Gastrointestinal Temperature Increases and Hypohydration Exists After Collegiate Men's Ice Hockey Participation

Abstract

The cold environments in which ice hockey players participate are counterintuitive to the predisposing factors of heat- and hypohydration-related illnesses. This population has received little consideration in hypohydration-related illness risk assessments. Protective equipment, multiple clothing layers, and performance intensity may predispose these athletes to significant decreases in hydration and increases in core temperature. The purpose of this study was to measure hydration status and gastrointestinal temperature (T(GI)) in male ice hockey players during practice sessions that focused on pre-season skill development and cardiovascular conditioning. The study used a repeated measures design. Data were collected in a collegiate ice hockey rink (ambient temperature = 6.03 +/- 1.65 degrees C; relative humidity = 40.4 +/- 11.89%). Seventeen ice hockey players (age = 20.6 +/- 1.1, height = 180 +/- 5 cm, mass = 85.04 +/- 7.9 kg) volunteered for this study. Urine-specific gravity (USG) and body weight were measured before and after two 110-minute practice sessions. Urine reagent strips measured USG. Calibrated CorTemp (HQ, Inc., Palmetto, FL, USA) radiofrequency telemetered thermometers collected T(GI) before, during, and after two 110-minute practice sessions. Individual participant sweat rates were calculated. Data from both sessions were pooled. T(GI) (p < 0.0001), and USG (p < 0.0001) increased over the 110-minute session. Post-exercise body weight (83.9 +/- 7.6 kg) was statistically lower (p < 0.001) than the pre-exercise weight (85.0 +/- 7.9 kg). Sweat rates were calculated to be 0.83 +/- 0.50 L.h(-1). These male ice hockey players become hypohydrated during participation potentially predisposing them to dehydration-related illnesses. This change in hydration status resulted in a gastrointestinal temperature increase and significant weight loss during activity. Prevention and rehydration strategies such as those developed by the American College of Sports Medicine and National Athletic Trainers' Association should be implemented to reduce the possibility of heat-related illness for this population.

Hydration Habits of Elite Field Futsal Players during Official Matches: Defenders and Forwards

“…This is in accordance with ACSM´s Position Stand [15], which tells of the difficulty in giving a universal recommendation that adequately supplies for the needs of players due to the high variability of results obtained, even among members of the same team. In this context, various publications recommend pay attention to environmental conditions, intensity of effort or fluid intake to explain sweat losses and dehydration [9,10,15,23,29].…”

“…In team sports, individual differences such as body weight, genetic predisposition or heat acclimatization state [15,17,25,29,30], can affect sweat rates of players. It is recommended that players should monitor body weight changes during training/competition to estimate their sweat lost [15].…”

“…The team analyzed is considered one of the best in the world, and the analysis of its players provides valuable information about futsal hydration habits during real competition. In similar articles published by studying first-level players, researchers are required to simulate competitive situations during training sessions [1,4,26,27,28,29].…”

Individual fluid plans versus ad libitum on hydration status in minor professional ice hockey players

“…The equipment and cold environment in ice hockey also influences hydration in athletes. The protective equipment required in ice hockey increases core body temperature, sweat loss, and plasma lactate; thus, resulting in decreased power output and compromising fluid balance [ 9 , 10 ]. Athletes in cool environments are often unable to replace enough fluid to counter sweat losses [ 9 , 11 – 13 ].…”

“…The protective equipment required in ice hockey increases core body temperature, sweat loss, and plasma lactate; thus, resulting in decreased power output and compromising fluid balance [ 9 , 10 ]. Athletes in cool environments are often unable to replace enough fluid to counter sweat losses [ 9 , 11 – 13 ]. In part, this is due to a blunted thirst response seen with moderate-intense (70% O 2max ) exercise [ 14 ].…”