Individualized Training to Improve Aerobic Capacity and 2,000 m Rowing Performance in Youth Rowers

Effects of Ventilatory Threshold-Based Individualized Training on Aerobic Capacity and 2,000 m Rowing Performance in Youth Rowers From Valdivia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether an individualized rowing training program based on ventilatory thresholds can improve aerobic capacity and 2,000 m rowing performance in youth rowers from Valdivia, Chile. The study will include male and female rowers aged 14 to 18 years who train regularly at Club de Remeros Arturo Prat.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does ventilatory threshold-based individualized training improve maximal oxygen uptake compared with the usual club training program? Does ventilatory threshold-based individualized training improve 2,000 m rowing ergometer performance compared with the usual club training program?

Researchers will compare an individualized training group with a usual training group to see if prescribing exercise intensity based on each rower's ventilatory thresholds produces greater improvements in aerobic capacity, rowing performance, and related physiological measures.

Participants will:

Complete baseline and post-intervention assessments, including a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a rowing ergometer, blood lactate measurements during an incremental rowing test, a 2,000 m rowing ergometer test, body composition assessment, and respiratory muscle strength testing.

Be randomly assigned to either an individualized training group or a usual training group.

Complete a 12-week rowing training program. Use heart rate monitors during study training sessions so that training intensity, adherence, and safety can be monitored.

Report any discomfort, injuries, or adverse events during the study.

The individualized training group will train according to heart rate zones derived from each participant's ventilatory thresholds measured at baseline. The usual training group will continue the club's regular training program. The study will also explore individual variability in training response and the proportion of participants who respond or do not respond to each training approach.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Athletic Performance; Aerobic Capacity; Rowing Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Individualized Rowing Training; Behavioral: Usual Rowing Training

Detailed Description

This study will be conducted in youth rowers from Club de Remeros Arturo Prat in Valdivia, Chile. Rowing performance over 2,000 m depends on aerobic capacity, submaximal physiological markers, and the ability to sustain high power output during a race-specific effort. In many youth rowing settings, training intensity is commonly prescribed using coach experience, stroke rate, perceived exertion, heart rate responses, and field-based performance tests. However, individualized physiological markers, such as the first and second ventilatory thresholds, may provide a more precise approach to exercise intensity prescription.

This randomized controlled trial will compare a 12-week individualized rowing training program based on ventilatory thresholds with the usual training program used by the club. Participants will be male and female rowers aged 14 to 18 years who train regularly under technical supervision. After baseline assessments, participants will be randomly assigned to either an individualized training group or a usual training group.

Both groups will maintain a comparable overall rowing training volume. The main difference between groups will be how training intensity is prescribed and monitored. In the individualized training group, heart rate training zones will be derived from each participant's baseline ventilatory thresholds obtained during cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a rowing ergometer. In the usual training group, participants will continue the regular club training program, guided by the coaching staff according to usual practice.

Participants will be assessed before and after the intervention. The primary outcomes will be maximal oxygen uptake and 2,000 m rowing ergometer performance. Secondary outcomes will include power output associated with ventilatory thresholds, blood lactate response during incremental exercise, body composition, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, training adherence, training load, and adverse events. The study will also explore the magnitude of training effects, interindividual variability in response, and the proportion of responders and non-responders in each group.

The purpose of this trial is to determine whether ventilatory threshold-based individualized training produces greater physiological and performance adaptations than usual training in youth rowers under real-world club training conditions.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Johnattan Cano Montoya, MSc.; Phone Number: +56962382339; Email: johnattan.cano@uss.cl

