A New Approach to Assess Canoe Performance through Functional Electromechanical Dynamometry

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of functional electromechanical dynamometry for sprint canoe performance. Twenty-one world-class sprint canoeists underwent two functional electromechanical dynamometry assessments (isometric and incremental load) in the sprint canoe-specific kneeling position. Race performance was assessed via official C1 500-m race times. Significant negative correlations were observed between 500-m race times and both the mean force (<i>r</i>=-0.72; <i>p</i>=0.001) and the peak force (<i>r</i>=-0.71; <i>p</i>=0.001) measured through the isometric dynamometric test. In the incremental test, a strong negative correlation was found between the race time and the number of strokes (Nreps; <i>r</i>=-0.85; <i>p</i>=0.001), as well as the absolute peak force (<i>r</i>=-0.80; <i>p</i>=0.001). These relationships remained significant when force values were adjusted for body mass. The strongest predictive model (R² _a=0.73) included the number of strokes from the incremental load test (C1 500-m race time=170.30-3.29 Nreps). These findings support the use of functional electromechanical dynamometry as a valid and sport-specific tool for assessing neuromuscular performance in elite sprint canoeists.