Hydration, drinking and exercise performance

Mettler, Samuel; Mannhart, Ch. (2017). Hydration, drinking and exercise performance Swiss Sports & Exercise Medicine, 65(1), pp. 16-21. Rub Media 10.34045/SSEM/2017/3

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To counter progressive dehydration and thirst, athletes drink during exercise. However, despite decades of scientific research, there is still no conclusive answer regarding how much we should drink to optimize performance. The goal of this review article is to analyze the arguments underpinning contrasting perspectives and to critically analyze the available evidence. It seems that the respective argumentations of contrasting viewpoints are based on a different selective fraction of the available evidence. In studies using time trial performance protocols in which dehydration develops during exercise, it seems that end-exercise dehydration levels of up to 4% body mass do not compromise endurance performance in temperate to hot conditions – at least as long as the athlete is not prevented from drinking. In contrast, studies that induced dehydration pre-exercise consistently report performance impacts already at low levels of dehydration, i.e., 1 to 2 % body mass loss. Further factors like the perception of thirst have been suggested to influence performance, but performance effects cannot be explained solely by the perception of thirst as well. Nevertheless, no evidence was found against the hypothesis that drinking ad libitum may optimize performance outcomes. At the same time, arguments have been identified regarding why a drinking plan might assist athletes in different situations.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

School of Health Professions

Name:

Mettler, Samuel and
Mannhart, Ch.

ISSN:

1022-6699

Publisher:

Rub Media

Language:

English

Submitter:

Service Account

Date Deposited:

29 Oct 2019 10:30

Last Modified:

22 Jun 2022 10:57

Publisher DOI:

10.34045/SSEM/2017/3

Related URLs:

Additional Information:

Die Erlaubnis, diese Datei im ARBOR-Repository zu veröffentlichen, wurde eingeholt

ARBOR DOI:

10.24451/arbor.6998

URI:

https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/6998

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