Recommendations for Optimizing Research Regarding the Effects of Dehydration on Athletic Performance.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Human Performance

Background:

• Dehydration significantly impairs athletic performance.
• Research challenges include interindividual variability and inconsistent methods.
• Reductionist approaches fail to capture dehydration's multifactorial nature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the lack of standardized guidelines for dehydration research in sports.
• To provide structured, adaptable guidance for designing sport-specific dehydration studies.
• To promote a more nuanced understanding and reproducible research in this field.

Main Methods:

• Cataloging key interacting variables influencing dehydration.
• Developing a dual framework of 'challenges and considerations' and 'recommendations'.
• Offering adaptable guidance for rigorous, context-specific study designs.

Main Results:

• Identified key interacting variables: dehydration induction, protocol duration, fluid loss type, environment, participant factors, assessment, and nocebo effects.
• Proposed a flexible framework to guide researchers.
• Highlighted the need for a holistic approach over rigid protocols.

Conclusions:

• Standardized, adaptable guidelines are crucial for advancing dehydration research in sports.
• The proposed framework supports the development of rigorous, sport-relevant studies.
• This approach enhances the understanding and reproducibility of dehydration's impact on athletic performance.