New Article Published

This is a project we conducted before the London Olympics. Some interesting data on sweat rates in female handball players are presented.

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2014 Jul 14. [Epub ahead of print]

Assessment of Physical Demands and Fluid Balance in Elite Female Handball Players During a 6-Day Competitive Tournament.

Cunniffe B1, Fallan C, Yau A, Evans GH, Cardinale M.

Author information

Abstract

Little data exists on drinking behaviour, sweat loss and exercise intensity across a competitive handball tournament in elite female athletes. Heart rate (HR), fluid balance and sweat electrolyte content were assessed on 17 international players across a 6-day tournament involving 5 games and 2 training sessions played indoors (23 ± 2°C, 30 ± 2% relative humidity). Active play (effective) mean HR was 155 ± 14 bpm (80 ± 7.5% HRmax) with the majority of time (64%) spent exercising at intensities >80% HRmax. Mean (SD) sweat rates during games was 1.02 ± 0.07 L·h-1 and on 56% of occasions fluid intake matched or exceeded sweat loss. A significant relationship was observed between estimated sweat loss and fluid intake during exercise (r2 = 0.121, P = 0.001). Mean sweat sodium concentration was 38 ± 10 mmol·L-1, with significant associations observed between player sweat rates and time spent exercising at intensities >90% HRmax (r2 = 0.181, P = 0.001). Fluid and electrolyte loss appear to be work rate dependent in elite female handball players, whom appear well capable of replacing fluids lost within a tournament environment. Due to large between-athlete variations, a targeted approach may be warranted for certain players only.

PMID:

 

25029700

 

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]