Hydration status of youth Judo athletes during an off-season training camp

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hydration status in youth judo athletes during an off-season 5-day judo training camp.

There is a lack of scientific literature about hydration status changes of combat athletes during different periods over a one-year training cycle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hydration status in youth judo athletes during an off-season 5-day judo training camp.

The research sample was composed of six judo athletes, age 16, body weight 81 kg, height 179 cm, sports age 9.5 years. Morning urine samples in test-tubes were collected from athletes ́ rooms and analysed using a digital refractometer ATAGO PAL-10S for urine specific gravity (USG).

After the first morning measurement, the participants were hypohydrated USG=1.0235 g.ml^-1. Next day the participants were still hypohydrated USG =1.0259 g.ml^-1 and the values were even worse than the previous day. The USG values tended to improve on the 4th day USG=1.0195 g.ml^-1 and 5th day as well USG=1.0177 g.ml^-1 and athletes were only minimally hypohydrated. However, there was no significant difference between all measurements.

Even though judo athletes trained off-season when body weight reduction was not necessary, their hydration status was still suboptimal. Judokas and their coaches should pay more attention to sufficient fluid intake throughout the whole season in order to optimize training, performance, recovery and athlete ́s overall health.

Guidelines suggest that athletes should consume 125 to 150% of the fluid deficit after exercise and that the fluid replacement drink should contain a sodium concentration of 50–100 mmol/L.