Health

Elite athletes' secret hydration breakthrough

Elite training facilities worldwide have quietly adopted these sophisticated protocols, which involve strategic fluid manipulation that extends far beyond traditional water consumption. The results speak for themselves: measurable improvements in endurance, enhanced temperature regulation and superior cardiovascular efficiency during competition. This scientific approach to hydration optimization has emerged from rigorous research conducted in sports medicine […]

Published

2 months ago

June 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Elite athletes' secret hydration breakthrough

This scientific approach to hydration optimization has emerged from rigorous research conducted in sports medicine laboratories, where investigators have uncovered how precisely timed fluid intake can create distinct physiological advantages. The findings challenge decades of accepted hydration practices and offer athletes a proven pathway to unlock previously untapped performance potential.

Revolutionary fluid science transforms performance

Modern research has revealed startling insights about the human body’s response to calculated fluid loading strategies. When executed with precision, these advanced protocols can increase blood plasma volume by approximately 1.5 percent of total body weight, creating measurable advantages that translate directly into competitive success.

The enhanced fluid state delivers cascading benefits throughout multiple body systems. Athletes experience dramatically reduced cardiovascular strain during high-intensity efforts, as expanded blood volume enables more efficient oxygen delivery to working muscles. This physiological enhancement becomes particularly pronounced during extended competitions where maintaining peak output over time determines victory or defeat.

Temperature regulation represents another crucial advantage of strategic hyperhydration. The expanded fluid reserves help athletes maintain lower core temperatures during exertion, preventing the performance-crushing effects of overheating that plague competitors using traditional hydration methods. Enhanced sweat production capabilities create a superior natural cooling system that becomes increasingly valuable as exercise intensity and duration increase.

Athletes implementing these protocols consistently demonstrate superior cognitive function during extended efforts. Mental sharpness remains intact as physical fatigue accumulates, allowing for better tactical decisions and maintained reaction times when competitions reach critical moments.

Precision timing unlocks maximum benefits

The effectiveness of advanced hydration protocols depends entirely on strategic timing across multiple phases of preparation and performance. Sports scientists have mapped five distinct windows that form the backbone of successful implementation, each requiring specific approaches tailored to the body’s evolving needs.

Strategic pre-loading phase

The process begins four hours before intense activity, when athletes consume calculated fluid and electrolyte combinations. Research establishes optimal intake targets of 5 to 7 milliliters per kilogram of body weight during this crucial window, providing sufficient time for absorption and distribution throughout the system.

Maintenance and fine-tuning

Two hours before exercise, focus shifts to preserving elevated hydration while avoiding fluid accumulation that could impair performance. This delicate balance requires athletes to consume smaller volumes at regular intervals, maintaining optimal status without creating discomfort or digestive issues.

Competition readiness

The immediate pre-exercise period involves final adjustments based on individual tolerance and environmental conditions. During activity, replacement strategies must account for ongoing losses while avoiding the serious risks associated with excessive fluid intake.

Recovery optimization

Post-exercise hydration serves dual purposes: restoring fluid balance and preparing the body for subsequent training sessions. This recovery window presents opportunities to support natural repair processes while maintaining the enhanced hydration state for future performance demands.

Electrolyte mastery drives success

Successful hyperhydration transcends simple water consumption to encompass sophisticated electrolyte management. Sodium functions as the primary regulator of fluid distribution, making its precise calibration absolutely essential for protocol effectiveness and athlete safety.

Scientific investigations have established optimal sodium concentrations between 2,990 and 3,772 milligrams per liter of fluid for maintaining proper cellular function. This specific range prevents dangerous fluid shifts that could compromise both performance outcomes and athlete wellbeing.

Elite athletes achieve these targets through strategic nutritional choices rather than relying exclusively on supplements. Consuming sodium-rich broths, soups and specially formulated foods provides steady absorption rates while delivering additional nutrients that support comprehensive performance enhancement.

Personalized protocols maximize individual potential

The most successful hyperhydration strategies account for significant individual variations in physiological response to fluid loading. Body composition influences absorption rates and distribution patterns, while environmental factors such as temperature and humidity dramatically affect ongoing hydration requirements.

Female athletes often require modified approaches due to hormonal fluctuations that impact fluid retention characteristics. Training experience levels also influence adaptation capabilities, suggesting that athletes new to hyperhydration should implement protocols gradually to allow proper physiological adjustment.

Environmental conditions play particularly crucial roles in protocol design. Hot, humid environments accelerate fluid losses through increased sweating, demanding more aggressive replacement strategies. Cooler conditions may permit conservative approaches while maintaining optimal hydration status throughout competition.

Advanced monitoring ensures safety and effectiveness

Successful hyperhydration implementation requires sophisticated monitoring systems to ensure both safety and optimal results. Athletes must track multiple physiological indicators to assess their body’s response and make necessary real-time adjustments.

Regular weight measurements provide objective feedback about fluid retention, while urine color analysis offers immediate visual assessment of hydration status. Heart rate responses during exercise indicate whether protocols are delivering expected cardiovascular benefits, while sweat rate calculations inform replacement needs during activity.

Building championship-level practices

Long-term success demands gradual implementation and consistent monitoring. Athletes should increase fluid intake progressively, allowing physiological adaptation without experiencing performance decrements or safety concerns.

Integration with comprehensive nutritional strategies maximizes effectiveness. Carbohydrate timing affects fluid retention capabilities, while protein consumption influences cellular hydration status. Strategic meal planning ensures all elements work synergistically to support peak performance outcomes.

As sports science advances, hyperhydration stands as a proven method for athletes seeking evidence-based performance improvements. When implemented thoughtfully and monitored carefully, these protocols provide meaningful competitive advantages that help elite performers reach their absolute potential.

Health

MLB Together, Nike RBI partner to support young athletes' mental health

Skylan Joyner reached down to pick up a baby goat. “This is greatness,” he said as he petted it while in his arms. The goat was the last of several animals Joyner got to interact with at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., on Aug. 4. His favorites included ducklings and a […]

Published

22 hours ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MLB Together, Nike RBI partner to support young athletes' mental health

Skylan Joyner reached down to pick up a baby goat.

“This is greatness,” he said as he petted it while in his arms.

The goat was the last of several animals Joyner got to interact with at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla., on Aug. 4. His favorites included ducklings and a boxed turtle, while the biggest animal he said he carried that day was a pig.

“It wasn’t actually that bad. You just gotta be confident,” Joyner said. “They’re calm, so it’s not even as bad as you think it would be.”

Farm pet therapy was just one of the many ways Joyner — along with all participants from each of the 24 baseball and softball teams representing the United States, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic — were able to reset mentally ahead of the Nike RBI World Series.

“We’re doing mental wellness activations with them, to teach the components of stress reduction and positive self care,” said MLB vice president of social responsibility April Brown. “Our athletes are really great about their physical health. We want to make sure they’re just as great about their mental health.”

MLB Together, in collaboration with Nike RBI, ensured there were multiple different stations available so each athlete could relieve some stress and talk about mental wellness in the ways that spoke to them. Other options included a Hyperice station to help reduce muscle tension, gaming consoles with MLB: The Show, cornhole and other outdoor activities.

Players also got to speak with Dr. Jorge Aguilar, a sports psychiatrist and MLB consultant who does a lot of work with rookies. Dr. Aguilar mentioned that he gets asked a range of different questions from the young athletes, from how they can improve their focus at the plate to what they can do about their frustration when they’re struggling on the field, to questions about careers outside of playing baseball.

“You can feel everybody relaxing almost instantly as you are with them,” he said. “It’s just a reminder that there are things we can do that are within our control to relax a little bit. To take it easier, to recover, to recharge when the game or life gets a little challenging.”

Since launching the mental wellness programming in 2023, Brown said she’s noticed it grow in each of the three years the league has held it. It’s now at the point where some coaches sit in on the sessions themselves and take what they can from them, which is exactly the goal MLB Together hopes for.

“When they leave here, when they go to school, when they’re with their families and friends, know that it’s okay to be kind to yourself. To be good to others,” Brown said. “To — most importantly — know if you need help, you can ask for it.”

It’s a lesson that Nike RBI alum and current Washington Nationals prospect Sir Jamison Jones took to heart from his experience. So when he heard his old team, the RBI White Sox, were in town, Jones knew he had to come pay it forward as someone who has experienced a lot of what the current Nike RBI players are currently dreaming of — getting drafted and playing pro baseball.

