Assessment of physical demands and fluid balance in elite female handball players during a 6-day competitive tournament

Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015 Feb;25(1):78-88. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2013-0210. Epub 2014 Jul 14.

Abstract

Little data exists on drinking behavior, sweat loss, and exercise intensity across a competitive handball tournament in elite female athletes. Heart rate (HR), fluid balance and sweat electrolyte content were assessed on 17 international players across a 6-day tournament involving 5 games and 2 training sessions played indoors (23 ± 2 °C, 30 ± 2% relative humidity). Active play (effective) mean HR was 155 ± 14 bpm (80 ± 7.5% HRmax) with the majority of time (64%) spent exercising at intensities >80% HRmax. Mean (SD) sweat rates during games were 1.02 ± 0.07 L · h⁻¹ and on 56% of occasions fluid intake matched or exceeded sweat loss. A significant relationship was observed between estimated sweat loss and fluid intake during exercise (r² = .121, p = .001). Mean sweat sodium concentration was 38 ± 10 mmol · L⁻¹, with significant associations observed between player sweat rates and time spent exercising at intensities >90% HRmax (r² = .181, p = .001). Fluid and electrolyte loss appear to be work rate dependent in elite female handball players, whom appear well capable of replacing fluids lost within a tournament environment. Due to large between-athlete variations, a targeted approach may be warranted for certain players only.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletes*
  • Athletic Performance
  • Beverages
  • Electrolytes / analysis
  • Electrolytes / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fluid Therapy
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Nutrition Assessment*
  • Physical Exertion
  • Rehydration Solutions / therapeutic use*
  • Running
  • Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Sports*
  • Stress, Physiological*
  • Sweat / chemistry
  • Sweating
  • Time Factors
  • Water-Electrolyte Balance
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / diagnosis
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / etiology
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / metabolism
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / prevention & control*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • Rehydration Solutions