The Duke Orthopaedic Journal

Register      Login

VOLUME 8 , ISSUE 1 ( June, 2018 ) > List of Articles

PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Electrolyte Replacement Strips and their Perceived Effect on Performance and Cramping: A Survey Study

Blake Boggess, David J Berkoff, Claude T Moorman III, Cameron Howes, Samuel Boggess

Keywords : Electrolytes, Enlyten, Exercise, Recovery.

Citation Information : Boggess B, Berkoff DJ, Moorman III CT, Howes C, Boggess S. Electrolyte Replacement Strips and their Perceived Effect on Performance and Cramping: A Survey Study. The Duke Orthop J 2018; 8 (1):49-54.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10017-1095

License: CC BY-NC 3.0

Published Online: 01-05-2017

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2018; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction: Exercising athletes lose electrolytes during exercise. Hydration and electrolyte supplementation have been extensively researched regarding cramping and performance, often with conflicting results. The purpose was to study the perceived impact electrolyte replacement strips have on cramping and recovery. These strips are absorbed buccally, bypassing the gastrointestinal route. Materials and methods: Our hypothesis was: During exercise, subjects using electrolyte replacement strips will feel that performance, cramping, and recovery are improved. The electrolyte strips used, Enlyten SportStripsTM a product of Healthsport Inc., are a bioabsorbable strip containing sodium, chloride, and potassium. A total of 100 subjects participated in this survey study. The institutional review board approved the study and waived consent. Subjects completed a survey addressing their perceptions of the effects of using electrolyte strips during exercise. Questions were related to cramping, performance, and overall perception of how hydration and electrolytes affect these parameters, specifically addressing the effectiveness of these electrolyte strips. Results: Average age of subjects was 29.5 years, with 81 males and 18 females (one subject did not indicate gender); 69% of the subjects used the product correctly. On the survey, “Agree” represented a score of 4 or 5 on a 5-point Likert scale; 94% of subjects believe that hydration helps performance, 71% believe that electrolytes help performance, and 49% believe that sports drinks help performance; 81% believe that electrolytes prevent cramping, and 56% believe that sports drinks prevent cramping. There were differences in responses between correct and incorrect users of the strips: 74% of those who used the product correctly felt that strips help performance, compared with 51% of incorrect (p > 0.05); 69% of those using the strips correctly indicated that they cramped less when using the strips, compared with 61% of those using them incorrectly (p > 0.05); 63% of those using the strips correctly indicated that they recovered quicker with the strips, compared with 32% of those using them incorrectly (p = 0.005). Conclusion: Athletes identify hydration and electrolytes as important components to preventing cramping and enhancing performance. During exercise, a majority of respondents felt that electrolyte strips helped performance, reduced cramping, and enhanced recovery. Those who used the product correctly tended to find the product more beneficial. Electrolyte supplementation may play a role in enhanced performance and recovery in exercising athletes. Buccal absorption is emerging in a variety of markets, and its use for athletic performance is a logical next step.


