Effects of strength training on physical fitness and sport-specific performance in recreational, sub-elite, and elite rowers: A systematic review with meta-analysis.
The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to examine the effects of strength training (ST) on selected components of physical fitness (e.g., lower/upper limb maximal strength, muscular endurance, jump performance, cardiorespiratory endurance) and sport-specific performance in rowers. Only studies with an active control group were included if they examined the effects of ST on at least one proxy of physical fitness and/or sport-specific performance in rowers. Weighted and averaged standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were computed to identify effects of ST type or expertise level on sport-specific performance. Our analyses revealed significant small effects of ST on lower limb maximal strength (SMD = 0.42, p = 0.05) and on sport-specific performance (SMD = 0.32, p = 0.05). Non-significant effects were found for upper limb maximal strength, upper/lower limb muscular endurance, jump performance, and cardiorespiratory endurance. Subgroup analyses for ST type and expertise level showed non-significant differences between the respective subgroups of rowers (p ≥ 0.32). Our systematic review with meta-analysis indicated that ST is an effective means for improving lower limb maximal strength and sport-specific performance in rowers. However, ST-induced effects are neither modulated by ST type nor rowers' expertise level.


ABBREVIATIONS
CON: control group; ICC: intraclass correlation coefficient; CRE: cardiorespiratory endurance; F: female; IG: intervention group; INT: intervention group; M: male; Sets: number of sets per exercise; SMD: standardized mean differences; SMDwm: weighted mean SMD; ST: strength training; RCT: randomized controlled trial; Reps: repetitions; RM: repetition maximum; TF: training frequency (times per week); TI: training intensity (eg., % of 1 repetition maximum); TP: training periods (weeks).
['Thiele|Dirk|D|', 'Prieske|Olaf|O|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4475-4413', 'Chaabene|Helmi|H|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7812-7931', 'Granacher|Urs|U|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7095-813X']
D054874:Athletic Performance D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness D006801:Humans D035002:Lower Extremity D053580:Muscle Strength D010809:Physical Fitness D055070:Resistance Training D034941:Upper Extremity D000073678:Water Sports
Resistance training athletic performance oarsmen on-water performance plyometric training race time