Comparison of the 200-Meter Race Phases Between Ergometer and On-Water Kayaks in Paralympic Canoe Sprint Athletes

Abstract

Background: Understanding the phases of a 200-meter race is crucial for establishing effective competition strategies. Although ergometer and on-water kayaks present similar race phases, breakpoint differences may exist. Purpose: This study compared the phases of the 200-meter race performed on an ergometer and on-water kayak in Paralympic canoe sprint (PCS) athletes and attempted to develop equations to adjust on-water breakpoints based on ergometer tests. Methods: Twenty-four international (n=8) and national (n = 16) PCS athletes (age: 34.5 years; time since injury: 14.6 years; PCS time: 4.7 years) completed a 200-meter maximum test on both ergometer and on-water kayaks. Race phases were identified using piecewise linear regression models (three- and four-phase), and breakpoint distances and times were compared using inferential statistics with a significance level set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Total time and velocity did not differ significantly between ergometer and on-water conditions. The first breakpoint occurred later on water compared to ergometer, with significant differences in distance (∆ = 26.5%, p ≤ 0.05) and time (∆ = 35.2%, p ≤ 0.05). The four-phase model showed very high coefficients of determination for both ergometer and on-water (R² = 0.97 and R² = 0.94), while the three-phase model showed high to very high values (R² = 0.94 and R² = 0.86). Regression equations for the first breakpoint were calculated but were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the first breakpoint occurs earlier on ergometers, suggesting their potential utility for training monitoring and pacing strategy development. Nonetheless, physiological and biomechanical differences between ergometer and on-water conditions warrant caution in extrapolating results. Ergometer benchmarks may serve as useful targets for on-water training, particularly in refining acceleration phases.