RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hydration and cooling in elite athletes: relationship with performance, body mass loss and body temperatures during the Doha 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 1335
OP 1341
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103613
VO 55
IS 23
A1 Racinais, Sebastien
A1 Ihsan, Mohammed
A1 Taylor, Lee
A1 Cardinale, Marco
A1 Adami, Paolo Emilio
A1 Alonso, Juan Manuel
A1 Bouscaren, Nicolas
A1 Buitrago, Sebastian
A1 Esh, Chris J
A1 Gomez-Ezeiza, Josu
A1 Garrandes, Frederic
A1 Havenith, George
A1 Labidi, Mariem
A1 Lange, Gunter
A1 Lloyd, Alexander
A1 Moussay, Sebastien
A1 Mtibaa, Khouloud
A1 Townsend, Nathan
A1 Wilson, Mathew G
A1 Bermon, Stephane
YR 2021
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/23/1335.abstract
AB Purpose To characterise hydration, cooling, body mass loss, and core (Tcore) and skin (Tsk) temperatures during World Athletics Championships in hot-humid conditions.Methods Marathon and race-walk (20 km and 50 km) athletes (n=83, 36 women) completed a pre-race questionnaire. Pre-race and post-race body weight (n=74), Tcore (n=56) and Tsk (n=49; thermography) were measured.Results Most athletes (93%) had a pre-planned drinking strategy (electrolytes (83%), carbohydrates (81%)) while ice slurry was less common (11%; p<0.001). More men than women relied on electrolytes and carbohydrates (91%–93% vs 67%–72%, p≤0.029). Drinking strategies were based on personal experience (91%) rather than external sources (p<0.001). Most athletes (80%) planned pre-cooling (ice vests (53%), cold towels (45%), neck collars (21%) and ice slurry (21%)) and/or mid-cooling (93%; head/face dousing (65%) and cold water ingestion (52%)). Menthol usage was negligible (1%–2%). Pre-race Tcore was lower in athletes using ice vests (37.5°C±0.4°C vs 37.8°C±0.3°C, p=0.024). Tcore (pre-race 37.7°C±0.3°C, post-race 39.6°C±0.6°C) was independent of event, ranking or performance (p≥0.225). Pre-race Tsk was correlated with faster race completion (r=0.32, p=0.046) and was higher in non-finishers (did not finish (DNF); 33.8°C±0.9°C vs 32.6°C±1.4°C, p=0.017). Body mass loss was higher in men than women (−2.8±1.5% vs −1.3±1.6%, p<0.001), although not associated with performance.Conclusion Most athletes’ hydration strategies were pre-planned based on personal experience. Ice vests were the most adopted pre-cooling strategy and the only one minimising Tcore, suggesting that event organisers should be cognisant of logistics (ie, freezers). Dehydration was moderate and unrelated to performance. Pre-race Tsk was related to performance and DNF, suggesting that Tsk modulation should be incorporated into pre-race strategies.Data are available upon reasonable request.