Are Habitual Hydration Strategies of Female Rugby League Players Sufficient to Maintain Fluid Balance and Blood Sodium Concentration During Training and Match-Play? A Research Note From the Field.

Limited data exists on the hydration status of female athletes, with no data available on female rugby players. The objective of this study was to investigate the habitual hydration status on arrival, sweat loss, fluid intake, sweat Na loss and blood [Na] during field training and match-play in ten international female rugby league players. Urine osmolality on arrival to match-play (382 ± 302 mOsmol·kg) and training (667 ± 260 mOsmol·kg) was indicative of euhydration. Players experienced a body mass loss of 0.50 ± 0.45 and 0.56 ± 0.53% during match-play and training respectively. During match-play players consumed 1.21 ± 0.43 kg of fluid and had a sweat loss of 1.54 ± 0.48 kg. During training players consumed 1.07 ± 0.90 kg of fluid, in comparison to 1.25 ± 0.83 kg of sweat loss. Blood [Na] was well regulated ([INCREMENT]-0.7 ± 3.4 and [INCREMENT]-0.4 ± 2.6 mmol·L) despite sweat [Na] of 47.8 ± 5.7 and 47.2 ± 6.3 mmol·L during match-play and training. The findings of this study show mean blood [Na] appears to be well regulated despite losses of Na in sweat and electrolyte free fluid consumption. For the duration of the study players did not experience a body mass loss (dehydration >2%) indicative of a reduction in exercise performance, thus habitual hydration strategies appear adequate. Practitioners should evaluation the habitual hydration status of athletes to determine if interventions above habitual strategies are warranted.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001158