Effect of Different Work Durations on Sweat Electrolytes of Trained and Untrained Men

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of work durations on sweat electrolytes of trained and untrained men. Two work duration, (1st and 2nd 10 minutes), using two treadmill work intensities, (6.4kph and 8.0kph), at 0 inclination given at random, served as the independent variables. Sweat sodium, potassium and chloride were dependent variables. The filter paper method, with forehead as site for sample collection, was used. Samples were collected at the end of first and second 10 minutes of work for the two intensities, from the groups. Sodium and potassium were quantified using the flame photometer, while chloride was quantified through volumetric analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics of mean, standard deviation and student‘t’ test, set at 0.05 were used to treat and test data for the significant difference between means from the two experimental conditions, for the two groups. It was observed that with the 6.4kph work intensity, both groups had higher concentration of sweat electrolytes in their sweat at the end of the first 10 minutes compared with the second 10 minutes. However, with 8.0kph, both groups lost more chloride and for the untrained, more sodium, at the end of the second 10 minutes then during the first 10 minutes. Also both groups lost more potassium and for the trained, sodium, at the end of first 10 minutes when compared with second 10 minutes.