The validation of a paddle power meter for slalom kayaking
Loading...
Date
2017-03-15
Open Access Location
Authors
Macdermid PW
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Georg Thierne Verlag KG Stuttgart
Rights
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abstract
The ability to quantify power within the sport of slalom kayaking would provide coaches and athletes objective data to monitor performance. This study determined the validity of a kayak paddle power meter and subsequent relationship between work rate and stroke kinetics. One participant completed multiple trials of a flat-water, straight-line sprint and a sequence of slalom gates at numerous intensities to attain the velocity:power relationship. Laboratory results identified the kayak paddles' strain gauges were valid and reliable, and field tests presented a cubic relationship for power as a function of velocity in the straight-line sprint (R 2 =0.982) and the slalom-specific test (R 2 =0.993). Further analysis of stroke kinetics identified velocity of hand movement at individual peak force capability to be critical in the highest work rates achieved for both slalom and flat-water sprinting. It was concluded that the kayak paddle power meter tested is a valid means of recording work rate and stroke kinetics during kayaking in the field.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Sports Med Int Open, 2017, 1 (2), pp. E50 - E57