ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1544637
A single 2000-meter exercise test to assess exercise adaptation in elite rowers during the preparatory phase
Provisionally accepted
Sabina Kaczmarczyk*
Anna KasperskaHanna DziewieckaJoanna Ostapiuk- KarolczukJustyna Cichoń-WoźniakPiotr BastaAnna Skarpańska-Stejnborn- Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland
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A 2000-meter exercise test on a rowing ergometer is intended to determine the training program's effectiveness and the proper training intensity. However, anecdotal data from rowers confirm that this test involves extremely high levels of exercise, which may induce metabolic stress. Therefore, this observational study aims to analyze the effects of a 2000-meter exercise test on biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and the immune system during the preparation phase in elite rowers. Methods: The Polish Youth National Rowing Team participated in the study, (N=18). The rowers performed a 2000-meter exercise test on a rowing ergometer. Before the exercise test, after one and 24 hours afterwards, venous blood was taken to determine biomarkers. Pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance parameters (TAOC, TBARS), pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-2, IL-10, TNFα, IL-6), and MYO were determined. This is part of a study that has been registered on clinicaltrials.gov under the identifier NCT06133751.Results: A statistically significant increase in IL-6 concentrations was observed 24 hours after exercise. IL-10 concentrations statistically decreased significantly immediately after and 24 hours post exercise. MYO levels statistically decreased significantly immediately after and 24 hours post exercise. WBC statistically increased significantly immediately after exercise and then returned to baseline values.The results of this study confirm that the 2000-meter exercise test causes short-term inflammation, which is related to the physiological recovery process. In addition, chronic inflammation and immune system disturbances were not observed, which means that the athletes showed adaptation to very intense exercise.
Keywords: physical effort, Athletes, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, high-intensity, Leukocytosis
Received: 13 Dec 2024; Accepted: 25 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kaczmarczyk, Kasperska, Dziewiecka, Ostapiuk- Karolczuk, Cichoń-Woźniak, Basta and Skarpańska-Stejnborn. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Sabina Kaczmarczyk, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznan, Poland
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