Hydration Profile and Sweat Loss Perception of Male and Female Division II Basketball Players During Practice

Abstract

Hydration affects multiple aspects of basketball performance, but few investigations have examined the hydration profiles of collegiate basketball players. We examined multiday prepractice hydration status of 11 male and 11 female NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division II basketball players' sweat losses, fluid intake, and how accurately players estimated their sweat losses. Urine-specific gravity (USG) was spontaneously assessed before 2 practices. Sweat losses and fluid intakes were measured during a conditioning practice (CP) and sport-specific practice (SP). After practices, players filled 1,030 ml practice bottles to estimate their sweat losses. Urine-specific gravity between practices exhibited a moderate correlation (r = 0.54; p = 0.012) and were consistently high (17% of samples = USG >1.030) with no difference in mean USG between men (1.026 ± 0.004) and women (1.022 ± 0.008). Athletes' estimations of their sweat loss volumes between CP and the longer SP were strongly correlated (r = 0.88; p < 0.001). Estimation error was high (absolute error for both practices = 71 ± 52%) and error direction varied greatly within men. Women consistently underestimated sweat losses by 63 ± 28% and 65 ± 20% during CP and SP. Sweat losses during SP equaled 2,471 ± 495 ml and 1,910 ± 441 ml for men and women, respectively, but high practice fluid intake limited body mass losses to 1.1 ± 0.6% by the end of practice. It is plausible that hypohydration is related to poor conceptualization of sweat losses. Simulating the methodology of this study could help identify chronically hypohydrated athletes and be used to educate on between-practice fluid needs.

Trapped sweat in basketball uniforms and the effect on sweat loss estimates

“…By comparison, partially corrected sweat losses during the 150‐min Moderate (1.93 L or 0.77 L/h) and High (2.51 L or 1.00 L/h) trials in this study were similar to the sweat losses reported in Thigpen et al. (), suggesting that our protocol was representative of actual practices. The ecological validity of the laboratory‐based protocol was also supported by the comparable trapped sweat observed in basketball clothing of players during on‐court practice sessions.…”

“…Thigpen et al (2014) reported sweat losses (without correction for RWL and MML) of 2.47 L (0.87 L/h) during a 170-min sport-specific practice and 0.97 L (1.26 L/h) during a 45-min conditioning practice in Division II college men. By comparison, partially corrected sweat losses during the 150-min Moderate (1.93 L or 0.77 L/h) and High (2.51 L or 1.00 L/h) trials in this study were similar to the sweat losses reported in Thigpen et al (2014), suggesting that our protocol was representative of actual practices. The ecological validity of the laboratory-based protocol was also supported by the comparable trapped sweat observed in basketball clothing of players during on-court practice sessions.…”

“…Thigpen et al. () reported sweat losses (without correction for RWL and MML) of 2.47 L (0.87 L/h) during a 170‐min sport‐specific practice and 0.97 L (1.26 L/h) during a 45‐min conditioning practice in Division II college men. By comparison, partially corrected sweat losses during the 150‐min Moderate (1.93 L or 0.77 L/h) and High (2.51 L or 1.00 L/h) trials in this study were similar to the sweat losses reported in Thigpen et al.…”

Effects of Hypohydration on Repeated 40-yd Sprint Performance

“…Though it is unlikely that an athlete, other than those in weight-class sports, would intentionally dehydrate themselves, it is plausible that an athlete would not properly rehydrate between practice sessions, and consequently return for their next practice or competition hypohydrated. Professional, collegiate, and youth athletes have all been shown to frequently arrive for practices and games hypohydrated (9,28,34,39,43).…”

“…I t is not uncommon for athletes to train or compete in a hypohydrated state, even showing chronic hypohydration before practices and games (9,28,34,39,43). Athletes in weight class sports such as boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts, often take extreme measures (saunas, hot water baths, or fluid restriction) to decrease body water to compete in lower weight classes (1,2,6,7).…”