Energy management using virtual reality improves 2000-m rowing performance

Abstract

Elite-standard rowers tend to use a fast-start strategy followed by an inverted parabolic-shaped speed profile in 2000-m races. This strategy is probably the best to manage energy resources during the race and maximise performance. This study investigated the use of virtual reality (VR) with novice rowers as a means to learn about energy management. Participants from an avatar group (n = 7) were instructed to track a virtual boat on a screen, whose speed was set individually to follow the appropriate to-be-learned speed profile. A control group (n = 8) followed an indoor training programme. In spite of similar physiological characteristics in the groups, the avatar group learned and maintained the required profile, resulting in an improved performance (i.e. a decrease in race duration), whereas the control group did not. These results suggest that VR is a means to learn an energy-related skill and improve performance.

Keywords:

• novice rowers
• virtual environment
• learning
• fast-start strategy
• race duration

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by SKILLS, an Integrated Project (FP6-IST contract #035005) of the European Commission. The authors thank Stéphane Perrey for helpful discussion about the energetics of rowing. The authors also thank Sébastien Blanc and Luc Verbrugge for their help during experimental sessions.