“A full circle moment,” he said. “ … I just feel like it’s not only my duty to give back, but I’ve been blessed to be in a position where I can give back and give the knowledge that I’ve learned through my journey.”

This year’s RBI World Series players also got the opportunity to give back themselves, with the help of the Jessie Rees Foundation. The players created “joy jars,” or containers filled with toys, stuffed animals and other things that would then be sent to kids fighting pediatric cancer.

It was a favorite among several of the athletes, and it carried an even bigger significance for Yenli Nolasco, a player with the Braves RBI team.

“Coming from a family who [has] been around social work, it means a lot because it’s showing that it’s more than just baseball,” he said. “You gotta focus on everybody.”

Health

SUU Students Present Research at NSCA National Conference

Published: August 12, 2025 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 3 minutes Cedar City, UTAH- The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) hosted strength and physical conditioning experts from all over the United States at their annual conference July 16-19 in Kansas City, Missouri. Three recent graduates from Southern Utah University’s Master of Science […]

Published

2 days ago

August 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SUU Students Present Research at NSCA National Conference

Published: August 12, 2025 |
Author: Abbie Cochrane |
Read Time: 3 minutes

Cedar City, UTAH-

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) hosted strength and physical conditioning experts from all over the United States at their annual conference July 16-19 in Kansas City, Missouri. Three recent graduates from Southern Utah University’s Master of Science in Sports Conditioning and Performance program were in attendance, presenting their own research at the conference.

Shayla Piccini, one of the SUU graduates, presented on her survey-based study thesis surrounding female athletes at SUU.

“My research focuses specifically on female athletes’ mental health, which is often understudied compared to male athletes,” said Piccini. “By exploring topics like grit, athlete burnout, and sport anxiety, I hope to contribute to the growing conversation around supporting female athletes and provide valuable insights that others can build on in both research and practice.”

Featuring keynote speakers, hands-on sessions, networking opportunities, and the latest advancements in the sports and conditioning industry, the NSCA National Conference is one of the most prominent and well-established conferences within the field.

“The NSCA runs the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, which is one of the more highly respected journals in the strength & conditioning industry. Getting the abstract for my research published in this journal is a big reason why I was able to present at the conference,” said another SUU graduate presenter, Mike Hammond.

“I attended the NSCA National Conference in 2023 as a viewer, and it made a huge impact on me,” said Piccini. “Seeing the quality of research and professional dialogue inspired me to be more than just a participant; I wanted to contribute to the field and be part of the conversation. Presenting at this conference felt like the perfect opportunity to share my own work and give back to the strength and conditioning community.”

SUU’s MSSCP Program Director, Dr. Marcus Lawrence, played a key role in helping this trio of presenters get the opportunity to present their research.

The presenters also provided their insights to any SUU student who is interested in finding ways to present their research.

“Go for it! If you have something valuable to share, why not contribute to the conversation and connect with like-minded people? The worst outcome is a “no,” and even then, that just means there’s another opportunity out there that might be a better fit. Don’t be afraid to ask your professors for advice, and remember that writing a thesis and conducting research is totally doable, even if it feels overwhelming at first. There’s so much support out there, and you won’t know what opportunities are waiting unless you try!” stated Piccini.

“Find a research subject that you are passionate about. It makes the process much easier and keeps motivation levels high,” Hammond said. “If you’re passionate about the subject, the quality of your work will be higher as well. This experience has taught me just how much work or process there is in creating published research, and it really makes me appreciate the quality of published articles.”

SUU congratulates Shayla Piccini, Mike Hammond, and Logan Welling on this wonderful opportunity. To learn more about the NSCA National Conference, visit their website to see a recap of the keynote speakers and other unbeatable features of the conference.

SUU’s Masters of Science in Sports Conditioning and Performance degree program provides students with opportunities to further build upon their understanding of sport conditioning and human performance based on what was learned throughout their undergraduate degree. The program sets students up to succeed through research-based knowledge paired with practical application. To learn more about the program, visit their page on the SUU website.

