The effects of acute dehydration of 5% body mass on performance and physiology of mixed martial arts athletes
type: CreativeWork
description: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes are weighed 24 h prior to competition. In order to compete in a lower weight class MMA athletes will often rapidly lose weight via dehydration. Despite the prevalence, there is currently no known published data examining the effects of acute dehydration on physiology and performance in mixed martial arts athletes. The present study aimed to examine: i) the effects of 5% acute dehydration on performance (vertical jump, medicine ball throw, grip strength and repeated sled push) and physiology (body weight, haematocrit, urine specific gravity, serum osmolality and urine osmolality) of MMA athletes. A total of 14 MMA athletes between the ages of 18 and 40 y with at least 2 y of competitive experience were recruited. Participants performed a familiarisation session, followed by two experimental sessions including a control protocol (CONT) or a dehydration protocol (DHY) in a randomised order. During the DHY athletes cycled for 3 h in a heated chamber (40˚C and 30% relative humidity) wearing a sweat suit in order to lose 5% of their bodyweight (BW). Athletes then underwent a 3 h recovery period, during which they consumed fluids/food ad libitum. Athletes then performed a series of performance tests, including vertical jump, medicine ball throw, wrist grip and repeated sled push. A further 21 h recovery period was allowed before athletes performed the same tests. Prior to weight loss, immediately post weight loss, pre performance testing (3 h post weight loss) and 24 h post weight loss, urine and blood samples were collected and body weight was measured. A lower average speed during the repeat sled push (5.65 ± 1.3 km.h-1) was observed 3 h post DHY compared with 3 h post CONT (6.99 ± 0.85 km.h-1; P-1) when compared with 24 h post CONT (7.12 ± 0.95 km.h-1; P-1 and 9.14 ± 1.1 km.h-1 were observed 3 h post DHY/CONT and 8.82 ± 1.41 km.h-1 and 9.35 ± 1.06 km.h-1 24 h post DHY/CONT. A decreased time to fatigue and increased perceived exertion wa…
abstract: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes are weighed 24 h prior to competition. In order to compete in a lower weight class MMA athletes will often rapidly lose weight via dehydration. Despite the prevalence, there is currently no known published data examining the effects of acute dehydration on physiology and performance in mixed martial arts athletes. The present study aimed to examine: i) the effects of 5% acute dehydration on performance (vertical jump, medicine ball throw, grip strength and repeated sled push) and physiology (body weight, haematocrit, urine specific gravity, serum osmolality and urine osmolality) of MMA athletes. A total of 14 MMA athletes between the ages of 18 and 40 y with at least 2 y of competitive experience were recruited. Participants performed a familiarisation session, followed by two experimental sessions including a control protocol (CONT) or a dehydration protocol (DHY) in a randomised order. During the DHY athletes cycled for 3 h in a heated chamber (40˚C and 30% relative humidity) wearing a sweat suit in order to lose 5% of their bodyweight (BW). Athletes then underwent a 3 h recovery period, during which they consumed fluids/food ad libitum. Athletes then performed a series of performance tests, including vertical jump, medicine ball throw, wrist grip and repeated sled push. A further 21 h recovery period was allowed before athletes performed the same tests. Prior to weight loss, immediately post weight loss, pre performance testing (3 h post weight loss) and 24 h post weight loss, urine and blood samples were collected and body weight was measured. A lower average speed during the repeat sled push (5.65 ± 1.3 km.h-1) was observed 3 h post DHY compared with 3 h post CONT (6.99 ± 0.85 km.h-1; P-1) when compared with 24 h post CONT (7.12 ± 0.95 km.h-1; P-1 and 9.14 ± 1.1 km.h-1 were observed 3 h post DHY/CONT and 8.82 ± 1.41 km.h-1 and 9.35 ± 1.06 km.h-1 24 h post DHY/CONT. A decreased time to fatigue and increased perceived exertion wa…
author: Barley, Oliver Roland
keywords: Rapid weight loss, dehydration, combat sports, weight cutting, mixed martial arts, MMA, Sports Sciences
date published: 2016-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-27T19:21:25Z
provider: Edith Cowan University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia