Six-minute rowing test: a valid and reliable method for assessing power output in amateur male rowers

BACKGROUND: Standardized tests are currently available to assess power output in elite rowers. However, there are no valid and reliable tests to assess power output in amateur rowers. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of a 6-min rowing ergometer test (6-min(RT)) as a predictor of power output (PO) in amateur male rowers. METHODS: Twelve male amateur rowers were part of the study. All participants were instructed to perform an incremental test (IT), a 6-min(RT) test, and a retest. The validity of the 6-min(RT) was determined by comparing maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) and power output (PO) between the IT and 6-min(RT). Reliability included the coefficient of variation (CV), intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and mean standard error between the 6-min(RT) test and retest. The significance level was p < 0.05. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in VO(2max) in both IT and 6-min(RT) (p = 0.18), while the mean power output (P(mean)) generated in the 6-min(RT) equaled 91.96% of the maximal aerobic power (MAP) generated in the IT (p = 0.004). Reliability analysis for the 6-min(RT) showed a CV = 0.50% and ICC = 0.97 for distance, a CV = 1.85% and ICC = 0.96 for P(mean). CONCLUSION: From a ventilatory and mechanical point of view, the 6-min(RT) is a maximally valid test for establishing MAP in amateur rowers. Also, the 6-min(RT) evidences a high degree of agreement between days. Therefore, the 6-min(RT) is a valid and reliable test for assessing PO in amateur male rowers.