FORCE AND SPEED OF PARTIAL MOTIONS IN ON-WATER AND SIMULATED ROWING

Abstract

Rowers try to provide power as much as possible to the boat using oars. Because the power is defined by the product of force and speed, infinite combinations of force and speed produce a certain value of power. The aim of this study is to clarify force and speed of three main partial motions, i.e. leg drive, trunk swing and arm pull, during drive phase. Handle force is measured and then, shoulder, hip and foot forces are calculated with a one dimensional model. The speed of joints is calculated from position data obtained with video. Data of male university rowers showed that force and speed of the partial motions were different between on-water sculling and RowPerfect rowing. Another finding was that the force and the speed of trunk swing tended to decrease during 2000 meter simulated race on RowPerfect for the university scullers.