Efficacy of an Educational Intervention for Improving the Hydration Status of Female Collegiate Indoor-Sport Athletes.

CONTEXT

Research focusing on improving hydration status and knowledge in female indoor-sport athletes is limited. Investigators have demonstrated that hydration education is an optimal tool for improving the hydration status of athletes.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the hydration status and fluid intake of collegiate female indoor-sport athletes before and after a 1-time educational intervention.

DESIGN

Controlled laboratory study.

SETTING

Collegiate women's volleyball and basketball practices.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

A total of 25 female collegiate volleyball and basketball athletes (age = 21 ± 1 years, height = 173.5 ± 8.7 cm, weight = 72.1 ± 10.0 kg) were assessed during 6 days of practices.

INTERVENTION(S): Participants' hydration status and habits were monitored for 3 practice days before they underwent a hydration educational intervention. Postintervention, participants were observed for 3 more practice days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Change in body mass, fluid consumed, urine specific gravity (Usg), urine color (Ucol), and sweat rate were recorded for 6 practice days. Participants completed a hydration-knowledge questionnaire before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

Three-day mean Usg and Ucol were considered euhydrated prepractice (Usg = 1.015 ± 0.006, Ucol = 4 ± 1) and remained euhydrated postpractice (Usg = 1.019 ± 0.005, Ucol = 5 ± 2) during the preintervention period. Decreased prepractice Ucol (P < .01) and increased hydration knowledge (P < .01) were present postintervention. Basketball athletes had greater body mass losses from prepractice to postpractice than did volleyball athletes (P < .001). Overall increases were evident when we compared prepractice and postpractice measures of Usg and Ucol in the preintervention (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively) and postintervention (P = .001 and P < .001) period, respectively. No correlation was found between hydration knowledge and physiological indices of hydration and fluid intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, female collegiate indoor-sport athletes were hydrated and knowledgeable on hydration. However, our variable findings indicated that further research on these athletes is needed; clinically, attention should be given to the individual needs of each athlete. More examination will demonstrate whether a 1-time educational intervention may be an effective tool for improving hydration status in this population.