Quantifying paddling kinematic through muscle activation and whole body coordination during maximal sprint of different duration on a kayak ergometer: a pilot study

Abstract

Paddling technique and stroke kinematics are important performance factors in flatwater sprint kayaking that require important energetic demand and high strength from the muscles of the trunk and upper limb. The various distance competed (from 200-m to 1000-m) requires the athletes to optimize their pacing strategy to maximize power output distribution throughout the race. This study aims to characterize paddling technique and stroke kinematics during two maximal sprints of different duration. Nine national-trained participants performed a 40-seconds and a 4-min sprint at maximal intensity on a kayak ergometer. The main findings demonstrated a significantly greater mean stroke power (237 {+/-} 80 W vs 170 {+/-} 48 W) and rate (131 {+/-} 8 spm vs 109 {+/-} 7 spm) during the 40-s sprint compared to the 4-min sprint. Athletes used an all-out strategy for the 40-sec exercise and a parabolic-shape strategy during the 4-min. Despite different strategies implemented and higher muscular activation during the 40-s sprint, no change in paddling technique and body coordination occurred during the sprints. The findings of the present study suggest that athletes constructed a well-defined profile that is not affected by fatigue despite a decrease in power output during the all-out strategy. Also, they regulate paddling kinematics during longer exercise with no change in paddling technique and body coordination.