Mild dehydration impaired intermittent sprint performance and thermoregulation in females
Rachel Driscoll, Physiologie appliquée, nutrition et métabolisme, 11 May 2020.
The effects of mild dehydration during ice hockey are well-studied in males, but not females. In a randomized, crossover design 11 female varsity hockey players drank no fluid (1.7±0.3% body mass loss) or water to maintain hydration during simulated-hockey exercise. Core temperature (P<0.01) and perceived fatigue (P=0.02) were higher and sprint power lower (P<0.01) when mildly dehydrated. Thus, mild dehydration may impair hockey performance and thermoregulation while increasing perceived fatigue in females.
• Female stop-and-go sport athletes may benefit their in-game sprint performance and thermoregulation by following personalized in-game hydration to prevent becoming mildly dehydrated.