4.5.2. Study Environment

The study environments were classified as either a laboratory/gym or on-water setting. The majority of studies were undertaken on-water (18/36—50.0%) where-by two records had an initial controlled test in the laboratory initially and then used the same methodology on water. Fourteen of the records (14/36—38.9%) conducted their investigations in a controlled laboratory environment, typically on a rowing ergometer; again, two of the records then transitioned the study to an on-water environment. The remaining four records did not report a study environment. It is promising to see that the majority of the studies have already been conducted in an on-water setting. The advantage of a laboratory setting is that a controlled study is easier to implement, and it o ffers availability of verification technology such as optical motion capture. Nonetheless, studies conducted in the actual competition environment provide more realistic data for coaching teams and athletes to base training programs around.
