Impact of Hydration on Exercise Performance and Physiological Responses

Abstract

Introduction: Studies have shown the importance of hydration in maintaining the physical performance and physiological responses of athletes. Therefore, the objective of this review was to provide data on the impact of hydration on physical performance and physiological responses during sports practice. Methods: We performed a search of articles published in selected PubMed and ScienceDirect databases from March 2018 to May 2019 using the keywords “hydration”, “dehydration”, “physical performance”, “thermoregulation”, and “hydroelectrolytic repositors”. Results: The scientific data presented in this review show the importance of hydration in maintaining heart rate, maximum oxygen volume (VO2MAX), and the physical performance of athletes. Besides, our results show that when properly performed, hydration can help athletes avoid hyponatremia, fatigue, and quitting due to perceived exertion more quickly. Conclusion: Proper hydration during exercise helps achieve satisfactory physical performance and prevents health-related problems.