Susan W. Yeargin’s research while affiliated with University of South Carolina and other places

Introduction: Hypohydration can impair physical and cognitive performance, particularly in hot and humid conditions or after intense activity. Hydration solutions aim to maintain euhydration and minimize electrolyte loss, yet the efficacy of a proprietary water (PW) formulation remains unclear. This study compared its effects on hydration status and performance to a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink (CE) and distilled water (DW), hypothesizing that CE would enhance hydration markers, perceptual responses, and cognitive and physiological outcomes. Methods: Thirty-seven physically active males and females (25±7 years, 19 females) were randomized into PW (n=12), CE (n=13), or DW (n=12). Participants consumed 3.7 L (males) or 2.7 L (females) of their assigned fluid for five days before completing two 45-minute treadmill protocols simulating soccer play (28-33°C, 40-50% RH). Fluids lost were replenished at halftime. Cognitive assessments and subjective questionnaires were administered. A repeated measures linear mixed effects model analyzed group differences (α=0.05). Results: Time significantly affected serum osmolality (p=0.009), lactate (p<0.001), vasopressin (p=0.003), and cortisol (p<0.001), but no significant group effects were found (p>0.05). The PW participants reported a higher RPE post-exercise than DW (p=0.041), with no other significant cognitive or perceptual differences. Conclusion: None of the fluids significantly impacted hydration status or performance variables. Future research may examine longer exercise durations or more extreme conditions to reveal potential differences.

Hydration status monitoring through weight charts can help active individuals maintain optimal fluid balance and prevent health/performance impairments. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of athletes above an acute hypohydration threshold (within practices), a chronic hypohydration threshold (across practices), and the prevalence of athletes below the acute hypohydration threshold and above the chronic hypohydration threshold simultaneously (e.g., undetected chronic hypohydration). Second, involvement of baseline hydration verification (BV; with/without), sex, and competition level (high school, college/university) with acute hypohydration, chronic hypohydration, and undetected chronic hypohydration were also examined. Undetected chronic hypohydration was prevalent across sexes (6.4 ± 16.7% males; 1.4 ± 5.8% females) and competition levels (6.5 ± 16.4% high school; 5.4 ± 15.6% college/university). No significant differences existed across BV status for average acute hypohydration (with BV = 0.8; without BV = 0.8) or chronic hypohydation (with BV = 0.7; without BV = 0.8). All three calculations, absolute body mass loss, acute hypohydration, and chronic hypohydration, should be utilized to determine the prevalence of hypohydration, and they should also be used to assist athletic trainers while making clinical decisions regarding appropriate rehydration interventions.

Yeargin, SW, Meyer, CM, Hirschhorn, RM, Lane, AD, Arent, SM, and Haggard, CR. Characterization of health and safety resources for athletes with sickle cell trait at NCAA institutions. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2024—The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence of student-athletes with sickle cell trait (SCT), determine which screening practices are most commonly used, describe the health and human performance services provided to athletes, and ascertain if differences between National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) designations or divisions exist. A cross-sectional survey design was used to query healthcare administrators regarding SCT resources at their institution. The independent variables were designation (historically Black colleges or universities [HBCUs] or non-HBCU) and Division (DI, DII, and DIII). The dependent variables were SCT prevalence, and the health and human performance services provided to athletes. Of the 60 respondents, HBCU ( n = 16) reported 4.9 ± 2.7% of athletes with SCT, which was higher than non-HBCU (1.1 ± 0.8%; p = 0.022). Historically Black colleges or university reported a higher percentage of student-athletes supplying their own screening results than non-HBCU (52.5 ± 39.2 vs. 12.9 ± 24.0%; p = 0.022). Division III reported higher proportions of waivers than DI (68.3 ± 38.4 vs. 16.9 ± 31.0%; p = 0.010). Most schools ( n = 42, 70.0%) reported having policy and procedures regarding exertional sickling, but none ( n = 60, 100.0%) involved strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) during development. Practically, a greater proportion of DII and DIII institutions do not have supplemental oxygen available compared with DI but not statistically ( p = 0.058). Pragmatically, the prevalence should be considered when ordering and preparing resources annually. NCAA institutions need to create policy and procedure sections beyond screening. Athletic trainers and SCCs need to have a strong collaborative relationship to optimize health and human performance services.

Context: Best practices to manage cervical spine injury (CSI) in sport have been published, yet knowledge of their use is unknown. Objective: To explore adoption of CSI management policies by high school (HS) athletic trainers (ATs) and their associated behaviors, barriers, and facilitators. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Online survey platform. Patients or Other Participants: Athletic trainers providing medical services to US HSs. Main Outcome Measure(s): The precaution adoption process model was used in an online questionnaire to determine the stage of adoption by ATs for each CSI management policy component. Components obtained from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement on acute management of an athlete with a CSI included immediate care, emergency tools to remove equipment, and maintenance of equipment-removal skills. Questions assessed AT demographics, HS characteristics, and facilitators and barriers to policy adoption. Data are presented as proportions and associations determined through χ2 analysis (P < .05). Results: A total of 508 ATs’ responses were included. Of these ATs, 33.1% reported adoption of incomplete policies (<3 components of a CSI management policy, n = 168; 95% CI = 29.0%, 37.1%), and 66.9% reported adoption of comprehensive policies (n = 339; 95% CI = 62.9%, 71.0%). A significant association was found between coordination of CSI policies with emergency medical services (EMS) and adoption of the policy components for comprehensive immediate CSI care (χ2 (1) = 49.56, P < .001), emergency tools for athletic equipment removal (χ2 (1) = 41.49, P < .001), and the practice and maintenance of equipment-removal skills (χ2 (1) = 86.12, P < .001). Approximately two-thirds (66.5%) reported that a positive relationship with EMS (n = 338; 95% CI = 62.4%, 70.7%) was a facilitator, whereas 42.5% reported challenges with local EMS as a barrier (n = 216; 95% CI = 38.2%, 46.9%). Conclusions: Immediate care and emergency tool policy components had the highest rates of adoption. Higher rates of adoption in this project were associated with coordination of CSI policies with local EMS. Athletic trainers also reported challenges in coordinating with EMS. Interventions to improve collaboration, training, and interprofessional respect between ATs and EMS personnel may improve policy adoption.

This study examined parental decision-making factors regarding their child’s participation in tackle (TF) versus non-tackle (NTF) youth football leagues (YFLs, n = 91). The study also aimed to determine if these variables differed between parents who allowed their child to participate in TF and those who only allowed their child to participate in NTF. This study was of cross-sectional survey design and included items on parent demographics, child demographics, and factors influencing parent decision-making, divided into two groups: health- and league-related factors. The survey was piloted, housed, and created in a web-based platform. YFL parents rated decision-making factors on a 6-point scale. Descriptive statistics were run for all demographic variables, and non-parametric test were utilized to compare responses between groups. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare TF versus NTF, parent sex, parent concussion history, and child’s concussion history. The Kruskal-Wallis test was employed to compare parent sport history. Female parents (n = 61) rated injury risk and concussion risk higher than male parents (n = 30). Parents who did not play a sport (n = 14) rated CTE higher than parents who played football (n = 13), another sport (n = 46), or football plus another sport (n = 18). The NTF parents (n = 10) rated injury risk, concussion risk, and CTE risk higher than TF (n = 81), while TF parents rated coach’s level of training, league success, and league safety higher than NTF. This study provides insights into parents’ decision-making processes and may help YFL programs tailor their approach to address these concerns and provide a safer environment for children participating in YFL.