HEART-RATE, BLOOD LACTATE, AND CATECHOLAMINES DURING ERGOMETER AND ONWATER ROWING

The heart rate, blood lactate, and catecholamine responses to rowing o n a Gjessing ergometer and in a single scull on the water were compare d. Seventeen rowers performed a multistage step test on the ergometer as well as low and high intensity endurance rowing on the water. Seven oarsmen (six with determinations of free plasma adrenaline and noradr enaline) rowed on the ergometer with the same heart rate and duration as on the water. During ergometer endurance rowing, heart rate, lactat e, and adrenaline were not significantly different from boat rowing, w hile plasma noradrenaline was higher. However, at similar lactate leve ls, heart rate during rowing on the water was approximately 10 beats-m in-1 higher than during the ergometer multistage step test, due to the different duration of exercise. Heart rate values based on determinat ion of lactate threshold can be taken as recommendations for low and h igh intensity endurance training on water. However, because of individ ual variations in the heart rate-lactate relationship between rowing o n the ergometer and in the boat, field evaluation is recommended.