Volianitis, S., McConnell, A. K., Koutedakis, Y., & Jones, D. A. (2001). Specific respiratory warm-up improves rowing performance and exertional dyspnea. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33, 1189-1193.

The effects of three different warm-up protocols upon rowing performance and perception of dyspnea (respiratory effort) were compared. Club rowers (N = 14) performed a 6-min all out rowing simulation on a concept II ergometer. Warm-up conditions were: 1) submaximal rowing; 2) specific intensity rowing; and 3) specific rowing with additional respiratory warm-up.

It was found that specific rowing plus respiratory warm-up produced a significant performance improvement that averaged 1.2% better than the specific rowing warm-up, which in turn was 3.2% higher than the submaximal rowing warm-up. Dyspnea was rated significantly lower after the specific plus respiratory condition than for the other two conditions.

Implication. A combination of specific rowing and respiratory warm-up is more effective than either specific or submaximal rowing-alone warm-ups.

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