Do hydration packs modify hydration in all day skiing?

1
Do hydration packs modify hydration in all day
skiing?

• Tracey J. Dickson, PhD Gordon Waddington, PhD
  Stephen Trathen, University of Canberra
• Roger Adams, PhD., University of Sydney

2
Background

• Maintaining adequate hydration levels in
  endurance sport has been shown to impact
  positively on performance measures and may assist
  in reducing the incidence of injury (Shiffeffs,
  2008 Judelso, et al, 2007 Seifert et al, 2006
  Barr, 1999)
• Environmental factors such as altitude and cold
  temperatures exacerbate fluid loss (Seifert et
  al, 2000)
• A water deficit (e.g. 1-2 of body mass) will
  impair physical performance a slightly larger
  loss will bring symptoms of tiredness, headache
  and general malaise (Maughan, 2003)

3
Methods (1)

• Ski patrollers were randomly allocated to either
  wear a backpack hydration system (Source
  Descender with 1.5 l of water), or undertake
  their normal hydration practice, and the
  alternate the next day, over 2 consecutive days
  of work-related skiing

Equipment testing day
4
Methods (2)

• On each day patrollers wore a data-logging device
  (GPSport Spi Elite with heart rate monitor)
  located in the upper thoracic region, to record
• Heart rate
• Speed
• Acceleration
• Location

5
Methods (3)

• Weight, BMI, body fat (using Bioelectrical
  Impedance Analysis ) and body water were measured
  with digital scales prior to work commencing
  (approx. 7.30 a.m.) and at the conclusion of the
  day (approx. 5.00 p.m.)

• Participants maintained a record of their intake
  during the day
• Food
• Fluids, including refilling of the hydration pack

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GPSport Spi Elite data example
Shows the route taken. Colour indicates speed
range Dragging the mouse over the route reveals
speed, heart rate and time of day
Tri-axial accelerometer data showing body
acceleration All data recorded at either 100 or
200 times/sec
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Resort trail map Patrollers huts
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Results (1)

• 3 female and 14 males participants
• 45 of professional ski patrollers (the resort
  also uses volunteer patrollers)
• Average hours worked each day gt 7.5 hours
• Distance travelled per day (includes riding
  lifts, shuttle buses and skidoos)
• Range 9 60 km (Mean 32 km)
• Maximum speeds
• Range 25-104 kph (Mean 25 kph)

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Results (2)

• There was a significant difference between
  morning and afternoon hydration levels in
  subjects when participants used the hydration
  system (p0.03) (Paired samples t-test)
• Normal body water range
• Females 50-60
• Males 53-65

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Results (3)

• There was no difference between the morning and
  afternoon in terms of average speed (kph) of the
  participants (p.262)

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Results (3)

• The relative improvement in hydration when using
  the hydration pack was 0.5 of body mass
• The relative reduction in hydration when the
  participant undertook their normal hydration
  practice was 0.12

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Discussion
Experience design
Resort design

• If professional skiers can experience a decrease
  in hydration, what is the impact upon
  recreational skiers?
• This research also raises questions related to
  access to water from a Systems Approach to design

Graphic commun-ication design
Building design
Hydration
Product design (fashion hydration)
Work design
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Discussion design solutions (1)

• Experience design
• practice of designing products, processes,
  services, events, and environments with a focus
  placed on the quality of the user experience
• gt what is the desired quintessential experience
  desired by the visitor and how is this
  facilitated?
• Resort and building design
• Where is water available for fluid intake?
• Where are the toilets available for fluid
  out-take?

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Discussion design solutions (2)

• Product design
• Are snowsport fashion design conducive to
  carrying water?
• E.g. patrollers vest weigh 3kg with the first
  aid equipment, with the water they were over 4.5
  kg which could lead to neck and shoulder pain
• Is it cool/fashionable to wear a hydration pack

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Discussion design solutions (3)

• Work design
• Is their sufficient time and opportunity in the
  day to obtain adequate hydration and resultant
  bladder evacuation?
• Is there appropriate staff facilities to store
  extra fluids/food that can be accessed during the
  day?
• Is there a work culture to support positive
  hydration?
• Are there means to assess hydration throughout
  the day?

Urine colour chart
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Discussion design solutions (4)

• Graphic and communication design
• If there is an identified need to increase
  hydration levels,
• How is that communicated?
• What are the most effective communication
  channels to reach the target audience? e.g.
• Education, social marketing, viral marketing,
  twitter, SMS
• Indentify barriers to communication, e.g.
• Key stakeholders who manage or control the
  message
• People who are misinformed
• Ineffective communication strategies

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Conclusion

• Results suggest that wearing a hydration pack
  increases the hydration levels at the end of a
  day of skiing for work
• Further research needs to be conducted to explore
  the impact of hydration levels on balance, injury
  risk and recovery in diverse snowsport
  populations, including recreational participants.
• If there is a correlation between hydration,
  injury risk and recovery, then design solutions
  need to be investigated that draw upon
  interdisciplinary insights

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Study limitations

• Once participants knew which group they had been
  randomised to they may have primed themselves
  by increasing their fluid intake when not wearing
  a pack, or become more aware of the need for
  hydration, thus reducing any difference between
  groups
• As participation was voluntary it may be possible
  that those who participated were more interested
  or aware of their hydration needs

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Acknowledgements

• This project was funded by a ACT Healthpact grant
  and a University of Canberra Interdisciplinary
  Grant
• Thanks to the patrollers and management of
  Perisher Resort for their assistance
• Data collection supported by research assistant,
  Jared Gilkison

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Contacts

• Dr Tracey J Dickson (Tourism)
• Tracey.Dickson_at_canberra.edu.au
• Assoc Professor Gordon Waddington (Health)
• Gordon.Waddington_at_canberra.edu.au
• Mr Stephen Trathen (Design)
• Stephen.Trathen_at_canberra.edu.au
• Dr Roger Adams (Statistics)
• R.Adams_at_usyd.edu.au
• GPSports Systems
• http//gpsports.com/gpsports_website/

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References

• Barr SI (1999) Effects of dehydration on exercise
  performance. Can J Appl Physiol Apr 24(2)
  164-72.
• Judelson DA, Maresh CM, Anderson JM, Armstrong
  LE, Casa DJ, Kraemer WJ, Volek JS (2007),
  Hydration and muscular performance does fluid
  balance affect strength, power and high-intensity
  endurance? Sports Med 37 (10) 907-21
• Maughan, R. J. (2003). Impact of mild dehydration
  on wellness and on exercise performance. Eur J
  Clin Nutr, 57(S2), S19-S23.
• Seifert, J. G., Luetkemeier, M. J., White, A. T.,
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  during slalom training in elite collegiate alpine
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