Study Locations

• Chile
  • Los Ríos Region
    • Valdivia, Los Ríos Region, Chile, Valdivia
      • Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia Campus
      • Contact: Johnattan Cano Montoya, MSc.; Phone Number: +56962382339; Email: johnattan.cano@uss.cl
      • Contact: Email: j.h.canomontoya@gmail.com
      • Principal Investigator: Johnattan Cano Montoya, MSc.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Active membership in Club de Remeros Arturo Prat of Valdivia.
• Age between 14 and 18 years.
• Systematic rowing training of at least 3 sessions per week under technical supervision.
• Participation in federated competitions or internal selection processes.
• Medical clearance for intense physical exercise issued by a treating physician or competent institution, such as a pre-participation medical evaluation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of uncontrolled cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic disease that contraindicates intense exercise, such as structural heart disease, clinically significant arrhythmias, or uncontrolled asthma.
• Acute or chronic musculoskeletal injury that prevents completion of the training program or study assessments.
• Use of medications that may substantially modify the physiological response to exercise, such as beta-blockers, or declared history of doping.
• Acute illness at the time of assessment, including fever, infection, or respiratory symptoms.
• Cognitive, language, or behavioral difficulties that prevent understanding instructions or complying with the study protocol.
• Simultaneous participation in another exercise intervention study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Individualized Training; Participants in this arm will complete a 12-week individualized rowing training program. Training intensity will be prescribed using heart rate zones derived from each participant's first and second ventilatory thresholds measured during baseline cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a rowing ergometer. Training sessions will include rowing on a rowing ergometer and/or on water, according to the club schedule. Coaches will adjust stroke rate, power output, effort duration, or recovery periods to maintain the target intensity zone. Heart rate monitors will be used during study training sessions to monitor intensity and adherence.	Behavioral: Individualized Rowing Training; A 12-week rowing training program in which exercise intensity is individualized using heart rate zones derived from the first and second ventilatory thresholds measured at baseline during cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a rowing ergometer. Three training zones will be defined for each participant: below the first ventilatory threshold, between the first and second ventilatory thresholds, and above the second ventilatory threshold. Coaches will adjust stroke rate, power output, effort duration, or recovery periods to maintain the target intensity zone during study training sessions.
Active Comparator: Usual Training; Participants in this arm will continue the usual 12-week rowing training program used by the club. Training will be prescribed and supervised by the coaching staff according to standard practice, including coach experience, stroke rate, perceived exertion, heart rate responses, training volume, and field-based performance references. The overall rowing training volume will be comparable to the individualized training group. Heart rate monitors will be used during study training sessions to document training load, intensity, and adherence.	Behavioral: Usual Rowing Training; A 12-week usual rowing training program prescribed and supervised by the club coaching staff according to standard practice. Training intensity will be guided by usual coaching criteria, including stroke rate, perceived exertion, heart rate responses, training volume, and field-based performance references. Heart rate monitors will be used during study training sessions to document training load, intensity, and adherence.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Maximal Oxygen Uptake	Change in maximal oxygen uptake measured during a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test on a rowing ergometer. VO2max will be defined as the highest oxygen uptake value obtained during the incremental test according to predefined maximality criteria. Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in 2,000 m Rowing Ergometer Performance Time	Change in the total time required to complete a standardized 2,000 m rowing ergometer test performed at maximal self-selected intensity. Unit of Measure: seconds	Baseline and 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Peak Power Output	Change in peak power output achieved during the maximal incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test on a rowing ergometer. Unit: watts.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Power Output at the First Ventilatory Threshold	Change in rowing ergometer power output associated with the first ventilatory threshold identified during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Unit of Measure: watts	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Power Output at the Second Ventilatory Threshold	Change in rowing ergometer power output associated with the second ventilatory threshold identified during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Unit of Measure: watts	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Oxygen Uptake at the First Ventilatory Threshold	Change in oxygen uptake associated with the first ventilatory threshold measured during the incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test on a rowing ergometer. Unit: mL/kg/min	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Oxygen Uptake at the Second Ventilatory Threshold	Change in oxygen uptake associated with the second ventilatory threshold measured during the incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test on a rowing ergometer. Unit: mL/kg/min	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Power Output at 4 mmol/L Blood Lactate Concentration	Change in rowing ergometer power output associated with a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L during the incremental rowing exercise test. Capillary blood lactate will be measured at the end of each stage, and the corresponding power output will be used to characterize the submaximal metabolic response to increasing exercise intensity. Unit of Measure: watts	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Body Fat Percentage	Change in body fat percentage assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis under standardized measurement conditions. Unit of Measure: percentage of body mass.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Body Fat mass	Change in body fat assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis under standardized measurement conditions. Unit of Measure: kg	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Skeletal Muscle Mass	Change in skeletal muscle mass assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis under standardized measurement conditions. Unit of Measure: kg	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Fat-Free Mass	Change in fat-free mass assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis under standardized measurement conditions. Unit of Measure: kg	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Maximal Inspiratory Pressure	Change in maximal inspiratory pressure measured using a digital manovacuometer. The highest acceptable and reproducible value will be recorded. Unit of Measure: cmH2O	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Maximal Expiratory Pressure	Change in maximal expiratory pressure measured using a digital manovacuometer. The highest acceptable and reproducible value will be recorded. Unit of Measure: cmH2O	Baseline and 12 weeks
Training Adherence	Percentage of planned training sessions completed during the 12-week intervention period. Unit of Measure: percentage of planned sessions.	Throughout the 12-week intervention
Adverse Events	Number of adverse events and injuries recorded during the 12-week intervention period and during study assessments. Unit of Measure: number of events.	Throughout the 12-week intervention
Interindividual Variability in Maximal Oxygen Uptake Response	Interindividual variability in maximal oxygen uptake response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in 2,000 m Rowing Ergometer Performance Time Response	Interindividual variability in 2,000 m rowing ergometer performance time response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: seconds	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Peak Power Output Response	Interindividual variability in peak power output response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: watts.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Power Output at the First Ventilatory Threshold Response	Interindividual variability in power output at the first ventilatory threshold response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: watts	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Power Output at the Second Ventilatory Threshold Response	Interindividual variability in power output at the second ventilatory threshold response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: watts	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Power Output at 4 mmol/L Blood Lactate Concentration Response	Interindividual variability in power output at 4 mmol/L blood lactate concentration response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: watts.	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Body Fat Percentage Response	Interindividual variability in body fat percentage response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: percentage of body mass	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Skeletal Muscle Mass Response	Interindividual variability in skeletal muscle mass response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: kg	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Maximal Inspiratory Pressure Response	Interindividual variability in maximal inspiratory pressure response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: cmH2O	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Maximal Expiratory Pressure Response	Interindividual variability in maximal expiratory pressure response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: cmH2O	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Oxygen Uptake at the First Ventilatory Threshold Response	Interindividual variability in oxygen uptake at the first ventilatory threshold response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Oxygen Uptake at the Second Ventilatory Threshold Response	Interindividual variability in oxygen uptake at the second ventilatory threshold response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min	Baseline and 12 weeks
Change in Total Fat Mass	Change in total fat mass assessed by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis under standardized measurement conditions. Unit of Measure: kg	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Total Fat Mass Response	Interindividual variability in total fat mass response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: kg	Baseline and 12 weeks
Interindividual Variability in Fat-Free Mass Response	Interindividual variability in fat-free mass response will be estimated using the standard deviation of individual responses. This will be calculated as the square root of the difference between the squared standard deviation of change scores in the individualized training group and the squared standard deviation of change scores in the usual training group. Unit of Measure: kg	Baseline and 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad San Sebastián

