Rapid Weight Loss And Performance

Wrestlers, boxers and other combat sports athletes often find themselves having to rapidly lose weight to make their class. The techniques employed can leave an athlete dehydrated before competition. A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research investigated the impact along with the effectiveness of one re-hydration strategy.
 
Seven male college wrestlers had their hydration status measured before and after exercising at 70% of capacity in a heated room. The effort left them dehydrated after losing 3% of their body weight. Subjects rehydrated by drinking 26 ml of water per kg of body weight. Some had a 3% glycerol solution added to the water. The weight loss did not impair anaerobic performance, and glycerol did not help with rehydration compared to water alone.