Ingesting A Sports Drink Enhances Simulated Ice Hockey Performance While Reducing Perceived Effort

This study determined whether ingesting a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution (CES) vs. progressive dehydration affected skeletal muscle glycogen use and performance in ice hockey players during simulated ice hockey exercise comprised of 3 active periods. Seven males (21.3 +/- 0.3 years, 184.7 +/- 1.2cm, 84.2 +/- 3.9kg, and 49.6 +/- 1.8mLkg (-1) min (-1) ) performed a hockey-specific protocol on two occasions and either dehydrated progressively (NF), or stayed well-hydrated by ingesting a CES. Muscle biopsies were taken at rest, before the 3 (rd) period (P3), and after the final sprint in the protocol. Compared to dehydration in the NF trial (-1.8% BM), CES ingestion enhanced voluntary performance (151.0 +/- 8.0 vs. 144.1 +/- 8.7kJ) and glycogen use (177.5 +/- 31.1 vs. 103.5 +/- 16.2mmolkg dm (-1) ), and reduced perceived exertion (16 +/- 1 vs. 18 +/- 1) in P3. Mean core temperature was reduced by CES ingestion throughout the protocol (38.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 38.1 +/- 0.1 degrees C). These results suggest that compared to progressive dehydration, staying hydrated by ingesting a CES helps preserve performance, while reducing thermal and perceptual strains, in P3 of cycle-based simulation of ice hockey exercise. These benefits are observed despite greater glycogen use in P3 with CES ingestion.