NEW INNOVATORS - CLARITY-CENTRE.ORGATHLETES IN Ireland are trialling a device that measures the sodium content in sweat to ensure optimum fluid levels. Physical and mental performance can be undermined by too little, or in some cases too much, fluid intake.

Existing methods of measuring fluid loss are relatively basic and include weighing the athlete before and after competition or training, often too late to have a significant impact.

However, a device developed by researchers at the Clarity Centre for Web Sensor Technologies at DCU, allows a coach to monitor pH levels in sweat and optimise hydration.

Dr Fernando Benito Lopez says the device, which has yet to be named, can be worn like a wristband or watch and contains a pad which draws sweat through pH sensors.

The design is simple and robust. The pH sensors constantly draw fresh sweat to give the most up-to-date data. The sensors change colour depending on a rise or fall in sodium levels, reacting in a similar way to litmus paper, with no need for a battery.

“It produces a reading to say whether the athlete needs to drink water, or fluids with electrolytes, or not.”

“The problem is the needs of every athlete are different and those needs can change depending on the training and conditions. The requirements are not universal.”

The system can either wirelessly feed the information to a coach’s computer or show the reading for the athlete. It can be used for up to three hours meaning its use extends to endurance competitors.

Members of Tennis Ireland and a number of Irish track athletes are currently trialling the device, which has been under development for more than 18 months. It will also be tested in a team-based environment later this year. A number of prototypes have been developed and a patent filed.

While the high performance sports market is the obvious target sector, Dr Benito Lopez says incorporating a pH measure with a heart rate monitor could form the basis of device for everyday use.

“In future this device could be used by everybody to measure all physiological symptoms.”