Avaliação do consumo hídrico e grau de conhecimento sobre a hidratação de atletas profissionais de futebol de campo

Abstract

Hydration plays a fundamental role in the physical performance and health of athletes, especially in high-intensity sports such as soccer. This study aimed to evaluate the water consumption and the level of knowledge about hydration among professional soccer players from the Associação Desportiva Jaboatão dos Guararapes (Jaguar), considering the available scientific recommendations. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted with 18 male athletes, aged between 20 and 40 years. Data collection was conducted through structured questionnaires, applied before and after training, and by analyzing fluid consumption during training sessions, using labeled bottles and analyzing the volume consumed. The results indicated that, although all athletes adhered to the importance of hydration, the practices observed did not always meet international recommendations. Before training, 56% of the athletes had water consumption below that recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), while 33% reported adequate consumption and 11% reported higher than necessary guidelines. During training, 50% of the athletes maintained a lower than ideal consumption, 22% followed the appropriate guidelines and 28% consumed volumes higher than recommended. These inadequacies can compromise athletic performance, increasing the risk of dehydration and its negative effects, such as fatigue and reduced cognitive capacity. It is concluded that, despite the recognition of the importance of hydration for athletes, the practices adopted often diverge from scientific recommendations, resulting in gaps that compromise sports performance and the health of players. This study reinforces the need for educational interventions and technical support from professionals in the area of sports nutrition to improve hydration practices, promoting individualized strategies that contemplate the physiological, environmental and performance demands of athletes.