Within-session and between-session reliability of the seven-stroke maximal effort test in national level senior rowers.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure the within- and between-session reliability of the seven-stroke maximal effort (7SM) test on a rowing ergometer (Concept2® system, model C, Vermont, USA) using an unrestricted stroke rate. Ten national level senior male rowers (age: 26 ± 4 years; height: 186 ± 5.2 cm; body mass: 84.3 ± 6.8 kg; rowing experience: 7 ± 3 years) participated in this study. During session one, subjects performed three 7SM tests with a 4 minutes passive rest interval between tests. During session two and three, subjects performed one 7SM test. Within-session (comparison of three 7SM tests from session one) and between-session (comparison of the initial 7SM test from session one, two and three) reliability was assessed using one-way repeated-measures ANOVA, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV%) and standard error of measurement (SEM). The smallest detectable difference (SDD) was calculated for practical applications. Within-session reliability was good to high for all force, power and stroke rate variables (ICC = 0.88 – 0.99, CV = 1.0 – 2.4%, p > 0.05 for all). Between-session reliability was high for all force and power variables (ICC = 0.96 – 0.97, CV = 1.3 – 2.2%, p > 0.05 for all) but questionable for stroke rate variables (ICC = 0.72 – 0.77, CV = 2.5 – 2.7%, p < 0.05 for all). The 7SM test using an unrestricted stroke rate is a reliable, practical and readily accessible test of maximal force and power output in rowers. The SEM and SDD values provided can help strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches to evaluate true changes in 7SM test performance and eliminate measurement error as a cause of change.