Date of Award
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.S. in Food and Nutrition Services
Department
Nutrition and Hospitality Management
First Advisor
Melinda Valliant
Second Advisor
Kathy Knight
Third Advisor
Martha Bass
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
The impact of dehydration on several key physiological functions that are critical for athletic performance is well studied. Hydration monitoring has been known to have significant value on impaired physical functions by maximizing performance during training and competition. Impaired physical functions has been suggested as a limitation on explosive strength, musculoskeletal output, cardiovascular output, and proper technique in contact sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hydration levels and physiological profiles that can be used as a proactive approach in monitoring a collegiate athlete’s athletic performance, fatigue, and recovery status. It was hypothesized that insufficient hydration levels will intensify physiological profiles of athletes, thus increasing an athlete’s susceptibility to fatigue and decreased athletic performance. Urine specific gravity and body weight was used to determine the hydration level of collegiate football athletes. Real-time physiological data was recorded and analyzed through Zephyr’s Performance Systems Monitor “BioHarness 3” during preseason football training camp at The University of Mississippi. A Pearson correlation coefficient was used to (1) determine the relationship between urine specific gravity change and Zephyr Performance Systems physiological data, (2) determine the relationship between percent change in body weight and Zephyr Performance Systems physiological data with statistical significance set at 0.05. An increased change in urine specific gravity resulted in a negative influence on the rate of force development (r = -0.768), mechanical intensity (r = -0.885), physiological intensity (r = 0.363), and average heart rate (r = 0.396). An increased change in percent body weight resulted in a negative influence on the rate of force development ( r = -0.466), mechanical intensity (r = -0.043), physiological intensity (r = 0.628), and average heart rate (r = 0.505). These results suggest that as an athlete becomes more dehydrated their physiological profile is negatively impacted, thus increasing an athlete’s susceptibility to fatigue and decreased athletic performance. Urine specific gravity change had a stronger correlation with rate of force development and mechanical intensity, while body weight change had a stronger correlation with physiological intensity and average heart rate when comparing the two hydration assessment techniques. The process of selecting a single assessment technique based on results can be difficult, therefore it is recommended to utilize more than one approach. Urine specific gravity and body weight are both safe, accurate, and inexpensive, therefore they are appropriate techniques to assess hydration status in collegiate athletes.
Recommended Citation
Woodard, Lauren, "Impact Of Hydration On Collegiate Athletic Performance, Fatigue, And Recovery" (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 592.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/592