It takes up to 48 hours for the body to expel all traces of alcohol from our bodies. Drinking alcohol as close to 2 days prior to performance can cause a decline in:
- reaction time
- balance
- accuracy and hand-eye coordination
- strength
- power
- speed
- muscular endurance
- cardiovascular endurance
While some people might think that the decrease in these things listed above are so minute that they are irrelevant. But, when speaking of a Division 1 collegiate athlete in any sport, you know every tenths of a second not only often count, but they are the difference in winning and losing...a goalie blocking a shot, a quarterback scrambling in the pocket, a volleyball blocker up against a big hitter, a swimmer trying to shave seconds off their time. All these things can be easily affected by alcohol.
In addition, alcohol can lead to dehydration and fluid loss, therefore cramping, increased fatigue, headache, and decrease in the ability of the body to repair muscle tissue. It can also affect the central nervous system and interfere with sleep patterns, decrease the quality of sleep, and in return lead to more fatigue, impaired ability to recover from injury or increase risk of injury.
