Abstract
Dehydration can impair performance by reducing muscular power and balance. However, the effect of dehydration on muscular functional power and balance recovery following muscle damage remains unclear. Dehydration is common following strenuous exercise and may exacerbate muscle damage–related impairments in neuromuscular function, potentially delaying recovery of power and balance. PURPOSE: To examine whether dehydration influences skeletal muscle functional power and balance recovery following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage in recreationally active men. METHODS: Seven recreationally active men (21±3yrs, 173.4±7.4cm, 170.5±25.9kg, lean mass 60.9±10.4kg, %fat 25.0±0.6%) completed two identical unilateral maximal eccentric knee extension exercise protocols (EKE; 10 sets × 30 reps) under a hydrated state to induce muscle damage. Following EKE, participants completed a 72-hr recovery under either euhydrated (EUHY) or dehydrated (DEHY) conditions. For DEHY, participants refrained from fluid intake for the first 24hr, followed by 1.5L/d of fluid for the subsequent 48 hr. For EUHY, participants consumed >3.7L/d of fluids. A low-moisture-content diets were replicated for both conditions. Functional power (single-leg hop distance [SJD]; cm) and dynamic balance (Y-balance test: anterior [ANT], posteromedial [PM], and posterolateral [PL] reach distances; cm) of the damaged-leg were assessed at PRE, 24h, 48h, and 72h . Both conditions were randomized and counterbalanced and were separated by ~28 days. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA (condition × time) and results are presented as mean ± SD. RESULTS: A significant (p<0.05) condition × time interaction was observed for SJD. In EUHY, SJD decreased from PRE (140.1±22.7) to 24h (123.6± 28.1; p=0.003) but returned to PRE by 48h (139.3± 31.2; p=0.827). In DEHY, SJD decreased from PRE (130.9±21.2) to 24 h (111.4±22.5; p<0.001) and 48h (116.6± 25.2; p=0.002) Significant main effects of condition and time were observed for ANT, with ANT was greater in EUHY (66.1±6.5) than DEHY (62.8±7.3; p = 0.008). ANT decreased from PRE (70.7±4.5) to 24h (60.2±5.7; p < 0.001). Significant main effect of time was observed for PM (p=0.002) and PL (p=0.001), with both were reduced from PRE (PM: 95.1±5.6; PL: 90.3±6.7) to 24h (PM: 87.2±5.0; PL: 80.1±7.2).CONCLUSION: Dehydration delays recovery of the functional power and anterior balance following muscle damage. These findings highlight the importance of proper hydration during the post-exercise recovery period, as delayed recovery of power and balance may increase injury risk and impair functional performance during subsequent physical activity.
Recommended Citation
Macias-Mendez, Julia; Appell, Casey; Domonkos, Trinity N.; Olvera, Karina; Walper, Sarah; Dunlap, Jalyn; Munger, Larry; and Luk, Hui-Ying
(2026)
"Dehydration Delays Recovery of Muscular Power and Balance Following Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
18, Article 145.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/145