Ateneo Blue Eagles undergo Gatorade Sweat Test

Ateneo Blue Eagles undergo Gatorade Sweat Test

Last April 2010, scientists from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) conducted a sweat analysis test on the back-to-back UAAP Men’s Basketball Champion the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center.

The sweat tests are used to help GSSI scientists determine if the Blue eagles are adequately replacing the fluids and electrolytes like sodium and potassium they lose through sweat during training.

Based on the results, GSSI scientists will provide hydration programs that will help prevent cramping. Some of the Blue Eagles such as skipper Eric Salamat in particular, is prone to cramping. With Salamat a vital piece in Ateneo’s defense of the coveted collegiate basketball crown, it is hoped that the program will help optimize his performance come Season 73 that kicks off this July 2010.

Gatorade’s assessment test shows how well a player replaces the fluids he loses through sweat during training by measuring a player’s weight change pre- and post-exercise to calculate a player’s fluid lost vs. fluid replaced. The test can show how rapidly dehydration occurs.

This is the third-year that GSSI has been conducting sweat tests on the team. It is hoped that they will be able to conduct these tests on a regular basis during the season to better be able to track the team’s progress with regards to the hydration program.

Established in 1988, The Gatorade Sports Science Institute, headquartered in Barrington, Illinois (USA), is a research and educational facility dedicated to enhancing the performance and well being of athletes. Every year, GSSI educates more than 100,000 members who are primarily sports and health professionals on the latest sports science information through direct communications, educational programs and tools, conferences and professional meetings in the U.S. and around the world. For more information about sports nutrition and exercise science, visit the Gatorade Sports Science Institute Web site at www.gssiweb.com.