Relative shank to thigh length is associated with different mechanisms of power production during elite male ergometer rowing ANDREW J. GREENE 1 , PETER J. SINCLAIR 1 , MICHAEL H. DICKSON 1 , FLOREN COLLOUD 2 , & RICHARD M. SMITH 1 1 Faculty of Health Sciences (Exercise Health and Performance Research Group), The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia, and 2 Laboratoire de Me´canique des Solides, l’Universite´ de Poitiers, Poitiers, France (Received 4 June 2008; accepted 31 August 2009) Abstract The effect of anthropometric differences in shank to thigh length ratio upon timing and magnitude of joint power production during the drive phase of the rowing stroke was investigated in 14 elite male rowers. Rowers were tested on the RowPerfect ergometer which was instrumented at the handle and foot stretcher to measure force generation, and a nine segment inverse dynamics model used to calculate the rower’s joint and overall power production. Rowers were divided into two groups according to relative shank thigh ratio. Time to half lumbar power generation was significantly earlier in shorter shank rowers (p ¼ 0.028) compared to longer shank rowers, who showed no lumbar power generation during the same period of the drive phase. Rowers with a relatively shorter shank demonstrated earlier lumbar power generation during the drive phase resulting from restricted rotation of the pelvic segment requiring increased lumbar extension in these rowers. Earlier lumbar power generation and extension did not appear to directly affect performance measures of the short shank group, and so can be attributed to a technical adaptation developed to maximise rowing performance. Keywords: Anthropometry, biomechanics, ergometer rowing Introduction Performance in rowing is determined by the ability of the rower to maintain a high mean boat velocity, and therefore a high average mechanical power whilst maintaining sound technical skills to ensure that the power produced contributes to boat velocity (Sanderson and Martindale, 1986). Mean propulsive power output, propulsive work consistency, and stroke- to-stroke consistency and smoothness are all considered by Smith and Spinks (1995) to make significant contributions to successful rowing performance. Power output, and more specifically Peak Power, is often used as the main identification criteria of a rower’s energy production and technique efficiency, as well as having been reported to be the best predictor of 2000 m ergometer rowing performance (Bourdin et al., 2004). ISSN 1476-3141 print/ISSN 1752-6116 online q 2009 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/14763140903414391 Correspondence: P. J. Sinclair, University of Sydney, Faculty of Health Sciences, Exercise, Health and Performance Research Group, East Street, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia, 2141. E-mail: P.Sinclair@usyd.edu.au Sports Biomechanics November 2009; 8(4): 302–317 Downloaded by [University of California Santa Cruz] at 17:26 13 October 2012