Water is arguably the most important nutrient given that even minor deficits lead to performance detriment for athletes and, in a matter of days, total absence causes fatality for all. Despite this, several reports suggest that an overwhelming amount of the athletic population competes and trains in a dehydrated state. The impact of dehydration on leisure sports, such as golf, is less certain given that fine motor skill sports have received less attention in the literature and that existing research on dehydration and golfers is largely limited to males. In this randomized, controlled, crossover pilot experiment, elite female golfers on the Virginia Tech Women’s Golf Team (n=6) completed four laboratory simulated golf holes in both euhydrated and dehydrated states. Euhydration (mean urinary specific gravity [USG]=1.009; range=1.003–1.021) was attained by following the NCAA hydration guidelines, and dehydration (mean USG=1.021; range=1.018–1.026) was attained via a 12 hour overnight fast from fluids. No significant interactions of condition by time for perceived effort, 7-iron distance and accuracy, putting accuracy, reaction time, and executive cognitive function were found between euhydrated and dehydrated states. However, although not significant, euhydrated participants demonstrated improved 7-iron and putting accuracy and reported less perceived effort as compared to performance during their dehydrated state. Based on USG levels, NCAA hydration recommendations may not be adequate to induce a euhydrated state for all athletes. More research is needed with larger sample sizes to further elicit the impact of hydration status on variance in motor and cognitive function for elite golfers. / Masters of Science / Besides oxygen, our bodies need water more than anything else to function. Water is so vital to health that its absence can cause death in just three days. Athletic populations, in particular, should aim for adequate hydration to optimize sport performance, to avoid heat illness, and to promote overall health and wellbeing. Despite this importance, few studies have investigated the impact of hydration status on athletic performance of golfers, and of these studies, none have been done with females. In this experiment, female golfers on the Virginia Tech Women’s Golf Team (n=6) completed four laboratory simulated golf holes in both euhydrated and dehydrated states. Adequate hydration (euhydration) was attained by following the NCAA hydration guidelines, and dehydration was attained by restricting participants from drinking any fluid for 12 hours overnight. Performance in both adequate hydration and dehydration was measured by perceived effort, 7-iron distance and accuracy, putting accuracy, reaction time, and executive cognitive function. No significant interactions for any of the measures resulting in differences over time were found. However, although not significant, euhydrated participants demonstrated greater 7-iron and putting accuracy and reported less perceived effort as compared to performance during their dehydrated state. One participant did not reach adequate hydration by following the fluid intake guidelines during the hydration visit; therefore, NCAA hydration recommendations may not adequately hydrate all collegiate athletes. More research is needed with larger sample sizes to determine the impact of hydration status on motor and cognitive function of elite female golfers.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/96438 |
| Date | 23 July 2018 |
| Creators | Stevenson, Whitney |
| Contributors | Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise, Hedrick, Valisa E., Davy, Kevin P., Zabinsky, Jennie L. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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