No abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether high-school football players showed risks of fluid deficits during two-a-day training (Part 1), and whether implementing a drinking strategy could acutely improve the markers of hydration (Part 2). In Part 1, pre-training urine specific gravity (USG) and pre- and post-training body weight were measured at the morning session for 5 consecutive days of two-a-day practices to monitor the hydration status of 13 varsity players. The mean pre-training body weight was consistently lower (mean decrease of 0.5 kg, p<0.05) following the first day of measurement. Pre-training USG values remained consistently high each day (range for daily means: 1.022+/-0.003 to 1.024+/-0.005). Part 2 consisted of assessing hydration status in 46 varsity and junior varsity players prior to morning training during two-a-day training before and following implementing a drinking strategy. In association with the strategy, mean body weight increased 0.5 kg (p<0.01) and mean USG decreased from 1.021 to 1.016 (p<0.01) following the drinking protocol. The slight decline in body weight and consistently high USG (Part 1) suggested that standard fluid replacement strategies were less than optimal for a majority of the players. Implementing a drinking strategy appeared to improve hydration status based on changes in body weight and USG (Part 2).

Urine specific gravity (USG) is used as an index of hydration status. Many studies have used USG to estimate pre-exercise hydration in athletes. However, very little is known about the pre-exercise hydration status of recreational exercisers. The purpose of the present study was to measure the pre-exercise USG in a large sample of recreational exercisers who attended 2 different fitness centers in the United States. In addition, we wanted to determine if factors such as time of day, geographic location, and gender influenced USG. We tested 166 subjects in Chicago and 163 subjects in Los Angeles. Subjects completed a survey on their typical training regimen and fluid-replacement habits, and thereafter voided and delivered a urine sample to the investigators prior to beginning exercise. Samples were measured on site for USG using a hand-held refractometer. The mean (SD) USG was 1.018 (+/- 0.007) for all subjects. Males had a higher average USG (1.020 +/- 0.007) when compared with females (1.017 +/- 0.008; p = 0.001). Despite differences in climate, no difference in mean USG occurred based on location or time of day. Based on standards used for athletes (USG > or = 1.020), 46% of the exercisers were likely to be dehydrated.

No abstract

No abstract