Recommended body position at the Finish - Back Extension??

jon · Post by **jon** » March 27th, 2006, 5:42 pm

Dear all,

I was hoping I could put a question forward to you all, but let me tell you a little about myself first. I am currently studying for a Degree in Sports Therapy and have chosen to base a lot of my research around Rowing (being a keen rower myself).

I am looking at starting a new research project from a Biomechanical aspect and would like to compare the amount of 'lean back' at the finish with relation to power output.

In terms of technique I have heard to the “Canadian” technique in which the rower has excessive back extension at the finish and the “GB” technique which is somewhere around 35 degrees….

However I am finding it very hard finding any literature on these and was wondering if anyone could recommend any literature either through books or journals etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and with anything really useful I would be happy give thanks through the paper itself, along with a copy should it be of interest.

Hope someone can help

Many thanks

Jon

johnnybike · Post by **johnnybike** » March 27th, 2006, 5:58 pm

Good luck with the research Jon, however a little anecdote.

I was doing a 60' effort in the work gym and and someone new was next to doing something like a 40' piece. On the longer rows I lean back quite a lot (too much really, but I find it economical over distance) whereas he was very upright and indeed had moved the erg to take full advantage of some mirrors. He was very powerful and obviously a good rower.

Afterwards I remarked on the difference between his finish and mine. He turned out to be American and said that he had been brought up to lean back but over in England he had been coached to stay much more upright. Someone told me that he had rowed for both a USA university and an Oxford crew.

jon · Post by **jon** » March 28th, 2006, 11:14 am

Thank you very much,

That’s a similar example of how I mean to measure difference in technique (degree of body lean) with relation to power output over a 2k piece.

the measurement of body angle isn’t a problem as ill be Digitising the video recorded data, however I require something in terms of literature as to the 2 difference techniques

Many thanks for your input

Should anyone be able to recommend a source it would be greatly appreciated

Jon

whp4 · Post by **whp4** » March 28th, 2006, 11:30 am

jon wrote: the measurement of body angle isn’t a problem as ill be Digitising the video recorded data, however I require something in terms of literature as to the 2 difference techniques

Digitized or not, you probably need to give some thought to making sure your measurements are consistent between rowers with different amounts of "cushioning"....

Bill

jon · Post by **jon** » March 28th, 2006, 3:04 pm

im not familar with the term 'cushioning'?

Ill be using the same subject for the different techniques (over a 2 week period); that way allowing a direct comparison

Alissa · Post by **Alissa** » March 28th, 2006, 3:19 pm

jon wrote:im not familar with the term 'cushioning'?

Ill be using the same subject for the different techniques (over a 2 week period); that way allowing a direct comparison

Since your subject will be more comfortable with one technique than the other, you might want to find another subject who prefers the other technique, and then have each try both, if that's your experimental protocol (for the same subject to be compared using two different techniques).

Alissa

jon · Post by **jon** » March 28th, 2006, 3:31 pm

ah i see,

Well I was planning on using a Novice to Rowing, for example the subject i intend to use is a competitive Rugby player; however has shown in interest in rowing. And i have watch his (shockingly wrong) technique and even considering teh poor technique his 2k time is around the 6:50 mark.

So, the fitness level of this individual may be assumed as high; and as a Rugby player he strengh and core stability is of a high level.

I was going to teach this subject the basic principles of the rowing stroke (as i am an L2 ARA rowing coach) and inform the subject of the different levels of back extention at the catch

In terms of making sure he reaches this level of extension fluidly, there is be a TV infront to the ergo with markers to the screen that i want t=him to extend between

If that makes any sense

jon

jon · Post by **jon** » March 28th, 2006, 3:34 pm

It’s all good input... Please keep it coming.

If anyone can provide any reference of the British and Canadian technique of extension it would be great... if I can’t find it there little point in doing the study

I know it’s out there somewhere,

Look forwards to reading suggestions from you all and greatly appreciated

Jon

whp4 · Post by **whp4** » March 28th, 2006, 5:49 pm

jon wrote:im not familar with the term 'cushioning'?

Ill be using the same subject for the different techniques (over a 2 week period); that way allowing a direct comparison

Okay. The "cushioning" I was referring to is the kind sometimes gotten by eating too many cheeseburgers

If you are only using one subject it may not be an issue, but if you have a bunch of rowers and want to actually measure the body lean angles, you'll need to estimate where the skeletal components are.

Bill

Alissa · Post by **Alissa** » March 28th, 2006, 6:09 pm

jon wrote:Well I was planning on using a Novice to Rowing

That's interesting, Jon.

I have wondered why in all (or at least most...) of the studies of rowing they usually start with people with no experience with rowing... Maybe you could shed some light on that?

Alissa

fender128 · Post by **fender128** » April 14th, 2006, 8:32 pm

10% layback with oar in chest at the finish.

You gain most of your power from your legs, so in my opinion, a lot of layback puts too much of the burden on your arms and it is uncomfortable. So let your legs do the grunt work and just use your arms at the finish to get that extra little bit of extension.