Significant and serious hypohydration with moderate electrolyte losses does not alter cramp susceptibility when fatigue and exercise intensity are controlled. Neuromuscular control may be more important in the onset of muscle cramps than dehydration or electrolyte losses.

The purpose of this original research was to survey high school coaches in four states in the Midwest region of the United States regarding their knowledge of first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as well as confidence in managing/treating emergency situations. Responses to general knowledge inquiries revealed that coaches were able to accurately answer questions related to return to play, level of consciousness, external bleeding, and cardiac arrest. However, coaches were unable to correctly answer questions specific to rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) and also misidentified information related to pediatric AED use. Because sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death and has been linked to lack of bystander intervention, the results of this project should be considered by coaches and administrators to implement certification and continuing education for high school coaches. Finally, coaches who were certified in first aid, CPR, and AED were more confident in treating an individual who required care compared with coaches not certified. Therefore, individuals who coach at all levels of sport and recreational activities should consider formal training and certification.

Context: Adding sodium (Na þ ) to drinks improves rehydration and ad libitum fluid consumption. Clinicians (~25%) use pickle juice (PJ) to treat cramping. Scientists warn against PJ ingestion, fearing it will cause rapid plasma volume restoration and thereby decrease thirst and delay rehydration. Advice about drinking PJ has been developed but never tested.Objective: To determine if drinking small volumes of PJ, hypertonic saline (HS), or deionized water (DIW) affects ad libitum DIW ingestion, plasma variables, or perceptual indicators.Design: Crossover study. Setting: Laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: Fifteen, euhydrated (urine specific gravity 1.01) men (age ¼ 22 6 2 years, height ¼ 178 6 6 cm, mass ¼ 82.9 6 8.4 kg).Intervention(s): Participants completed 3 testing days (!72 hours between days). After a 30-minute rest, a blood sample was collected. Participants completed 60 minutes of hard exercise (temperature ¼ 36 6 28C, relative humidity ¼ 16 6 1%). Postexercise, they rested for 30 minutes; had a blood sample collected; rated thirst, fullness, and nausea; and ingested 83 6 8 mL of PJ, HS, or DIW. They rated drink palatability (100-mm visual analog scale) and were allowed to drink DIW ad libitum for 60 minutes. Blood samples and thirst, fullness, and nausea ratings (100-mm visual analog scales) were collected at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes posttreatment drink ingestion.Main Outcome Measure(s): Ad libitum DIW volume, percentage change in plasma volume, plasma osmolality (OSM p ,) plasma sodium concentration ([Na þ ] p ), and thirst, fullness, nausea, and palatability ratings.Results: Participants consumed more DIW ad libitum after HS (708.03 6 371.03 mL) than after DIW (532.99 6 337.14 mL, P , .05). Ad libitum DIW ingested after PJ (700.35 6 366.15 mL) was similar to that after HS and DIW (P . .05). Plasma sodium concentration, OSM p , percentage change in plasma volume, thirst, fullness, and nausea did not differ among treatment drinks over time (P . .05). Deionized water (73 6 14 mm) was more palatable than HS (17 6 13 mm) or PJ (26 6 16 mm, P , .05).Conclusions: The rationale behind advice about drinking PJ is questionable. Participants drank more, not less, after PJ ingestion, and plasma variables and perceptual indicators were similar after PJ and DIW ingestion. Pickle juice did not inhibit short-term rehydration.

Chronic static stretching during 2 weeks of immobilization may decrease the loss of calf girth, ankle PF peak torque, and ankle DF ROM.

Objective: To determine if drinking 2 mL/kg body mass of PJ, hypertonic saline, or deionized water (DIW) pre-exercise affects aerobic performance or thermoregulation.Design: Crossover study. Setting: Controlled laboratory study.Patients or Other Participants: Nine euhydrated men (age ¼ 22 6 3 years, height ¼ 184.0 6 8.2 cm, mass ¼ 82.6 6 16.0 kg) completed testing.Intervention(s): Participants rested for 65 minutes. During this period, they ingested 2 mL/kg of PJ, hypertonic saline, or DIW. Next, they drank 5 mL/kg of DIW. Blood was collected before and after ingestion of all fluids. Participants were weighed and ran in the heat (temperature ¼ 38.38C 6 18C, relative humidity ¼ 21.1% 6 4.7%) at increasing increments of maximal heart rate (50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%) until exhaustion or until rectal temperature exceeded 39.58C. Participants were weighed postexercise so we could calculate sweat volume.Main Outcome Measure(s): Time to exhaustion, rectal temperature, changes in plasma volume, and sweat volume.Results: Time to exhaustion did not differ among drinks (PJ ¼ 77.4 6 5.9 minutes, hypertonic saline ¼ 77.4 6 4.0 minutes, DIW ¼ 75.7 6 3.2 minutes; F 2,16 ¼ 1.1, P ¼ .40). Core temperature of participants was similar among drinks (PJ ¼ 38.78C 6 0.38C, hypertonic saline ¼ 38.78C 6 0.48C, DIW ¼ 38.88C 6 0.48C; P ¼ .74) but increased from pre-exercise (36.78C 6 0.28C) to postexercise (38.78C 6 0.48C) (P , .05). No differences were observed for changes in plasma volume or sweat volume among drinks (P . .05).Conclusions: Ingesting small amounts of PJ or hypertonic saline with water did not affect performance or select thermoregulatory measures. Drinking larger volumes of PJ and water may be more effective at expanding the extracellular space.Key Words: acetic acid, core temperature, exhaustion, sodium, vinegar Key PointsIngesting 2 mL/kg body mass of pickle juice (PJ) or hypertonic saline with water pre-exercise did not affect performance. Ingesting PJ or hypertonic saline did not alter final core temperature or sweat volume. Ingesting PJ or hypertonic saline with modest volumes of water did not cause plasma volume expansion. Ingesting small volumes of PJ with water before exercise is unlikely to affect athletic performance or select thermoregulatory variables, such as rectal temperature or sweat loss.