Relationship between hydration and jump performance: differences between elite and regional young basketball players

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hydration has been classically associated with aerobic performance. However, less is known about the relationship between anaerobic performance and hydration parameters. OBJECTIVE: It was our aim to analyze the association between jump performance and total (TBW) or intracellular (ICW) hydration. METHODS: Two teams were assessed (elite level (T1, n=11): age, 17.45_1.5years; height, 198.6_9.7cm; regional level (T2, n=10): age, 15.30_1.2years; height, 179.0_5.3cm). Hydration was estimated by bioelectrical impedance. Dual-energy X-ray absortiometry (DXA) was used to estimate fat free mass (FFM), fat mass percent (FMP) and limbs soft lean tissue (LSLT). FFM hydration (FFMh) and body cell mass (BCM) were calculated. Countermovement jump (CMJ) and CMJ with free arms (CMJA) were measured with jump map. Partial correlation analyses adjusted to LSLT between jump and hydration variables were carried out. Differences between teams were also analyzed. RESULTS: Significant correlations were found between ICW and CMJ (r= 0.705, P<0.01). As expected, significant differences were found between T1 and T2 for CMJ (6.77_2.22cm; P<0.01) and CMJA (15.41_2.18cm; P<0.001); however, ICW was the only hydration variable significantly different among level groups (61.14_0.81% vs. 59.48_1.29%; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ICW must be explanatory mechanism for jump capacity, mainly when less coordinative skills are involved. Differences between jump performances among levels of competition could be partially explained by ICW. More research is necessary to confirm our results.