Individualized Training to Improve Aerobic Capacity and 2,000 m Rowing Performance in Youth Rowers

Summary

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether an individualized rowing training program based on ventilatory thresholds can improve aerobic capacity and 2,000 m rowing performance in youth rowers from Valdivia, Chile. The study will include male and female rowers aged 14 to 18 years who train regularly at Club de Remeros Arturo Prat.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does ventilatory threshold-based individualized training improve maximal oxygen uptake compared with the usual club training program? Does ventilatory threshold-based individualized training improve 2,000 m rowing ergometer performance compared with the usual club training program?

Researchers will compare an individualized training group with a usual training group to see if prescribing exercise intensity based on each rower's ventilatory thresholds produces greater improvements in aerobic capacity, rowing performance, and related physiological measures.

Participants will:

Complete baseline and post-intervention assessments, including a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a rowing ergometer, blood lactate measurements during an incremental rowing test, a 2,000 m rowing ergometer test, body composition assessment, and respiratory muscle strength testing.

Be randomly assigned to either an individualized training group or a usual training group.

Complete a 12-week rowing training program. Use heart rate monitors during study training sessions so that training intensity, adherence, and safety can be monitored.

Report any discomfort, injuries, or adverse events during the study.

The individualized training group will train according to heart rate zones derived from each participant's ventilatory thresholds measured at baseline. The usual training group will continue the club's regular training program. The study will also explore individual variability in training response and the proportion of participants who respond or do not respond to each training approach.

Conditions

• Athletic Performance
• Aerobic Capacity
• Rowing Performance

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Individualized Rowing Training

A 12-week rowing training program in which exercise intensity is individualized using heart rate zones derived from the first and second ventilatory thresholds measured at baseline during cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a rowing ergometer. Three training zones will be defined for each participant: below the first ventilatory threshold, between the first and second ventilatory thresholds, and above the second ventilatory threshold. Coaches will adjust stroke rate, power output, effort duration, or recovery periods to maintain the target intensity zone during study training sessions.

BEHAVIORAL

Usual Rowing Training

A 12-week usual rowing training program prescribed and supervised by the club coaching staff according to standard practice. Training intensity will be guided by usual coaching criteria, including stroke rate, perceived exertion, heart rate responses, training volume, and field-based performance references. Heart rate monitors will be used during study training sessions to document training load, intensity, and adherence.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad San Sebastián

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-30

Primary Completion

2026-10-31

Completion

2026-10-31

Countries

• Chile

Study Locations