## 2 Materials and Methods
### Procedure
#### 2.3.2 Range of Motion  
The Active Knee Extension (AKE) test was used to assess hamstring flexibility. This test is based on angular measurements that record knee extension achieved with 90\({}^{\circ}\) hip flexion. The AKE test was carried out on both limbs following [PERSON]'s [22] protocol. The goniometer fulcrum was placed at the lateral epicondyle, the stationary arm parallel to the thigh pointing to the greater trochanter, and the moving arm parallel to the leg aligned with the lateral malleoli. Two expert evaluators conducted this test, one in charge of recording data with a digital goniometer (Baseline Absolute Axis 360\({}^{\circ}\), Fabrication Enterprises, Inc., White Plains, NY, USA) and the other one ensuring no compensatory movements from the canoeists during the measurement. Three measurements were carried out with each leg, using the mean value for analysis.  
Shoulder external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) tests were performed following [PERSON] et al.'s [23] protocol. Paddlers laid supine on a stretcher with the shoulder at 90\({}^{\circ}\) of with 90\({}^{\circ}\) of elbow flexion. The center of rotation of the digital goniometer (Baseline Absolute Axis 360\({}^{\circ}\), Fabrication Enterprises, Inc., White Plains, NY, USA) was placed over the tip of the olecranon while the moving arm was positioned along the length of the ulna, aligned with the ulnar styloid process. The stationary arm was positioned inferiorly and perpendicular to the ground, using the bubble level to ensure proper alignment. Shoulder ER was carried out by asking the athletes to rotate their arm backward as far as possible so that their palm was facing the ceiling. Shoulder IR was performed in the same position but participants were asked to rotate their arm forward as far as possible so that their palm was facing the floor. Three measurements were carried out with each arm, using the mean value for analysis.  
Shoulder flexion ROM (FLEX) was measured by asking the paddlers to raise their arm straight overhead as far as possible while keeping their elbows straight [24]. The stationary arm of the digital goniometer was positioned parallel to the midline of the thorax while the moving arm was aligned with the shaft of the humerus and lateral epicondyle. Three measurements were carried out with each arm, using the mean value for analysis.  
The Y-Balance Upper Quarter test (YBT-UQ) was used to assess the stability and mobility of the upper extremities. All athletes started the test with their right hand as the stance hand, which was aligned on the platform with the thumb behind the starting line. The test consisted of moving the three wooden blocks of the Y-Balance Test Kit (Functional Movement System, Inc., Danville, CA, USA) in the medial (YBT-UQ\({}_{\text{med}}\)), inferolateral (YBT-UQ\({}_{\text{inf}}\)), and superolateral (YBT-UQ\({}_{\text{sup}}\)) directions as far as possible with the free hand while maintaining a push-up position with shoes off. An attempt was considered a failure when [PERSON] et al.'s [25] fault criteria were observed: failure to maintain a unilateral stance, failure to maintain reach-hand contact, use of reach indicator for stance support, failure to return the reach hand to the starting position, or lifting of either foot of the floor. The maximum reach distance for each reach direction was normalized by dividing it by the upper limb length. Upper limb length was measured with a tape measure (Seca 203, Hamburg, Germany) from the C7 vertebrae to the end of the third finger of the hand with the shoulder at 90\({}^{\circ}\), elbow extended, and wrist in a neutral position [26]. Two measurements were carried out with each arm, using the mean value for analysis. To compare both limbs, these measures were normalized using the following formula:  
\[\text{(distance obtained/relative length of the limb) }\times 1000 \tag{1}\]