Around The Islands: Sports Health
Proper Hydration
Hydration
It's one of the most common ailments to befall high school athletes of all types of sports, whether it be cross country runners to football linemen to a shooting guard in basketball. It's also of particular focus in Hawaii because of the islands' combination of heat and humidity.
That problem is dehydration.
When active athletes heat up, their bodies sweat a large amount of the fluids they've built up (about 60 percent of the body is water). Now, normally this is not a problem if the athlete has taken care to drink plenty of water, or sports drinks, before and during practice - but problems can develop fast if the athlete does not properly store up fluids, or hydrate. Heat illnesses range from the common heat cramps, serious heat exhaustion, and potentially fatal heat strokes.
Kevin Chang, an athletic trainer and specialist with the Straub Bone and Joint center, warns local athletes to be aware of the problem, and offers strategies that can help prevent or minimize any of that from occurring.
"Most athletes do not know about being dehydrated until it’s too late," said Chang, who has experience as a strength and conditioning specialist with the Sacred Hearts Academy. "When you’re out there participating, you are actually sweating more than you are thirsty. So, you’re actually losing more than you can intake."
He says to combat this by drinking plenty of fluids prior to practice or games. It gives the body a head start on replenishing its needs.(Read more)
