Case Report: Adjusting Seat and Backrest Angle Improves Performance in an Elite Paralympic Rower

Abstract

Paralympic rowers with functional impairments of the legs and trunk rely on appropriate seat configurations for performance. We compared performance, physiology, and biomechanics of an elite Paralympic rower competing in the PR1 class during ergometer rowing in a seat with three different seat and backrest inclination configurations. Unlike able-bodied rowers, PR1 rowers are required to use a seat with a backrest. For this study, we examined the following seat/backrest configurations: conA: 7.5°/25°, conB: 0°/25°, and conC: 0°/5° (usually used by the participant). All data was collected on a single day, i.e., in each configuration, one 4-min submaximal (100 W) and one maximal (all-out) stage was performed. The rowing ergometer provided the average power and (virtual) distance of each stage, while motion capture provided kinematic data, a load cell measured the force exerted on the ergometer chain, and an ergospirometer measured oxygen uptake (V˙O2). Where appropriate, a Friedman's test with post-hoc comparisons performed with Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests identified differences between the configurations. Despite similar distances covered during the submaximal intensity (conA: 793, conB: 793, conC: 787 m), the peak force was lower in conC (conA: 509, conB: 458, conC: 312 N) while the stroke rate (conA: 27 conB: 31, conC: 49 strokes·min−1) and V˙O2 (conA: 34.4, conB: 35.4, conC: 39.6 mL·kg−1·min−1) were higher. During the maximal stage, the virtual distances were 7–9% longer in conA and conB, with higher peak forces (conA: 934 m, 408 N, conB: 918 m, 418 N, conC: 856 m, 331 N), and lower stroke rates (conA: 51, conB: 54, conC: 56 strokes·min−1), though there was no difference in V˙O2peak (~47 ml−1·kg−1·min−1). At both intensities, trunk range of motion was significantly larger in configurations conA and conB. Although fatigue may have accumulated during the test day, this study showed that a more inclined seat and backrest during ergometer rowing improved the performance of a successful Paralympic PR1 rower. The considerable increase in ergometer rowing performance in one of the top Paralympic rowers in the world is astonishing and highlights the importance of designing equipment that can be adjusted to match the individual needs of Paralympic athletes.

Design of Experiment for Sports Equipment - Experimentally Mapping the Design Space for Paralympic Alpine Outriggers

“…As the general Paralympic skiing rules allows equipment modifications, with a design of experiment, other Paralympic athletes not connected with scientific research may now optimize their equipment by following the methodology that could be presented in revised regulations. By further enhancing the design of experiment methodology presented in this article, the method may also assist athletes in different sports as previously presented by Eikevåg et al, (2020) and Severin et al, (2021). With these poles it is possible to determine an athlete's optimal configuration for double poling.…”

“…Without proper knowledge and with a lack of biomechanical models, heuristic testing of top-level athletes is a crucial part of engineering design at the highest level. New research is also supported by the sit-ski regulations as rules states that equipment can be customized and tailored per individual athlete ('WPAS Equipment Rules 2020/2021. As there are many different variables to consider, breaking down the sports into sections is beneficial for analysis.…”

Pure Vision-Based Motion Tracking for Data-Driven Design – A Simple, Flexible, and Cost-Effective Approach for Capturing Static and Dynamic Interactions

“…It can capture prototype interaction in a low-cost and simple way, thus making it available for implementation in the earliest stages of design. Sports equipment development is an example that could benefit from utilising this technology, where technique-based sports, such as running (Glover, Kakar and Chaudhari, 2021), skiing (Yoshioka et al, 2018), rowing (Severin et al, 2021), and cycling (Bini, Daly and Kingsley, 2020) involves complex product interactions that should be captured in the early stages of design.…”

Human Geometries as Key Starting Point in Sports Performance - Designing Equipment for Individual Performance in Paralympic Sit-Ski

“…The human aspect plays a crucial role in design research (Wilkinson and De Angeli, 2014). In sports adjusting equipment according to the human geometries have provided a substantial performance increase (Iriberri, Muriel and Larrazabal, 2008;Shan, 2008;Burt, 2014), and particularly in Paralympic sports (Mâsse, Lamontagne and O'Riain, 1992;Rapp et al, 2016;Eikevåg et al, 2020;Severin et al, 2021;Silseth et al, 2021). When comparing the geometry of an athlete's body and that of the equipment, a mismatch may arise, resulting in suboptimal equipment.…”