Summary
The Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science of Sports released an article that provide a brief overview on considerations to make when attempting to improve hydration. “Dehydration, if sufficiently severe, impairs both physical and mental performance, and performance decrements are greater in hot environments and in long-lasting exercise. Athletes should begin exercise well hydrated and should drink during exercise to limit water and salt deficits. Many athletes are dehydrated to some degree when they begin exercise. During exercise, most drink less than their sweat losses, some drink too much and a few develop hyponatremia. Athletes should learn to assess their hydration needs and develop a personalized hydration strategy that takes account of exercise, environment and individual needs.” (Maughan, 2008)
An issue of the International Journal of Sports Medicine and Exercise Metabolism echoed these sentiments. “An appropriate drinking strategy will take account of pre exercise hydration status and of fluid, electrolyte, and substrate needs before, during, and after a period of exercise. Strategies will vary greatly between individuals and will also be influenced by environmental conditions, competition regulations, and other factors.” (Maughan, 2010)
Analysis
Achieving proper fluid intake appears to be dependent on a multitude of compounding factors. From external conditions (e.g. weather) to internal bodily functions (e.g. sweat), all influence to varying degrees. The extent to which a single factor’s influences dehydration can differ between individuals. Therefore it may be of interest to investigate the development process of personalized products.
Customization, if applied in the proper context, aligns with values of care ethics that we have discussed throughout the semester. In this particular instance, a system that provides a customization service may be warranted. That also could result in the utilization of a UX/UI component; which was originally a desired criteria for Priority Design.
Sources
Maughan, Ronald J, and Susan M Shirreffs. “Development of individual hydration strategies for athletes.” International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism vol. 18,5 (2008): 457-72. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.18.5.457
Maughan, R J, and S M Shirreffs. “Dehydration and rehydration in competative sport.” Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports vol. 20 Suppl 3 (2010): 40-7. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01207.x
