Hydration knowledge, attitudes and practices among university athletes and recreational sports players in the Klang Valley

Hydration plays an important role in athletic performance and in prevention of heat stroke and injuries. Lack of hydration knowledge may lead to dehydration that can impair performance and health. This crosssectional study aimed to determine the associations between hydration knowledge, attitudes and practices, and predictors of hydration practices among university athletes and recreational sports players in the Klang Valley. A total of 193 university students aged 18-24 years old participated in the study, with 79 of them being university athletes and 114 were recreational sports players (engaged in sports for at least 4 hours per week). Anthropometric measurements were conducted. Body fat percentage and muscle mass were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) machine. Physical activity level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Hydration knowledge, attitudes and practices were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Majority of the participants were male (84.5%) and the most common type of sports played was basketball (42%). The mean physical activity level was 10,990.54±3,987.05 MET-mins/week. The mean body fat percentage and muscle mass was 19.64±5.83% and 30.62±4.31 kg, respectively. The prevalence of having insufficient knowledge on hydration was 20.7%. University athletes had higher scores on hydration knowledge, attitudes, and practices than recreational sports players.