%0 Journal Article
%T Ad libitum fluid consumption via self- or external administration.
%A Yeargin SW
%A Finn ME
%A Eberman LE
%A Gage MJ
%A McDermott BP
%A Niemann A
%J J Athl Train
%V 50
%N 1
%D Jan 2015
%M 25389698
%F 3.824
%R 10.4085/1062-6050-49.3.76
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>During team athletic events, athletic trainers commonly provide fluids with water bottles. When a limited number of water bottles exist, various techniques are used to deliver fluids.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To determine whether fluid delivered via water-bottle administration influenced fluid consumption and hydration status.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Crossover study.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Outdoor field (22.2°C ± 3.5°C).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Nineteen participants (14 men, 5 women, age = 30 ± 10 years, height = 176 ± 8 cm, mass = 72.5 ± 10 kg) were recruited from the university and local running clubs.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The independent variable was fluid delivery with 3 levels: self-administration with mouth-to-bottle direct contact (SA-DC), self-administration with no contact between mouth and bottle (SA-NC), and external administration with no contact between the mouth and the bottle (EA-NC). Participants warmed up for 10 minutes before completing 5 exercise stations, after which an ad libitum fluid break was given, for a total of 6 breaks.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>We measured the fluid variables of total volume consumed, total number of squirts, and average volume per squirt. Hydration status via urine osmolality and body-mass loss, and perceptual variables for thirst and fullness were recorded. We calculated repeated-measures analyses of variance to assess hydration status, fluid variables, and perceptual measures to analyze conditions across time.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The total volume consumed for EA-NC was lower than for SA-DC (P = .001) and SA-NC (P = .001). The total number of squirts for SA-DC was lower than for SA-NC (P = .009). The average volume per squirt for EA-NC was lower than for SA-DC (P = .020) and SA-NC (P = .009). Participants arrived (601.0 ± 21.3 mOsm/L) and remained (622.3 ± 38.3 mOsm/L) hydrated, with no difference between conditions (P = .544); however, the EA-NC condition lost more body mass than did the SA-DC condition (P = .001). There was no main effect for condition on thirst (P = .147) or fullness (P = .475).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>External administration of fluid decreased total volume consumed via a decreased average volume per squirt. The SA-DC method requires fewer squirts within a specific time frame. Fluid breaks every 15 minutes resulted in maintenance of euhydration; however, loss of body mass was influenced by fluid administration. Athletic trainers should avoid external administration to promote positive hydration behaviors. When fluid is self-administered, individual bottles may be the best clinical practice because more volume can be consumed per squirt.