Determination of critical power in trained rowers using a three-minute all-out rowing test

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the hyperbolic relationship between power output and time to exhaustion (work - time and power - [1/time] models) could be estimated from a modified version of a three-minute all-out rowing test (3-min RT), and to investigate the test-retest reliability of the 3-min RT. Eighteen male rowers volunteered to participate in this study and underwent an incremental exercise test (IRT), three constant-work rate tests to establish the critical power (CP) and the curvature constant (W'), and two 3-min RTs against a fixed resistance to estimate the end-test power (EP) and work-done-above-EP (WEP) on a rowing ergometer. Peak (V)Over dotO(2peak) and maximal (V)Over dotO(2max)oxygen uptakes were calculated as the highest 30 s average achieved during the 3-min RT and IRT tests. The results showed that EP and WEP determinations, based on the 3-min RT, have moderate reproducibility (P = 0.002). EP (269 +/- A 39 W) was significantly correlated with CP (work - time, 272 +/- A 30 W; power - [1/time], 276 +/- A 32 W) (P = 0.000), with no significant differences observed between the EP and CP values (P = 0.474). However, WEP did not significantly correlate with W' (P = 0.254), and was significantly higher than the W' values. There was a significant correlation between the EP and CP values (P = 0.474). However, WEP did not significantly correlate with W' (P = 0.254), and was significantly higher than theW0 values. There was a significant correlation between the (V)Over dotO(2peak) (60 +/- 3 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and (V)Over dotO(2max) (61 +/- 4 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) (P = 0.003). These results indicate that the 3- min RT has moderate reliability, and is able to appropriately estimate the aerobic capacity in rowers, particularly for the CP and (V)Over dotO(2max) parameters.