When a heat wave engulfed the nation's capital last week, athletes did whatever they could to stay hydrated.
During the Washington Nationals' 4-1 victory against the Colorado Rockies in 101-degree heat Saturday, athletes such as pitcher Stephen Strasburg used intravenous hydration; others just drank a lot of water.
But Gio Gonzalez, who won his fourth consecutive start Saturday, says he uses towels soaked in ammonia between innings to keep his temperature down.
"It was hot," Gonzalez (12-3) said after the game. "You have to learn how to stay in the cool a little bit every once in a while. I was telling the ump a little bit, 'Put an ammonia towel over your head in between innings.'"
But according to athletic trainers, placing towels soaked in ammonia or ice water around an athlete's shoulders or head might not be the best idea.
Brendon McDermott, an assistant professor and clinical coordinator in the Department of Health and Human Performance at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, says there is no scientific proof that using cold or chemical towels will do the trick.
"Those methods may not be the evidence-based way to go," McDermott says. "In terms of making you feel better, though, it probably feels pretty good.
"It makes your skin feel as though it's cooler than it actually is."
The wet-towel method cools just the skin, McDermott says.
It is ideal to cool the core.
"Sitting in a dugout applying a cold, wet towel or a towel soaked in ammonia won't end up keeping your core temperature down or prevent exertional heatstroke," McDermott says.
"Getting plenty of hydration, getting plenty of sleep and eating well, along with heat acclimatization, will keep your core cool."
As for Gonzalez's teammates who use intravenous fluids to stay hydrated, Rebecca Lopez, an assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of South Florida, says there isn't much difference between the IV and drinking a bottle of water.
"The only benefit is that you're getting some sodium and you can pump more fluids that way," Lopez says. "It's pretty much equal to drinking water or a sports drink."
Lopez adds that besides hydration, sleep and healthy foods, keeping tabs on sweat will keep athletes strong.
"Everyone sweats differently, so knowing your sweat rate and working with an athletic trainer on replenishing those fluids is a preventative measure," Lopez says.
To see more of USAToday.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.usatoday.com
??? Copyright 2012 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.