excerpt :Electrogoniometers and potentiometers have been used for joint angle assessment in a single axis. However, they are bulky and may limit natural patterns of movement [3]. Flexible goniometers adapt better to body parts and are not sensitive to misalignments due to movement of polycentric joints.
Sensitive zone parameters and curvature radius evaluation for polymer optical fiber curvature sensors
2018, Optics and Laser TechnologyCitation Excerpt :In order to achieve a portable and wearable technique for angle measurement, electrogoniometers and potentiometers have been used in single axis measurements. Nevertheless, they are bulky and may limit natural pattern of human movement [4]. Inertial measurement units (IMU) overcome the disadvantages associated with previously mentioned techniques, but they are sensitive to electromagnetic interferences and demand frequent calibration [5].
Differences between elite, junior and non-rowers in kinematic and kinetic parameters during ergometer rowing
2013, Human Movement ScienceCitation Excerpt :Both of these systems allow only offline data processing. The system of Hawkins (2000) provides offline information about the rower’s joint kinematics, pulling force, and pulling power. The system developed by Page and Hawkins (2003) displays rowers’ body movement in real-time in the form of two-dimensional stick figure animation.
The measurement setup for real-time biomechanical analysis of rowing on an ergometer
2011, Measurement: Journal of the International Measurement ConfederationCitation Excerpt :Deviation from perfect bilateral body symmetry has negative correlations in the rowing performance [19]; however, the differences between forces of left and right foot during drive phase are small relative to the value of driving forces [14,15]. This is the reason that we have assumed the symmetry of rowing on ergometer and studied rowing in sagittal plane as shown in previous studies [5–8,12,13,20]. The measurement setup is presented in Fig. 1.