Monitoring of pre-competition dehydration- induced skeletal muscle damage and inflammation levels among elite wrestlers

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Weight loss practice before competitions is a common method in weight sports.

OBJECTIVE:

The current study aimed to monitor Plasma Osmolarity (P ${}_{\text{Osm}}$ ), skeletal muscle damage and inflammation levels induced by pre-competition dehydration among elite wrestlers.

METHODS:

Twenty-four male elite wrestlers participated in the study. A survey information form that assessed pre-competition weight loss practices were administered to the wrestlers. Additionally, Total Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), C-reactive Protein (C-RP) and P ${}_{\text{Osm}}$ , analyses were evaluated by a specialist at the biochemical laboratory. P ${}_{\text{Osm}}$ level for euhydration is $⩽$ 290 mOsm/L. But if P ${}_{\text{Osm}}$ level is $>$ 290, then dehydration occurs. The wrestlers were divided into two groups according to P ${}_{\text{Osm}}$ levels as weight loss and non-weight loss group.

RESULTS:

There were differences in the pre and post-test P ${}_{\text{Osm}}$ levels of weight loss group. Similarly; it was identified that there were also statistically significant differences in terms of ALT, LDH and CK levels of weight loss group between pre and post-test.

CONCLUSIONS:

It was seen that P ${}_{\text{Osm}}$ and levels of all indicators of skeletal muscle damage were higher than non-weight loss group. However, it was found that there were not any differences in terms of C-RP levels.