Rowing performance, fluid balance, and metabolic function following dehydration and rehydration

• Published in: Medicine and science in sports and exercise Vol. 25; no. 12; p. 1358
• Main Authors: Burge, C M, Carey, M F, Payne, W R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-1993
• Subjects: Adult; Body Weight; Dehydration - metabolism; Fluid Therapy; Glycogen - analysis; Humans; Male; Muscles - chemistry; Plasma Volume; Sports - physiology; Water-Electrolyte Balance
• ISSN: 0195-9131
• DOI: 10.1249/00005768-199312000-00007

Eight international class lightweight rowers were examined to determine the efficacy of rehydrating with water following 24 h of dehydration on body fluid balance, metabolic function, and rowing performance. The rowers performed a maximal rowing trial on a Gjessing rowing ergometer (4200 revs, 3-kg resistance) while euhydrated (ET) and following partial rehydration (RT). Body weight was reduced using exercise together with food and fluid restriction over 24 h and was followed by consumption of 1.5 l of water over 2 h. Body weight decreased 5.16 +/- 0.14% (P < 0.05) and plasma volume decreased 12.5 +/- 1.4% (P < 0.05) after dehydration. Rehydration restored plasma volume by 6.02 +/- 0.62%. Rowing trial time increased significantly from 7.02 +/- 0.17 min for the ET to 7.38 +/- 0.21 min for the RT (P < 0.05). The net plasma lactate accumulation decreased significantly from 8.77 +/- 0.31 mmol.l-1 for the ET to 6.77 +/- 0.24 mmol.l-1 for the RT (P < 0.05). Glycogen content (glycosyl units) of the vastus lateralis decreased by 203.6 +/- 18.6 mmol.kg-1 DW during the ET compared with 139.9 +/- 13.4 mmol.kg-1 DW during the RT (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the dehydration/rehydration protocol reduced maximal rowing performance due to lowered plasma volume and decreased muscle glycogen utilization.