Hydration Status, Knowledge, And Perception In Division 1 Collegiate Baseball And Softball Players

Abstract

Hydration status, knowledge, and perception are pertinent concerns for Division 1 collegiate athletes. Literature suggests many collegiate athletes are dehydrated. However, few studies have researched the effect of hydration knowledge and perception on hydration status in athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if hydration knowledge and perception has an effect on hydration status in Division 1 collegiate baseball and softball players. METHODS: Fifty-three Division 1 collegiate baseball (n=35 males) [20 (1) yrs., height 1.84 (0.56) m., body mass 89.2 (10.98) kg, and BMI 26.5 (2.9) kg/m2] and softball (n=18 females) [20 (1) yrs., height 1.65 (0.06) m., body mass 68.3 (9.68) kg, and BMI 25.0 (3.2) kg/m2] players participated in this study. Hydration knowledge and self-perceived importance of hydration were assessed via a survey upon arrival to the testing site. Participants provided a mid-stream urine sample in a sterile, clear container. Self-perceived hydration was assessed by a survey instrument utilizing the urine color (UC) and urine color scale. Hydration status was assessed utilizing urine specific gravity (USG) (two-point scale) and UC (eight-point scale). RESULTS: The majority (48.6%) of baseball and softball players (55.6%) considered hydration to be very important (e.g., 9 on a 10 point Likert scale). However, when asked how hydrated they felt prior to seeing their UC, 20% of the baseball players stated feeling slightly dehydrated and 22.2% of the softball players stated they felt neither de- nor hydrated. After looking at their urine, 31.4% of the baseball and 27.8% of the softball players stated feeling neither de- nor hydrated. After looking at the color scale to compare UC, 27.8% of the baseball and 31.4% of the softball players stated they felt slightly dehydrated. A correlation was found for baseball (p=.002) and softball (p=.002) players between USG and the perception of hydration after looking at the UC. A correlation was found for baseball (p=.000) and softball (p=.001) players between UC and the perception of hydration after looking at the UC. CONCLUSIONS: Final data showed that most participants know hydration is very important; however, hydration status (i.e., perception) is skewed resulting in a dehydrated state.