How rapid dehydration affects sleep, thinking, and muscle responses in combat athletes
The Effect of Acute Dehydration on Sleep Quality, Cognitive Skills, and Electromyographic Responses During Maximum Contraction in Combat Athletes
This test sees if losing about 3% of body weight through dehydration changes sleep, thinking skills, and muscle performance in competitive senior male combat athletes.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 12 (estimated) |
| Ages | 17 Years to 28 Years |
| Sex | Male |
| Sponsor | Abant Izzet Baysal University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bolu) |
| Trial ID | NCT07118904 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized crossover study has participants complete baseline measurements (urine density, body weight, body composition, total body fluid, resting heart rate and temperature) plus cognitive tests and sEMG-recorded isokinetic leg strength testing. In one condition athletes will lose about 3% body weight using sauna-induced dehydration and in the control condition they will not, with each athlete undergoing both conditions in random order. Body temperature and heart rate are monitored throughout, and researchers will also test the effects of rehydration after a night of dehydration on cognitive skills, strength, and sEMG responses. The design documents acute harms and benefits of rapid weight loss to inform safer weight-management practices in weight-class sports.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Competitive senior male combat athletes who volunteer, have prior rapid weight-loss experience, and have no health problems or orthopedic injuries are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Recreational athletes, female athletes, people with health conditions, those on sleep-related medications, or anyone unwilling/unable to undergo sauna-induced dehydration are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help coaches, medical staff, and regulators design safer weight-cutting and weigh-in procedures to reduce sleep and cognitive harms in athletes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked dehydration to reduced cognitive function and performance, but studies combining overnight dehydration, rehydration, and sEMG during isokinetic testing are limited, so this study adds novel physiological and sleep-related data.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Voluntary participation * Being combat athletes with prior rapid weight loss experience * No existing health conditions * No orthopedic injuries Exclusion Criteria: * Using of sleep-related medications * Complications During the Intervention: Participants who experience any complications during experimental intervention.
Where this trial is running
Bolu
- Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, — Bolu, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Umid Karli, PhD — Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Department of Coaching Education
- Study coordinator: Umid Karli, PhD
- Email: karli_u@ibu.edu.tr
- Phone: +90 374 254 10 00
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.