Fluid balance of Olympic male basketball players before and during performance (633.4)

Abstract

Fluid balance of Olympic male basketball players was assessed prior to and throughout performance and possible relationships between hydration status and physical load were examined during three pre‐Olympic basketball games. Pre‐ and post‐game urine specific gravity (USG) and body weight as well as fluid intake during the games were determined. Physical load was assessed by accelerometry/GPS (MinimaxX, Catapult). Overall, 54% of players were hypohydrated entering at least one of three games. Forty percent in Games 1 and 2 and 67% of players in Game 3 lost 蠅1% of body mass. No associations were detected between fluid intake and hydration or physical load. Negative correlations were observed for pre‐game USG and late game physical load (Q3: r=‐.603, p<.039; Q4: r=‐.909, p<.034). Pre‐game USG was not related to fluid intake during the game. A negative correlation existed between USG change and physical load (r=‐.627, p<.023) when all games were averaged. These data suggest that poor pre‐game hydration may be related to late game fatigue and that dehydration during play as evidenced by change in USG is related to lower physical load. Voluntary fluid intake failed to compensate for a poor pre‐game USG.