Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers

Stephan van der Zwaard, Guido Weide, Koen Levels, Michelle R. I. Eikelboom, Dionne A. Noordhof, Mathijs J. Hofmijster, Willem J. van der Laarse, Jos J. de Koning, Cornelis J. de Ruiter, Richard T. Jaspers

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Rowers need to combine high sprint and endurance capacities. Muscle morphology largely explains muscle power generating capacity, however, little is known on how muscle morphology relates to rowing performance measures. The aim was to determine how muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis relates to rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity of Olympic rowers. Eighteen rowers (12♂, 6♀, who competed at 2016 Olympics) performed an incremental rowing test to obtain maximal oxygen consumption, reflecting endurance capacity. Sprint capacity was assessed by Wingate cycling peak power. M. vastus lateralis morphology (volume, physiological cross-sectional area, fascicle length and pennation angle) was derived from 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging. Thirteen rowers (7♂, 6♀) completed a 2000-m rowing ergometer time trial. Muscle volume largely explained variance in 2000-m rowing performance (R2 = 0.85), maximal oxygen consumption (R2 = 0.65), and Wingate peak power (R2 = 0.82). When normalized for differences in body size, maximal oxygen consumption and Wingate peak power were negatively related in males (r = −0.94). Fascicle length, not physiological cross-sectional area, attributed to normalized peak power. In conclusion, vastus lateralis volume largely explains variance in rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity. For a high normalized sprint capacity, athletes may benefit from long fascicles rather than a large physiological cross-sectional area.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2111-2120
JournalJournal of Sports Sciences
Volume36
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Cite this

van der Zwaard, S., Weide, G., Levels, K., Eikelboom, M. R. I., Noordhof, D. A., Hofmijster, M. J., ... Jaspers, R. T. (2018). Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(18), 2111-2120. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1439434
van der Zwaard, Stephan ; Weide, Guido ; Levels, Koen ; Eikelboom, Michelle R. I. ; Noordhof, Dionne A. ; Hofmijster, Mathijs J. ; van der Laarse, Willem J. ; de Koning, Jos J. ; de Ruiter, Cornelis J. ; Jaspers, Richard T. / Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers. In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 2018 ; Vol. 36, No. 18. pp. 2111-2120.
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title = "Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers",
abstract = "Rowers need to combine high sprint and endurance capacities. Muscle morphology largely explains muscle power generating capacity, however, little is known on how muscle morphology relates to rowing performance measures. The aim was to determine how muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis relates to rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity of Olympic rowers. Eighteen rowers (12♂, 6♀, who competed at 2016 Olympics) performed an incremental rowing test to obtain maximal oxygen consumption, reflecting endurance capacity. Sprint capacity was assessed by Wingate cycling peak power. M. vastus lateralis morphology (volume, physiological cross-sectional area, fascicle length and pennation angle) was derived from 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging. Thirteen rowers (7♂, 6♀) completed a 2000-m rowing ergometer time trial. Muscle volume largely explained variance in 2000-m rowing performance (R2 = 0.85), maximal oxygen consumption (R2 = 0.65), and Wingate peak power (R2 = 0.82). When normalized for differences in body size, maximal oxygen consumption and Wingate peak power were negatively related in males (r = −0.94). Fascicle length, not physiological cross-sectional area, attributed to normalized peak power. In conclusion, vastus lateralis volume largely explains variance in rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity. For a high normalized sprint capacity, athletes may benefit from long fascicles rather than a large physiological cross-sectional area.",
author = "{van der Zwaard}, Stephan and Guido Weide and Koen Levels and Eikelboom, {Michelle R. I.} and Noordhof, {Dionne A.} and Hofmijster, {Mathijs J.} and {van der Laarse}, {Willem J.} and {de Koning}, {Jos J.} and {de Ruiter}, {Cornelis J.} and Jaspers, {Richard T.}",
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van der Zwaard, S, Weide, G, Levels, K, Eikelboom, MRI, Noordhof, DA, Hofmijster, MJ, van der Laarse, WJ, de Koning, JJ, de Ruiter, CJ & Jaspers, RT 2018, 'Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers' Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 36, no. 18, pp. 2111-2120. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1439434

Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers. / van der Zwaard, Stephan; Weide, Guido; Levels, Koen; Eikelboom, Michelle R. I.; Noordhof, Dionne A.; Hofmijster, Mathijs J.; van der Laarse, Willem J.; de Koning, Jos J.; de Ruiter, Cornelis J.; Jaspers, Richard T.

In: Journal of Sports Sciences, Vol. 36, No. 18, 2018, p. 2111-2120.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers

AU - van der Zwaard, Stephan

AU - Weide, Guido

AU - Levels, Koen

AU - Eikelboom, Michelle R. I.

AU - Noordhof, Dionne A.

AU - Hofmijster, Mathijs J.

AU - van der Laarse, Willem J.

AU - de Koning, Jos J.

AU - de Ruiter, Cornelis J.

AU - Jaspers, Richard T.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Rowers need to combine high sprint and endurance capacities. Muscle morphology largely explains muscle power generating capacity, however, little is known on how muscle morphology relates to rowing performance measures. The aim was to determine how muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis relates to rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity of Olympic rowers. Eighteen rowers (12♂, 6♀, who competed at 2016 Olympics) performed an incremental rowing test to obtain maximal oxygen consumption, reflecting endurance capacity. Sprint capacity was assessed by Wingate cycling peak power. M. vastus lateralis morphology (volume, physiological cross-sectional area, fascicle length and pennation angle) was derived from 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging. Thirteen rowers (7♂, 6♀) completed a 2000-m rowing ergometer time trial. Muscle volume largely explained variance in 2000-m rowing performance (R2 = 0.85), maximal oxygen consumption (R2 = 0.65), and Wingate peak power (R2 = 0.82). When normalized for differences in body size, maximal oxygen consumption and Wingate peak power were negatively related in males (r = −0.94). Fascicle length, not physiological cross-sectional area, attributed to normalized peak power. In conclusion, vastus lateralis volume largely explains variance in rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity. For a high normalized sprint capacity, athletes may benefit from long fascicles rather than a large physiological cross-sectional area.

AB - Rowers need to combine high sprint and endurance capacities. Muscle morphology largely explains muscle power generating capacity, however, little is known on how muscle morphology relates to rowing performance measures. The aim was to determine how muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis relates to rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity of Olympic rowers. Eighteen rowers (12♂, 6♀, who competed at 2016 Olympics) performed an incremental rowing test to obtain maximal oxygen consumption, reflecting endurance capacity. Sprint capacity was assessed by Wingate cycling peak power. M. vastus lateralis morphology (volume, physiological cross-sectional area, fascicle length and pennation angle) was derived from 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging. Thirteen rowers (7♂, 6♀) completed a 2000-m rowing ergometer time trial. Muscle volume largely explained variance in 2000-m rowing performance (R2 = 0.85), maximal oxygen consumption (R2 = 0.65), and Wingate peak power (R2 = 0.82). When normalized for differences in body size, maximal oxygen consumption and Wingate peak power were negatively related in males (r = −0.94). Fascicle length, not physiological cross-sectional area, attributed to normalized peak power. In conclusion, vastus lateralis volume largely explains variance in rowing ergometer performance, sprint and endurance capacity. For a high normalized sprint capacity, athletes may benefit from long fascicles rather than a large physiological cross-sectional area.

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UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29473785

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van der Zwaard S, Weide G, Levels K, Eikelboom MRI, Noordhof DA, Hofmijster MJ et al. Muscle morphology of the vastus lateralis is strongly related to ergometer performance, sprint capacity and endurance capacity in Olympic rowers. Journal of Sports Sciences. 2018;36(18):2111-2120. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1439434

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