Incidence of pre-game hydration in athletes competing at an international event in dry tropical conditions
Finn, J.P., Wood, R.J., 'Incidence of pre-game hydration in athletes competing at an international event in dry tropical conditions.' Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol 61 p221-225, 2004.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that the pre-game hydration status of athletes competing at an international event in dry tropical conditions may be inadequate. Differences in hydration status among athletes due to the athlete’s place of origin and to activities during the previous 24 hours were also investigated, as well as the suitability of urine colour as a marker of hydration status.
Design: There were 93 male athletes tested prior to their first game, with 68 retested three to four days later. A comparison between subjects’ urine specific gravity (Usg) was made with urine colour (Ucol), subjects’ origin and previous 24 hours’ activities as indicated in a questionnaire. No prior warning was given for either test.
Subjects: Subjects were selected on the basis of the environmental conditions they anticipated for competition and had therefore prepared for: indoor air conditioned (volleyball n = 43), outdoor (touch football n = 32) and indoor non-air conditioned (basketball n = 18).
Setting: The 2001 Arafura Games, an international event held in dry tropical conditions in Australia.
Main outcome measures: Urine specific gravity (Usg); urine colour.
Statistical analyses: Differences in Usg between the first and second sampling periods were compared using a Student’s t-test (paired). For differences in distribution of hydration levels between sports, Fishers exact tests with Bonferroni adjusted alpha levels were used. Stepwise linear regression was used to determine the effect of athletes’ variables on Usg.
Results: The Usg of all samples (mean ± standard deviation) was 1.020 ± 0.008, with 6% classified with serious dehydration, 50% with significant dehydration, 31% with minimal dehydration and 14% were well hydrated. There was no difference between the first and second sample (P = 0.166). There was a significant relationship between Usg and fluid intake rating (P = 0.015), but no relationships between Usg and other questionnaire items. There was a high correlation (r = 0.87) between Ucol and Usg, though Ucol tended to underestimate hydration levels.
Conclusion and application: Findings are of some concern as dehydration was prevalent among athletes. Recommendations are for hydration education to specifically target those groups identified as high risk, irrespective of whether athletes had spent the previous six months in a tropical environment, and to promote Ucol to be used by athletes for monitoring hydration status.
Related Pages
- Pre-Exercise Hydration
- Wood, R.J., Finn, J.P., Marsden, J.F., Pre-game hydration status of athletes competing at the 2001 Arafura games in Darwin, Proceedings of the Australian Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2001: A Sports Medicine Odyssey challenges, controversies and change.
- Full list of research papers by Rob Wood
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