HEAT Sport Sciences, Inc.
Attn: Dr. Sandra Fowkes-Godek
P.O. Box 327
Pocopson, PA 19366-0327
Please get a tracking number and let us know that your sample is coming (testing@levelen.com).
Stimulated sweat tests are static tests that are medically approved for detecting Cystic Fibrosis. The problem with this method, in terms of athletic performance, is that the sweat composition generated by an artificial stimulus differs greatly from a true sample taken during physical activity. Eccrine sweat glands are stimulated when the body is hot (physical activity), and sweat produced by eccrine glands will have different electrolyte levels from aprocrine glands. Numerous studies have shown that this stimulated method results in elevated levels of electrolyte concentration,
Based on over 15 years of research, and data on thousands of athletes across numerous sports, athletes simply don’t sweat the same. General hydration guidelines are just that, general, and aren’t useful for helping the athlete determine their unique fluid and electrolyte needs. Your Sweat Profile is uniquely yours, and could differ dramatically from another (over a hundred fold), even if they have a similar diet, body type, size, etc.
When it comes to electrolytes, your body is very good at regulating your levels. Usually within an hour, your sodium and chloride levels will have returned to normal levels, even after suffering muscle cramps during competition. Our sweat test determines what your real-time losses will be, so we can scientifically replenish based on your specific needs and assure your levels will never drop below normal during an event. A blood test does not provide the real-time information needed to determine an individual’s specific fluid and electrolyte needs.
Electrolytes are essentially salts that can carry an electrical charge. The cells in your body rely on electrolytes to control cell membrane stability and to carry the electrical charges needed for muscle contractions caused by nerve impulses. Without electrolytes, the cells in your body couldn’t communicate with each other or perform these essential functions.
Adequate function of the nervous, cardiac, digestive and muscular systems all depend on a proper balance of electrolyte levels.
Electrolytes are salts that help your body perform essential functions. As you sweat, your body tries to naturally regulate the balance of electrolytes. In some cases, your body does this very well. For instance, when you train or compete, your muscle fibers break down. When your muscle fibers break down, potassium is released into the body. Your body does this very efficiently, even at modest levels of activity.
The amount of sweat volume (rate of fluids lost) can vary greatly from one athlete to another, over a 37-fold difference. While sweat rate is slightly correlated to size (larger athletes typically sweat more) and gender (males sweat more than females), two athletes of similar size and gender can have very different sweat volumes. That is why sweat testing is critical for determining your exact fluid and electrolyte replenishment needs to maintain peak performance.
Year over year: If you were tested today, and the same time last year…our studies indicate your results would be the same. The test is very accurate and allows for precise recommendations of your customized electrolyte replenishment solution. However, if your diet, weight, medications or level of activity change dramatically, this could affect your sweat composition. We recommend re-testing annually to ensure accurate recommendations of LEVELEN™ products.
Season to season: As the weather warms and cools,
Just like elite professional & collegiate teams and athletes, you can now determine your unique sweat profile (sweat rate & electrolyte loss), and end the electrolyte replenishment guessing game. Our LEVELEN Electrolyte Replenishment System (ERS™) is the only integrated solution of sweat testing and electrolyte replenishment products customized to your needs.
The video below details how to perform a self-administered sweat test. Once we receive your test sample and analyze it,
The Sweat Test measures your sweat volume (sweat rate) and sweat composition (electrolyte concentrations). Both measurements are instrumental in understanding how your body reacts to exertion and what specific replenishment you need to maintain proper electrolyte balance under physical stress, as well as preventing heat-related illness.
Electrolytes measured: Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Chloride (Cl-)
Based on your results, we determine the amount of electrolytes lost in sweat that need to be replenished, down to the milligram.
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