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The Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health’s Professor James Hull and Zander Williams were part of a group of dedicated researchers who have published research that revealed that respiratory problems, including acute respiratory illness and chest wall injury, are common in elite rowers, potentially impacting their health and performance. This study was led by Professor James Hull and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine – see link below for full study.
In this study, the authors looked at the respiratory health of an elite cohort of rowers preparing for Olympic competition, using questionnaires and performing a range of different tests. They studied how often rowers had Acute Respiratory Infections and Chest Wall Injuries over the 18 months before the ‘SARAH’ check-up conducted. The ‘SARAH’ approach requires athletes to undergo simultaneous characterisation of multiple components of the respiratory system, using questionnaires and physiological measurements (including tests of airway hyper-responsiveness and airway inflammation) to provide a full picture of their respiratory health.
The study involved 48 rowers, half of whom were women, aged around 27 years. Both men and women had Acute Respiratory Infections at similar rates, but women had more Chest Wall Injuries than men.
The findings revealed that younger rowers with larger lung capacity seemed more likely to get chest wall Injuries. The SARAH check-up showed that most rowers (81%) had at least one respiratory issue, and over half (54%) had more than one problem. The most common issues were sinus problems, allergies, and breathing pattern disorders. Although nearly two thirds of rowers reported a problematic cough during exercise, only one in ten had asthma.
Prof Hull commented ‘this study helps us better understand the impact of breathing problems in elite rowers. A key finding is that just because an athlete has a cough during sport, it doesn’t mean they have asthma or should be given an inhaler’.
He adds: ‘I was delighted to see this work published in the prestigious sports medicine journal, the BJSM and to see the success of this elite squad; finishing high up in the rowing medal table at the Paris Olympic Games’.
Overall, the findings from the study can be summarised as respiratory problems like acute respiratory infections and chest wall injuries are common in elite rowers and will therefore influence their health. Regular health checks can find multiple issues, helping improve their overall health and training.
Key findings from their research:
• Health checks often find multiple respiratory issues in the same athlete.
• Coughing during rowing is common but usually isn't related to asthma.
• Chest injuries are more common in female and younger rowers with bigger lungs and sinus issues, but aren't linked to persistent coughing or breathing problems.
Implications:
• Regular respiratory health checks for rowers are important due to the high rate of problems and their effect on training.
• Symptoms like coughing and wheezing during exercise aren't strongly linked to asthma, so thorough checks are needed for proper care.
• Good respiratory care for rowers should look at all aspects of their respiratory health, including breathing patterns, reflux, larynx issues, allergies, and other tests to find and treat any problems.
Access the research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
View and read the PDF