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Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Engineering

Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Engineering - Poster Session E

Poster AA4 - Hydration and Athletic Performance: A Case Study on Muscle Oxygen Levels and Fatigue

Saturday, October 26, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Location: Exhibit Hall E, F & G

Introduction:  This case study investigates the impact of various hydration methods on athlete performance during medium to intense exercise. Focusing on muscle oxygen levels, the case study explores how different hydration strategies influence muscle fatigue. Results aim to expand insight on athlete optimal hydration practices. Muscle oxygen (SmO2) is measured by calculating the ratio between the deoxygenated hemoglobin and the oxygenated hemoglobin, which are the body’s way to deliver oxygen to muscles. When one’s muscle oxygen is high that means that a high percentage of hemoglobin hold oxygen. Understanding how various hydration methods affect muscle oxygenation and performance can lead to better hydration strategies, and strategies that are accessible to everybody.

Materials and

Methods:  In this case study, the athlete ran 2 miles at a 6:45 mile pace on a treadmill, equipped with a MOXY Series 5 muscle oxygen sensor on the vastus lateralis of the dominant leg. A different hydration type was chosen each night before the trial with hydration type being randomized by using a six-sided die, assigning water (1,2), Gatorade (3,4), and ionized water (5,6) to ensure unbiased selection. Total fluid intake was regulated with the participant drinking a daily total of 3.7 liters of liquid, including 2.5 liters of water before the test and 1.2 liters of the selected hydration 3 hours prior to the run.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: 

Results: Preliminary data has shown that ionized water results in maintaining the highest muscle oxygenation average throughout the entirety of the trial. Ionized water was shown to have higher oxygenation levels during the warmup. Ionized water also showed a lower delta comparing oxygenation levels from the warmup and during the run.

Conclusion: The preliminary data indicates that ionized water provides increased benefits in maintaining a higher muscle oxygenation average compared to regular water and Gatorade. However, external factors from daily activity can potentially have a substantial effect on muscle oxygen, and possibly even outweigh the results of improved hydration. Overall, this shows that Ionized water has a more stable oxygenation level throughout the trial period.

Acknowledgements (Optional):