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Faude O, Kindermann W, Meyer T. Lactate threshold concepts: how valid are they? Sports Med. 2009;39(6):469-90. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200939060-00003.
• Seiler S. What is best practice for training intensity and duration distribution in endurance athletes? Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2010 Sep;5(3):276-91. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.5.3.276.
• Huerta Ojeda A, Riquelme Guerra M. Six-minute rowing test: a practical tool for training prescription, from ventilatory thresholds and power outputs, in amateur male rowers. PeerJ. 2023 Sep 29;11:e16160. doi: 10.7717/peerj.16160. eCollection 2023.
• Diry A, Ratel S, Nevill A, Maciejewski H. What is the physiological impact of reducing the 2,000 m Olympic distance in rowing to 1,500 m and 1,000 m for French young competitive rowers? Insights from the energy system contribution. Front Physiol. 2022 Jul 18;13:896975. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.896975. eCollection 2022.
• Hopkins WG. Individual responses made easy. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015 Jun 15;118(12):1444-6. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00098.2015. Epub 2015 Feb 12. No abstract available.
• Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Jan;41(1):3-13. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31818cb278.
• Mann TN, Lamberts RP, Lambert MI. High responders and low responders: factors associated with individual variation in response to standardized training. Sports Med. 2014 Aug;44(8):1113-24. doi: 10.1007/s40279-014-0197-3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 15, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: VO2max; Respiratory Muscle Strength; Aerobic Training; Exercise Performance; Blood Lactate; Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing; Interindividual Variability; Rowing; Youth Athletes; Youth Rowers; Ventilatory Threshold; Individualized Training; 2,000 m Rowing Ergometer; Training Response; Responders and Non-Responders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 292630042026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared due to the inclusion of minors, the small sample size, and the potential risk of indirect participant identification in a specific youth rowing club setting. Deidentified aggregate results may be shared in scientific publications and presentations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No