PDF Share
  1. Robertson GL. Abnormalities of thirst regulation. Kidney Int 1984 Feb;25(2):460-469.
  2. Gisolfi CV, Spranger KJ, Summers RW, Schedl HP, Bleiler TL. Effects of cycle exercise on intestinal absorption in humans. J Appl Physiol 1991 Dec;71(6):2518-2527.
  3. Van Nieuwenhoven MA, Brummer RM, Brouns F. Gastrointestinal function during exercise: comparison of water, sports drink, and sports drink with caffeine. J Appl Physiol 2000 Sep;89(3):1079-1085.
  4. Gisolfi CV, Summers RW, Lambert GP, Xia T. Effect of beverage osmolality on intestinal fluid absorption during exercise. J Appl Physiol 1998 Nov;85(5):1941-1948.
  5. Pastene J, Germain M, Allevard AM, Gharib C, Lacour JR. Water balance during and after marathon running. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1996;73(1-2):49-55.
  6. Von Duvillard SP, Braun WA, Markofski M, Beneke R, Leithäuser R. Fluids and hydration in prolonged endurance performance. Nutrition 2004 Jul-Aug;20(7-8):651-656.
  7. Morgan RM, Patterson MJ, Nimmo MA. Acute effects of dehydration on sweat composition in men during prolonged exercise in the heat. Acta Physiol Scand 2004 Sep;182(1):37-43.
  8. Maughan RJ, Merson SJ, Broad NP, Shirreffs SM. Fluid and electrolyte intake and loss in elite soccer players during training. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2004 Jun;14(3):333-346.
  9. Sanders B, Noakes TD, Dennis SC. Sodium replacement and fluid shifts during prolonged exercise in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 2001 May;84(5):419-425.
  10. Shirreffs SM, Aragon-Vargas LF, Chamorro M, Maughan RJ, Serratosa L, Zachwieja JJ. The sweating response of elite professional soccer players to training in the heat. Int J Sports Med 2005 Mar;26(2):90-95.
  11. Maughan RJ, Shirreffs SM, Merson SJ, Horswill CA. Fluid and electrolyte balance in elite male football (soccer) players training in a cool environment. J Sports Sci 2005 Jan;23(1):73-79.
  12. Orlando RC, Tobey NA, Schreiner VJ, Readling RD. Active electrolyte transport in mammalian buccal mucosa. Am J Physiol 1988 Sep;255(3 Pt 1):G286-G291.
  13. Sudhakar Y, Kuotsu K, Bandyopadhyay AK. Buccal bioadhesive drug delivery—a promising option for orally less efficient drugs. J Control Release 2006 Aug 10;114(1):15-40.
  14. al-Furaih TA, McElnay JC, Elborn JS, Rusk R, Scott MG, McMahon J, Nicholls DP. Sublingual captopril—a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1991;40(4):393-398.
  15. Galey WR, Lonsdale HK, Nacht S. The in vitro permeability of skin and buccal mucosa to selected drugs and tritiated water. J Invest Dermatol 1976 Dec;67(6):713-717.
  16. Hew-Butler T, Verbalis JG, Noakes TD. Updated fluid recommendation: position statement from the International Marathon Medical Directors Association (IMMDA). Clin J Sport Med 2006 Jul;16(4):283-292.
  17. Maughan RJ, Leiper JB, McGaw BA. Effects of exercise intensity on absorption of ingested fluids in man. Exp Physiol 1990 May;75(3):419-421.
  18. Barclay GR, Turnberg LA. Effect of moderate exercise on salt and water transport in the human jejunum. Gut 1988 Jun;29(6):816-820.
  19. Hill RJ, Bluck LJ, Davies PS. Using a non-invasive stable isotope tracer to measure the absorption of water in humans. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2004;18(6):701-706.
  20. Fordtran JS, Saltin B. Gastric emptying and intestinal absorption during prolonged severe exercise. J Appl Physiol 1967 Sep;23(3):331-335.
  21. Sharwood K, Collins M, Goedecke J, Wilson G, Noakes T. Weight changes, sodium levels, and performance in the South African Ironman Triathlon. Clin J Sport Med 2002 Nov;12(6):391-399.
  22. Twerenbold R, Knechtle B, Kakebeeke TH, Eser P, Müller G, von Arx P, Knecht H. Effects of different sodium concentrations in replacement fluids during prolonged exercise in women. Br J Sports Med 2003 Aug;37(4):300-303; discussion 303.
  23. Jung AP, Bishop PA, Al-Nawwas A, Dale RB. Influence of hydration and electrolyte supplementation on incidence and time to onset of exercise-associated muscle cramps. J Athl Train 2005 Jun;40(2):71-75.
  24. Schwellnus MP, Nicol J, Laubscher R, Noakes TD. Serum electrolyte concentrations and hydration status are not associated with exercise associated muscle cramping (EAMC) in distance runners. Br J Sports Med 2004 Aug;38(4):488-492.
  25. Sulzer NU, Schwellnus MP, Noakes TD. Serum electrolytes in Ironman triathletes with exercise-associated muscle cramping. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2005 Jul;37(7):1081-1085.
  26. Khanna GL, Manna I. Supplementary effect of carbohydrateelectrolyte drink on sports performance, lactate removal & cardiovascular response of athletes. Indian J Med Res 2005 May;121(5):665-669.
  27. Merson SJ, Maughan RJ, Shirreffs SM. Rehydration with drinks differing in sodium concentration and recovery from moderate exercise-induced hypohydration in man. Eur J Appl Physiol 2008 Jul;103(5):585-594.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.