Research - Athletes

Bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) is valid for body composition analysis both in healthy and pathological population. It is a useful method to evaluate tissue hydration. BIVA is particularly suited to follow hydration states in haemodialysis, to analyse emergency and ICU conditions, as well as optimize nutritional or physical activity programs.

Adequate hydration is crucial in maintaining optimal physical and mental functioning and the need for a fast and reliable hydration status assessment in behavioral medicine research has become increasingly important. The goal of this study was to determine the reliability of bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA) in assessing total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) and to assess whether individuals can be reliably classified as being hypohydrated or hyperhydrated using lower and upper quartiles, respectively.

The purpose of the present study was twofold: firstly, to assess the reliability of various body composition methods, and secondly, to determine the ability of the methods to estimate changes in fat-free mass (FFM) following creatine (Cr) supplementation.

Physical fitness is important for health and longevity, and it has been argued that measurements should be considered routinely in clinical practice. Yet, many general practioners (GPs) have too little time to engage in discussions around physical activity or fitness, let alone their measurement. However, BIA is a quick and simple measure and, if PhA is predictive of such outcomes, may offer a valuable alternative for GPs and other clinical practitioners. Despite various studies in other specific clinical populations, there is little research considering the typical person at elevatedrisk of cardiometabolic disease or type 2 diabetes who might present to a GP and be referred for exercise. As such, the aim of this study was to examine the predictive value of PhA with respect to these measures in a sample of exercise referral patients.