Tags:
Student
Exercise Science
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Contact Information:

Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu

Health

WVSSAC new ruling on student athlete name and likeness now in effect

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – Athletes around the mountain state will now be able to receive payments for their name and likeness. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission first approved this NIL policy back in July and it went into effect this past Friday. NIL has swept through college athletics since 2021 however there are […]

Published

2 days ago

August 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

WVSSAC new ruling on student athlete name and likeness now in effect

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – Athletes around the mountain state will now be able to receive payments for their name and likeness.

The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission first approved this NIL policy back in July and it went into effect this past Friday.

NIL has swept through college athletics since 2021 however there are caveats for players to get paid.

If a player uses their likeness for a commercial, for example, there can be no references to their school and cannot be wearing a school logo or uniform in order to protect their eligibility as an amateur athlete.

No school employees, including coaches, can be involved in a student’s use of their NIL.

Athletes and parents are encouraged to reach out to the WVSSAC Director of Compliance for questions to ensure no issues arise with eligibility.

Questions can be emails to jason.bankston@wvssac.org.

Health

Clinical psychologist discusses student

SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — School is right around the corner, and so is the fall sports season. Sunday afternoon, Salem High School hosted licensed clinical psychologist and Spartan alum Dr. Rachel Turk for a conversation on mental health among student-athletes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement “Big transitions like coming to school or a new school year or […]

Published

3 days ago

August 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

SALEM, Va. (WFXR) — School is right around the corner, and so is the fall sports season.

Sunday afternoon, Salem High School hosted licensed clinical psychologist and Spartan alum Dr. Rachel Turk for a conversation on mental health among student-athletes.

“Big transitions like coming to school or a new school year or a new school in general, starting a new sports season are all things that build up levels of stress,” said Turk, who was a standout volleyball and lacrosse player at Salem High School before going on to play college volleyball at nearby University of Lynchburg.

On Sunday, Turk spoke not only to student-athletes but also to coaches and parents about how to identify when their athlete or child may be struggling.

“It’s something that’s happening so often,” she said. “But not everybody has the resources or knows what they need to be looking for.”

Universities focus on athletes’ mental health after crises

According to Turk, as many as 35% of elite athletes experience a mental health crisis at some point in their careers.

Because emotional development is still in its early stages among high school students, those athletes can be at heightened risk of struggling emotionally.

“That is why we kind of target this group, get them the information as early as we can because if we can make a difference now, it’s going to help them be more successful the rest of their life,” said Turk.

Turk says professional athletes speaking out more often about mental health has lessened the stigma for college and high school athletes, but she knows there is still more work to be done.

“I think one of the ways we can really improve is seeing it like we see different physical stuff going on,” she said. “Seeing it like something we need to do maintenance of, not just do things in crisis or emergency situations.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.

Health

Therapist discusses importance of post

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Published

3 days ago

August 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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Health

New study finds concerning mental health issues for kids under 13 using smartphones

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – In this day in age, smartphones are everywhere. Now, local health professionals are encouraging parents to create a family media plan, setting screen-use boundaries and priorities. A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows increased screen time among children under 13 is linked to suicidal behaviors. For […]

Published

3 days ago

August 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

New study finds concerning mental health issues for kids under 13 using smartphones

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – In this day in age, smartphones are everywhere.

Now, local health professionals are encouraging parents to create a family media plan, setting screen-use boundaries and priorities.

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows increased screen time among children under 13 is linked to suicidal behaviors.

For many families, smartphones are a part of everyday life.

Children use them to communicate with parents, for entertainment, and to study, but health professionals say smartphones also come with a lot of risk, especially for a developing brain.

With 4,285 children averaging around the age of 10, the study showed that one-third of the participants are addicted to social media or smartphones beginning at age 11.

The study findings also indicate that increased smartphone addiction is associated with a higher risk of suicide-related outcomes compared to those who have less screen time.

Dr. Joshua Stein, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Prairie Care in Rochester, said he sees a number of ways phones and social media affect kids.

“One is the craving to use it, the loss of engagement and time…One is developing negative viewpoints of oneself. We see kids who are preyed upon,” Dr. Stein said.

Dr. Stein agrees parents shouldn’t consider children under age 13 to use a smart phone.

Dr. Stein suggests families limit their kids’ time on devices to minimal use.

“By offering phones for boredom, offering phones for distraction constantly, we undermine their ability to develop those skills and that will carry with them into adulthood and beyond.”

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